Kenneth Ferrone (The Wanderer) directs the production
with directorial contributions from South Coast Rep Artistic Director
David Ivers. Performances began September 10 and are scheduled to continue through October 19 at
the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts.
The cast is led by Andrew Montgomery Coleman as Taylor, Jonathan Gillard Daly as Julius, Julie Garnyé (Come from Away national tour) as Leah, Caitlin Houlahan (Girl From the North Country) as Rita, Chris McCarrell (Les Misérables) as Peter, James Moye (Million Dollar Quartet) as Rita’s Dad, Keirsten Hodgens as Angie, and Tony winner Karen Ziemba (Contact) as Rita’s Mom with ensemble members Bella Hicks (Waitress), Robert Zelaya (Kinky Boots), Caroline Pernick, and Scott Redman plus swings Rachel Lykins and Marcel Werder.
With lyrics by Sean Hartley and Daniel Messé, music by Messé,
and a book by original playwright Lucas, the new musical concerns a
mysterious guest, who requests a kiss at Peter and Rita’s wedding. The
boundaries of true love are tested, taking the couple on a fantastic
journey of self-discovery.
The production also has musical direction by Wiley
DeWeese, choreography by Julia Rhoads, set design by Scott Davis,
costume design by Linda Cho and Herin Kaputkin, lighting design by
Marcus Doshi, sound design by Andrea Allmond, projection design by Yee
Eun Nam, orchestrations by Greg Pliska, vocal arrangements by Wiley
DeWeese and Daniel Messé, dramaturgy by Andy Knight, and production
stage management by Mark Johnson.
Geoff Josselson handled casting with additional casting by Joanne DeNaut and Jonathan Hetler.
Prelude to a Kiss, the source material behind the new musical, premiered at South Coast Rep in 1988.
The Fred Ebb Award recognizes excellence in musical theatre songwriting, by a songwriter or songwriting team that has not yet achieved significant commercial success.