Hayden, who was scheduled to play the role of Paul, departed the production to star in the upcoming Broadway play Festen. Pollock joins a cast that includes Paul Schoeffler as Marco, Elena Shaddow as Lili, Eric Michael Gillett as Jacquot and Nick Wyman as Schlagel.
Jennifer Allen has also joined the Paper Mill cast as Rosalie, and the ensemble will feature Jason Babinsky, Alexander Cassens, Albert Christmas, Michael Fielder, Hector Flores, David Garry, Vincent German, Nikka Lanzarone, Richard Pruitt, Benji Randall, Julia Sann, Mam Smith and Mindy Wallace.
Directed by Erica Schmidt with choreography by Peter Pucci, Carnival is scheduled to begin previews March 8 with an official opening March 12. The limited engagement at the New Jersey theatre will play through April 9.
The creative team for the production comprises Christopher Barreca (set design), Michelle R. Phillips (costume design), Donald Holder (lighting design), Randy Hansen (sound design), Jason Hayes (hair, wigs and make-up design), Jesse Mooney Bullock (puppet design), Frank Maugeri (puppet coach), Chic Silber (circus effects), Peter Samelson (magic design) with musical direction by Tom Helm.
Carnival!, which bowed on Broadway in 1961, features a score by Bob Merrill and a book by Michael Stewart. The original Broadway cast featured Anna Maria Alberghetti, Kaye Ballard, Henry Lascoe, James Mitchell, Pierre Olaf and Jerry Orbach. The musical, according to press notes, tells the story of "a shy lonely orphan who is enchanted with the desire to join the glamorous carnival. Searching for her place in the carnival, she joins a puppet act and soon finds that love makes the world go 'round."
Charlie Pollock made his Broadway debut in Urinetown. His Off-Broadway credits include tick, tick . . . BOOM!; Lola; Loot; Cock & Bull Story and Opus Profundum. His regional credits include Tommy, Godspell, Violet and King of the Moon. On screen Pollock has been seen in "Walking Charley" and "Gun."
The Paper Mill Playhouse is located on Brookside Drive in Millburn, NJ. Tickets, priced $19-$68, are available by calling (973) 376-4343 or by visiting www.papermill.org.
