Washington, D.C.'s Arena Stage has found a full company for its upcoming Chez Joey, a reimagining of the Rodgers and Hart classic Pal Joey set to take the D.C.-area company's Kreeger Theater at the Mead Center for American Theater January 30-March 15. Opening night will be February 13.
As previously announced, MJ The Musical Tony winner Myles Frost will lead the company in the title role, alongside Awa Sal Secka (Goddess) as Linda English, Samantha Massell (Fiddler on the Roof) as Vera Simpson, Angela Hall (Black and Blue) as Lucille Wallace, and Kevin Cahoon (Shucked) as Melvin Snyder.
Newly announced are ensemblists Lamont Brown (Funny Girl), Crystal J Freeman, Charis Michelle Gullage (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Ndaya Dream Hoskins (SMASH), Marcus John (Hamilton), Josh Johnson (Dancing With the Stars), Addi Loving, Kalen Robinson, Brooke Taylor (Moulin Rouge! The Musical), and Alana S. Thomas. The company will also include Justin Michael Duval (Girl from the North Country), Jordyn Taylor, Karen Vincent, and Jailyn Wilkerson. Casting is by The TRC Company's Tara Rubin, Peter Van Dam, and Raiyon Hunter.
Also featured will be an onstage band, led by Lafayette Harris Jr. (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk) on keys, and additionally featuring Nolan Nwachukwu on bass, Corey Rawls on drums, Daniel Bereket on trumpet, Jalin Shiver on saxophone, and Alex De Lazzari on clarinet.
Featuring a complete book revision by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Richard LaGravenese (The Fisher King) and a selection of new arrangements from the catalog of Rodgers and Hart, the production will be co-directed by Tony winner Savion Glover (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk; Black and Blue; Shuffle Along…) and actor, director, and producer Tony Goldwyn (Scandal, Ghost, Law & Order).
Set on the South Side of 1940s Chicago, the musical follows Joey Evans, a silver-tongued nightclub performer who finds himself caught between a bright-eyed chorus girl and the wealthy widow who can bankroll his big break—for a price.
This revised version of the 1940 musical, which reimagines the title character as a Black jazz singer trying to make it on the Chicago nightclub circuit, premiered at New York City Center Encores! in 2023. Goldwyn and Glover co-directed the earlier staging as well, although the title change is new for Arena.
The Arena staging will feature music supervision by Victor Gould, set design by Derek McLane, costume design by Emilio Sosa, lighting design by Adam Honoré, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, and wig, hair, and makeup design by J. Jared Janas. Morgan Holbrook will serve as stage manager, with Kelly Merritt and Dayne Sundman as assistant stage managers.
In addition to Pal Joey favorites “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” “What Is a Man?,” and “I Could Write a Book,” Chez Joey expands the score to include tunes from the 1957 film adaptation, including “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” and “The Lady Is a Tramp.” Rodgers and Hart fans can also expect classics like “This Can’t Be Love,” “I Wish I Were in Love Again,” and “Blue Moon,” among others.
Visit ArenaStage.org.
