Directed by former Encores! artistic director Walter Bobbie, Nanette will feature the previously announced Rosie O'Donnell as Pauline, Tony winner Beth Leavel as Lucille Early, Sandy Duncan as Sue Smith, Shonn Wiley as Tom and Mara Davi as Nanette.
Newcomers to the cast include Charles Kimbrough as Jimmy Smith (Fred Willard had previously been announced for this part), Michael Berresse as Billy Early, Angel Reda as Flora Latham, Jennifer Cody as Betty Brown and Nancy Anderson as Winnie Winslow.
The ensemble will comprise David Baum, Brandon Davidson, Leah Edwards, Sara Edwards, Zak Edwards, Mary Giattino, Luke Hawkins, Matthew J. Kilgore, Cara Kjellman, Todd Lattimore, Deborah Lew, Ryan Malyar, Brent McBeth, Alessa Neeck, Carolann M. Sanita, Kiira Schmidt, Chad Seib, Kelly Sheehan, Anna Aimee White and Jacob Ben Widmar.
Randy Skinner will choreograph the production with musical direction by Rob Fisher.
This mounting of Nanette will utilize the 1971 version of the musical. That production featured a book adapted by Burt Shevelove with the original Vincent Youmans (music) and Irving Caesar and Otto Harbach (lyrics) score. The show features such tunes as "Tea for Two" and "I Want to Be Happy." No, No, Nanette is based on Frank Mandel and Emily Nyitray's comedy My Lady Friends. The musical, according to press notes, is a "light-hearted tale of millionaires, misunderstood wives, bathing beauties, wanton women and flappers. Nanette (Mara Davi), a young Manhattan heiress, tries to experience life by running away to the big, bad and bawdy town of Atlantic City, only to be followed by her straight-laced, tap-dancing fiancé (Shonn Wiley), her cook/chaperone (Rosie O'Donnell), her lawyer and his wife (Beth Leavel) and her legal guardians (Sandy Duncan and Fred Willard), who just want everyone to 'be happy.'"
Show times are May 8 at 8 PM, May 9 at 8 PM, May 10 at 2 and 8 PM, May 11 at 6:30 PM and a gala performance May 12 at 7 PM.
City Center is located in Manhattan at West 55th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Tickets are available by calling (212) 581-1212 or by visiting www.nycitycenter.org.
