Chez Joey, Reimagining of Pal Joey Starring Myles Frost, Extends Run

Savion Glover and Tony Goldwyn are co-directing the new version of the Rodgers and Hart classic at Arena Stage.

March 04, 2026 By Andrew Gans, Logan Culwell-Block

Myles Frost and company of *Chez Joey* (Matthew Murphy)

Arena Stage's Chez Joey, a reimagining of the Rodgers and Hart classic Pal Joey, has extended its limited engagement in the D.C.-area company's Kreeger Theater at the Mead Center for American Theater. Originally scheduled through March 15, the musical will now play an additional week through March 22. Read the reviews here.

MJ The Musical Tony winner Myles Frost leads 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.

The cast also includes 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 plus 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.

Featuring a complete book revision by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Richard Lagravenese (The Fisher King) and a selection of new arrangements from the catalogue of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, the production is 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).

Photos: Chez Joey at Arena Stage

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.

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,” and “I Wish I Were in Love Again,” among others.

Also featured is an onstage band, led by Lafayette Harris Jr. (Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk) on keys with Nolan Nwachukwu on bass, Corey Rawls on drums, Daniel Bereket on trumpet, Jalin Shiver on saxophone, and Alex De Lazzari on clarinet.

The Arena staging also has 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 R. Holbrook serves as stage manager, with Kelly Merritt and Dayne Sundman as assistant stage managers.

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