Maine's Ogunquit Playhouse has released full casting for its upcoming production of Marvin Hamlisch and Rupert Holmes' The Nutty Professor musical, set to run July 1–August 3.
Leading the cast will be Max Crumm (Grease, Disaster!) and Elena Ricardo (Beautiful) as Julius Kelp/Buddy Love and Stella Purdy, respectively, along with Klea Blackhurst (Ragtime) as Miss Lemon, Mel Johnson Jr. (The Lion King, Kiss Me, Kate) as Harrington Winslow, and Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown) as Dr. Warfield.
Rounding out the company in the ensemble will be Parker Aimone, Alyssa Carol, Jillian Hope Ferguson, Joseph Harrington, Fernell Hogan, Corinne Munsch, Chase Peacock, Larkin Reilly, Ethan Rogers, Vanessa Sierra, Kyra Louise Smith, Jordan Stephens, Jake Urban, Jerome Vivona, and Blake Zelesnikar.
A musical adaptation of the Jerry Lewis-led 1963 film, The Nutty Professor follows a shy and nearsighted chemistry teacher who is transformed into a suave Casanova-type by a magical potion. The adaptation—with a book and lyrics by Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Curtains) and a score by Hamlisch (A Chorus Line, They're Playing Our Song)—premiered in Nashville in 2012, in a production helmed by Lewis. The score would turn out to be Hamlisch's last; the EGOT-winning composer died during the work's premiere run.
Ogunquit's production, set to be directed by Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), will be the musical's first presentation since its Nashville premiere. Bruni is joined on the creative team by music supervisor Todd Ellison, music director Matt Deitchman, scenic designers Wilson Chin and Riw Rakkulchon, lighting designer Cory Pattak, costume designer Mara Blumenfeld, sound designer Kevin Heard, and wig designer Roxanne De Luna. Christoper Zaccardi is production stage manager, and Abigail Zaccari is assistant stage manager. Casting is by Binder Casting's Mark Brandon and Chad Eric Murnane.
The Cher Show is currently on Ogunquit's stage through June 25. Following The Nutty Professor, the season will go on to include the world premiere of BD Wong and Wayne Barker's Mr. Holland's Opus (August 12–September 17), and Clue (September 22–October 30).
Visit OgunquitPlayhouse.org.
