Casting is now complete for the Betty Comden-Adolph Green-Charles Strouse-Lee Adams musical that will feature the previously announced Ebersole in the role created on Broadway by Lauren Bacall. Ebersole will be joined onstage by Davie (Eve Harrington), Kate Burton (Karen Richards), Mario Cantone (Duane Fox), Tom Hewitt (Howard Benedict), Michael Park (Bill Sampson), Megan Sikora (Bonnie) and Chip Zien (Buzz Richards).
The ensemble will comprise Tony Freeman, Bob Gaynor, David Studwell, J.D. Webster, Cole Burden, John Carroll, Paula Leggett Chase, Susan Derry, Sarah Jane Everman, Lisa Gajda, Gregg Goodbrod, Justin Greer, James Harkness, Joe Komara, Raymond Lee, Monica Patton, Manuel Santos, Jennifer Savelli, Chaunteé Schuler, Steven Sofia, Kevin Vortmann and Kristen Beth Williams.
Directed and choreographed by Tony winner Kathleen Marshall, Applause will kick off the 15th City Center Encores! season, running Feb. 7-10. Rob Berman will be the show's musical director.
Based on the Bette Davis film "All About Eve" and the original story by Mary Orr, Applause — which won the 1970 Tony Award for Best Musical — features music by Charles Strouse, lyrics be Lee Adams and a book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The musical opened at Broadway's Palace Theatre on March 30, 1970, with Lauren Bacall as Margo Channing and Penny Fuller as Eve Harrington. Bacall won a Tony for her performance, and the show ran for 896 performances, closing July 27, 1972.
Songs include "Applause," "Welcome to the Theater" and "But Alive." Show times are Feb. 7 and 8 at 8 PM, Feb. 9 at 2 and 8 PM and Feb. 10 at 6:30 PM. City Center is located in Manhattan at 131 West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). Tickets, priced $25-$95, are available by calling (212) 581-1212 or by visiting www.nycitycenter.org.
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The Encores! season will continue with Juno (March 27-30 starring Victoria Clark) and No, No, Nanette (May 8-12 starring Rosie O'Donnell, Sandy Duncan, Fred Willard, Beth Leavel, Shonn Wiley and Mara Davi).
