All Shook Up's Cheyenne Jackson and stage/screen veteran Jo Anne Worley will be part of the Sept. 26 concert at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Jackson will make a cameo appearance in the musical, and Worley will play Letitia Primose, the role created on Broadway by the late Imogene Coca.
As previously announced, Marin Mazzie will play Lily Garland and Douglas Sills will be Oscar Jaffe in the one-night-only event, which will also feature the talents of Christopher Sieber (as Bruce Granit), Brad Oscar (as Oliver Webb) and Brooks Ashmanskas (Owen O'Malley). The cast, which is still in formation, will be accompanied by a 26-piece orchestra.
Artistic producer and musical director Seth Rudetsky, who conceived the idea for the Actors' Fund's annual concerts (Dreamgirls, Funny Girl, Chess, Hair), said this year's concert will be directed by Peter Flynn with choreography by Denis Jones. The creative team will also include Paul Weimer (set design), Rob Bevenger (costume design), Jeff Croiter (lighting design), Scott Stauffer (sound designer), Tim Pinckney (concert adaptation). Producers include Andrew Kato, Catherine Cooke and Pinckney.
On the Twentieth Century features a book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and music by Cy Coleman. The original Broadway production opened at the St. James Theatre in February 1978, playing 449 performances before closing in March 1979. The original company, directed by Harold Prince, included Madeline Kahn, John Cullum, Kevin Kline and Imogene Coca. The musical won 1978 Tonys for Score (Coleman, Comden and Green), Scenic Designer (Robin Wagner), Book (Comden and Green) and actors Kline and Cullum.
Cheyenne Jackson, who heads the cast of All Shook Up, has appeared on Broadway in Aida and Thoroughly Modern Millie. He starred in the premiere cast of Altar Boyz, and his regional credits include West Side Story, The Most Happy Fella, Children of Eden, Hair, Carousel, Damn Yankees and Kismet. Jackson is a member of the Broadway Inspirational Voices. Jo Anne Worley has appeared on Broadway in The Billy Barnes People; Hello, Dolly!; Prince of Central Park; and Grease! Among her numerous screen credits are "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," "Hot Dog," "The Feminist and the Fuzz," "What's a Nice Girl Like You?," "The Shaggy D.A.," "The Mouseketeers at Walt Disney World," "The Gift of the Magi," "Nutcracker Fantasy," "Don't Miss the Boat," "Through the Magic Pyramid," "Love Boat" and "The Wuzzles." She has also toured in numerous musicals throughout the country.
The Actors' Fund of America, a nonprofit organization founded in 1882, provides for the social welfare of all entertainment professionals. Its headquarters and The Aurora Residence are located in New York City, and its nursing home and assisted living care facility are in Englewood, New Jersey.
Tickets for the one-night-only benefit are priced $75-$2,500 and are available by calling (212) 221-7300, ext. 133 or by e-mailing [email protected]. For more information visit www.actorsfund.org.
