Teen Time! Cast Announced for Goodspeed Run of 13 Musical
By Kenneth Jones
22 Apr 2008
The all-teen cast has been announced for Goodspeed Musicals' new production of 13, Jason Robert Brown, Dan Elish and Robert Horn's new musical comedy about hormonal high-schoolers.
The Broadway-aimed show, revised since its Los Angeles premiere, concerns "coming of age, teen traumas and high school survival," and will play Goodspeed's developmental space, The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT, May 9-June 8.
The central role of Evan Goldman will be played by Graham Philips and Hudson Thames in rotating performances. Philips appeared in A Christmas Carol: the Musical with Jim Dale at Madison Square Garden, as Young Clyde in the world premiere of An American Tragedy at The Metropolitan Opera and as the Little Prince in The Little Prince at New York City Opera. Los Angeles native Thames recently appeared in Distracted at the Mark Taper Forum, and the role of Jason in Falsettos with Jason Alexander at the Wilshire Theater.
According to Goodspeed, "Evan Goldman has it all — he's popular, has the 'perfect' family and lives in the greatest city in the world — New York. That is until his parents get divorced and he's forced to move — to a small town in Indiana. Uprooted from his old life, he has to make new friends and somehow maneuver the minefield of High School to become part of the 'in-crowd.' With wit and searing honesty, 13 is a hilarious, high-energy musical for all ages. It's about the lessons one learns throughout life and the discovery that the journey to who you want to be starts with discovering who you are."
Expect a young cast (not far off from the title age) and "an explosive rock score" by Tony Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown (Parade), who penned music and lyrics for 13.
The libretto is by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. Horn is new to the project since its earlier run.
Archie will be played by Aaron Simon Gross (Off-Broadway's Brundibar and A Stoop on Orchard Street); Patrice will be played by Allie Trim (Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!); Eric Nelson (Off-Broadway's Time Being, Ragamuffins, Interaction, Every Man, Five Guns Four Bullets) will play Brett; Elizabeth Gillies (The American Girl Revue in New York City) will play Lucy; Kendra will be played by Ashton Smalling (Baby June in Gypsy with Patti LuPone at the Ravinia Festival); Charlotte will be played by Ariana Grande; Molly will be played by Caitlin Gann (Baby June in Gypsy at the Ivoryton Playhouse); Cassie will be played by Taylor Bright (30th anniversary national tour of Annie); Eamon Foley (Broadway's Gypsy, Assassins and How the Grinch Stole Christmas) will play Steve; Joey La Varco will play Bill; Kyle Crews will play Malcolm; and Alberto Calderon (2007 Radio City Christmas Spectacular) will play Eddie.
13 will feature an all-teen band. The band members will be: Adam Kaufman (keyboard II), Chris Raymond (guitar), Zach Page (guitar), Zachary Coe (percussion) and Lexi Bodick (bass).
Jeremy Sams, whose adaptation of Amour was seen at Goodspeed in 2005, directs the Broadway-aimed show. Sams penned the stage adaptation Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and directed the recent Broadway revival of Noises Off.
Choreography is by Christopher Gattelli (Broadway's Sunday in the Park with George and South Pacific and Off-Broadway's Altar Boyz).
The creative team includes set and costume designer David Farley (Broadway's Sunday in the Park with George), lighting designer Brian MacDevitt (a Tony Award winner for The Coast of Utopia, The Pillowman and Into the Woods).
13 was originally commissioned and produced by Center Theatre Group, Los Angeles (Michael Ritchie, artistic director; Charles Dillingham, managing director); by special arrangement with Bob Boyett, who will shepherd the show to a commercial future.
Tickets are on sale now through the Goodspeed box office at (860) 873-8668 or online at www.goodspeed.org. There's a rare special offer attached for this run: Front row seating is reserved for teens at just $13 per ticket.
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Dedicated to the "preservation and advancement of musical theatre,"
Goodspeed Musicals produces three musicals each season at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT, and additional musicals at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, CT, which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. It's the only regional theatre to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement).
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