The Encores! production of High Button Shoes, starring Michael Urie (Broadway’s recent Torch Song) as Harrison Floy, Tony nominee Kevin Chamberlin (The Addams Family, Seussical) as Mr. Pondue, and Betsy Wolfe (Waitress, Falsettos) as Sara Longstreet, begins performances at New York City Center May 8. The classic musical comedy will run through May 12.
John Rando directs a cast that also includes Aidan Alberto as Stevie, Jennifer Allen as Shirley Simpkins, Carla Duren as Fran, Chester Gregory as Papa Longstreet, Mylinda Hull as Nancy, Marc Koeck as Oggle, Matt Loehr as Uncle Willy, and Wayne Pretlow as Elmer Simpkins.
Rounding out the company are Ward Billeisen, Sam Bolen, Colin Cunliffe, Nicholas Cunningham, Taeler Elyse Cyrus, Christine DiGiallondardo, Michael Everett, Ta'Nika Gibson, Berklea Going, Marc Heitzman, Leah Horowitz, Caijai Fellows Johnson, Robin Masella, Skye Mattox, Kaitlin Mesh, Justin Packard, Nathan Riley, Blakely Slaybaugh, George Slotin, Madison Stratton, and Shaun-Avery Williams.
The production, the last in City Center’s 75th anniversary season, will feature choreography by Sarah O’Gleby and music direction from Encores! Music Director Rob Berman.
With a score by July Styne and Sammy Cahn and a book by Stephen Longstreet, the musical follows two conmen who set out to swindle a New Brunswick family, inciting a chase down down the Jersey Shore. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1947 in a production directed by George Abbott and choreographed by Jerome Robbins (who won his first Tony for the show).
Chamberlin has been a guest performer on Playbill's Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are now on sale for Broadway in the Great Northwest, Playbill Travel’s first domestic cruise will bring passengers on a journey through the Pacific Northwest from April 26–May 4, 2020, and for Broadway on the Mediterranean (August 31–September 7, 2020), featuring Audra McDonald, Will Swenson, Gavin Creel, Lindsay Mendez, and more to be announced. Playbill Travel is currently accepting waitlist travelers for its sold out cruises: Broadway in Bordeaux With Michael Feinstein (September 1–9, 2019), and Broadway on the High Seas: The Greek Isles (June 24–July 1, 2019). Call Playbill Travel for tickets at 866-455-6789 or visit PlaybillTravel.com.
