Good day, All! Out of town, you just have to know how much I miss being there these days to see our TOMMY Company at Paramount, and the crowds attending them, raise what is left of our art-deco roof!
Directing Paramount’s upcoming and final production of Season Four of our Broadway Series, LES MISERABLES, I’m going to give you the scoop right now announcing this formidable, all-star cast of singing actors:
Ricky Falbo, who is currently a knock out as “10 yo. Tommy” is the mighty street rebel “Gavroche.” His gang is Shane Frantz, Madeline Hotham and Gianna Groh, who also cover the children’s roles. Pretty “Little Eponine” is Savannah Groh who matures into the “Eponine” of fantastic, soulful Lillie Cummings, featured as “Sally Simpson” in TOMMY. “Little Cosette” is Nicole Scimeca, the wonderful “Gretl” in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s recent SOUND OF MUSIC. Beautiful, golden voiced Erica Stephan portrays “Cosette,” and her “Marius” is the sensation Devin DeSantis who is currently thrilling and rocking audiences eight shows a week as “Tommy” himself!
Nicholas Foster richly voices the humble, ardent and kind, “Bishop of Digne.” The “Lancelot” of Drury Lane’s recent CAMELOT, terrific Travis Taylor, makes his Paramount Theatre debut as the handsome, fiery “Enjolras” galvanizing the students of The June Rebellion in Paris of 1832. These young men of fierce vocal chops and dynamism are Ben Barker, Nathan Gardner, Jesse Grider, Jason Kraack, Russell Mernagh, Jeff Meyer, Brandon Moorhead, Rob Riddle, Patrick Rooney, Steve Russell and Patrick Tierney. The ladies of the ensemble are all beauty and versatility playing roles ranging from street walkers to factory workers, to the women nobly aiding our heroic young men on The Barricade. Clarion voices all, they are Aubrey Adams, Victoria Blade, Sophie Grimm, Molly Kral, Elizabeth Lanza and Chelsea Morgan.
George Keating, returning to Paramount, and Marya Grandy, making her Paramount debut, create an evil portrait of “The Thenardiers.” Powerhouse performers, they bring new heights (or better, new depths) to this team of soulless crooks and heartless opportunists with min- blowing vocals creating finely grotesque personas.
In gorgeous, raven-haired Hannah Corneau, seen in our FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Ensemble two seasons ago, we now have a leading lady of remarkable vocal beauty in her “Fantine.” Ms. Corneau’s dazzling voice is matched by her dramatic, deeply-felt portrayal of our doomed heart-broken heroine.
The darkly handsome and brooding “Javert” of Rod Thomas, will stun with his powerful baritone as a black-hearted and very human soul, at once righteous and lost. Our leading man starring in the impossible role of “Jean Valjean” is Naperville native, New York actor, Robert Wilde. A supremely gifted and compelling singer of extraordinary range and an actor of staggering prowess and vulnerability; this is a very exciting occasion for Mr. Wilde’s return to Chicago Theatre. He is in a word, superb.
An embarrassment of riches manifest in this cast worthy of one of the most beloved musical theatre spectaculars of all time. I am a lucky guy. Keep a good thought as we begin rehearsals in a few very short weeks!
My love & thanks,
Jim