Rannells succeeds Happiness-bound Sebastian Arcelus, who will play his final performance Jan. 11, 2009.
When Rannells joins the Jersey Boys production, the cast will feature Matt Bogart (Nick Massi), Dominic Nolfi (Tommy DeVito) and Jarrod Spector (Frankie Valli) with Peter Gregus and Mark Lotito. The ensemble comprises Miles Aubrey, Bridget Berger, Kris Coleman, Ken Dow, Heather Ferguson, Russell Fischer, John Hickman, Michelle Knight, Katie O’Toole, Joe Payne, Dominic Scaglione Jr., Sara Schmidt, Matthew Scott, Jake Speck and Taylor Sternberg.
Andrew Rannells has been seen on Broadway in Hairspray and in the national tour of Jersey Boys. His regional credits include roles in Miss Saigon, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The 60's Project and Hedwig and the Angry Inch.
Jersey Boys, according to press notes, is "the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons: Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio, Tommy DeVito and Nick Massi. It's a journey of how a group of blue-collar boys from the wrong side of the tracks became one of the biggest American pop music sensations of all time. They wrote their own songs, invented their own sounds and sold 175 million records worldwide — all before they were 30."
The creative team includes Tony-winning director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo as well as Klara Zieglerova (scenic design), Jess Goldstein (costume design), Howell Binkley (lighting design), Steve Canyon Kennedy (sound design), Michael Clark (projections design), Charles LaPointe (wig and hair design), Steve Orich (orchestrations) and Ron Melrose (music direction, vocal arrangements and incidental music). Jersey Boys premiered at the La Jolla Playhouse in October 2004 before arriving in November 2005 at Broadway's August Wilson Theatre. The Broadway production garnered four Tony Awards: for stars John Lloyd Young and Christian Hoff, lighting designer Howell Binkley and for Best Musical.
The award-winning production features music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and a book by Marshall Brickman & Rick Elice.
For more information visit www.JerseyBoysInfo.com.
