Emily Skinner and Brian Sutherland head the cast of the musical, which will play the Ohio theatre through Nov. 21 before heading to Illinois, Kentucky, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Texas and California. On the Record, according to production notes, "is the story of a recording session that changed the lives of a young unknown who is about to get her big break, a pop diva who is about to meet her match, and a matinee idol who is about to meet the 'new kid' who could take his place."
Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom, the musical's creative team comprises Natasha Katz (lighting), Robert Brill (scenery), Gregg Barnes (costumes), David Chase (musical supervision and arrangements), Chad Beguelin (scenarist) and Acme Sound Partners (sound design).
Skinner plays Diane, a celebrated recording star, and Sutherland stars as Julian, the "forty-ish matinee idol." The company also includes Ashley Brown as Kristen, the fresh-faced newcomer, and Andrew Samonsky as Nick, another up-and-coming performer. Tony Award winner Richard Easton voices the Sound Engineer. The cast also features Meredith Inglesby, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Keewa Nurullah, Josh Franklin, Leigh Ann Larkin, Koh Mochizuki and Lyn Philistine.
On the Record features songs from both classic Disney films and Disney's Broadway outings, including tunes from "The Little Mermaid," "Aladdin," "Tarzan," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "Sleeping Beauty," "Dumbo," "Peter Pan," "Pinocchio," "Lady and the Tramp," "Cinderella" and "Snow White."
As of press time, the On the Record itinerary follows:
Through Nov. 21 at Palace Theatre in Cleveland, OH
Nov. 30-Dec. 12 at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL
Dec. 14-19 at the Palace Theatre in Louisville, KY
Dec. 21-Jan. 2, 2005 at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts in MN
Jan. 5-16, 2005 at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia, PA
Feb. 1-6 at the Landmark Theater in Richmond, VA
Feb. 8-27 at the Fisher Theatre in Detroit, MI
March 1-6 at the Wharton Center East Lansing, MI
March 22-27 at the Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis, IN
April 19-May 1 at the Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
May 3-8 at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center in Tampa, FL
May 10-15 at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall in Ft. Myers, FL
May 24-May 29 at the Majestic Theatre in San Antonio, TX
May 31-June 12 at the Hobby Center in Houston, TX
Aug. 30-Sept. 4 at the Civic Theatre in San Diego, CA Emily Skinner received a joint Tony Award nomination — with co-star Alice Ripley — for her performance in Side Show. Skinner's other Broadway credits include Jekyll & Hyde, James Joyce's The Dead, The Full Monty and Dinner at Eight.
On Broadway, Brian Sutherland has been seen in the revivals of The Sound of Music and 1776 as well as Steel Pier, A Change in the Heir, Dance a Little Closer and Cats. He appeared in the national tours of Cabaret, Peter Pan and 42nd Street as well as regional productions of Breaking Legs, She Loves Me and A Chorus Line.
Ashley Brown and Andrew Samonsky are both recent graduates of conservatory programs; she recently completed her studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and he just left the University of California, Irvine.
Richard Easton was recently seen on Broadway in Henry IV; he won the 2001 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle awards for his performance in Tom Stoppard's The Invention of Love.
Tickets for the Ohio run, priced $23-60, are available by calling (800) 766-6048 or by visiting www.playhousesquare.com.
