Doubt and Kiss Me, Kate star Lenox left the production before the start of the rehearsal process due to health concerns, the Old Globe announced June 16.
Ralph received a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for the original Broadway production of Dreamgirls. She also originated the role of Muzzy Van Hossmere in the Tony Award-winning musical, Thoroughly Modern Millie. Ralph was also a series regular on television's "Moesha" and "Designing Women." Her performance with Danny Glover in the film "To Sleep with Anger" won her the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Actress.
The First Wives Club — A New Musical, will be performed at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, CA, July 17–Aug. 23 as part of the Globe’s 2009 Summer Season. Based on the best-selling novel and Hollywood blockbuster of the same name, the musical features a book by Tony winner Rupert Holmes (Curtains!, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Say Goodnight Gracie) and a score by Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, the threesome who created hits for Martha and The Vandellas, The Miracles, Marvin Gaye, The Four Tops and The Supremes.
The production will be directed by award winning opera and theatrical director Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid for Disney on Broadway, Little House on the Prairie for the Guthrie Theatre).
According to the Old Globe, "The First Wives Club is a funny, moving and empowering new musical based on the smash-hit movie comedy and Olivia Goldsmith's bestselling novel. Former college friends reunite at middle-age and soon discover they share the same unhappy story — their ungrateful husbands careened into midlife by dumping them for younger women. Inspired by their renewed friendship, the three women band together and take back their lives in style!" Ralph joins the previously announced Barbara Walsh (Company, Big, Falsettos) as Brenda, Tony winner Karen Ziemba (Contact, Curtains) as Annie, Tony nominee John Dossett (Gypsy) as Aaron, Kevyn Morrow (Dreamgirls) as Bill, Tony nominee Brad Oscar (The Producers) as Morty, Sara Chase as Trophy Wife, and Tony nominee Sam Harris (The Life) as Duane, and Ari Lerner and Austyn Myers alternating as Jason. The cast includes Michelle Aravena, Mark Campbell, Thursday Farrar, Jenifer Foote, Bob Gaynor, Matthew LaBanca, Victoria Matlock, Kat Palardy, Martin Samuel and Richard Waits.
Tickets to First Wives Club — The Musical are currently available by contacting the Globe Box Office at (619) 23-GLOBE or online at www.TheOldGlobe.org.
