Tony nominee Norm Lewis (Porgy and Bess) has joined the cast of The Foundation for New American Musicals concert production of the Kander and Ebb musical comedy Woman of the Year.
Directed by Glenn Casale, with choreography by Karma Camp and musical direction by Brent Crayon, the concert staging is set for October 19 at 6:30 PM at The Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica, California.
Lewis, who will play the role of Sam Craig, will be joined by Sandy Bainum (42nd Street) as Tess, Jason Graae (Falsettos) as Gerald, and Vicki Lewis (Chicago) as Jan.
The cast for the one-night-only concert will also include Joe Abraham (Hairspray) as Abbott, Sarah Chaney (911) as Helga, Jared Gertner (The Book of Mormon) as Pinky, Gordon Goodman (Lady Patriot) as Larry Donovan, Mark Miller as Phil, Kevin Symons (Parks & Recreation) as Chip, Michael James as Alexi, and Harrison White (The Lion King) as Ellis plus ensemble members Linda Igarashi, Whitney Kathleen Vigil, Kailyn Leilani, Arthur Joseph (A.J.) Mendoza, Keith Parks, and Brittany Rose Hammond.
John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Peter Stone's 1981 musical is based on the classic MGM film starring Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. It follows Tess Harding, a sharp and ambitious television news anchor, and Sam Craig, a celebrated cartoonist whose worlds—and egos—collide.
The original Broadway production won four 1981 Tony Awards, including Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, one for its leading lady, Lauren Bacall, and Featured Actress in a Musical for Marilyn Cooper.
All proceeds from the event will benefit FNAM’s ShowSearch program, a nationally recognized musical theatre competition and mentorship initiative for high school and college writers in Southern California.
“This concert not only celebrates the brilliance of Kander and Ebb, but also directly invests in the future of American musical theatre,” said Michael Donovan, president of the Board of The Foundation for New American Musicals, in a statement. “Every ticket purchased helps give young writers the resources, mentorship, and platform they need to develop their voices and share their stories.”
Woman of the Year in concert is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals.
Tickets are available at FNAM.us.
