The Roundabout Theatre Company announced its full cast for the new Broadway production, “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” which is scheduled to begin this fall.
This will be the production’s first return to Broadway, since the play won five Tony Awards in 1986, including Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score, according to Broadway.com. The show’s first performance took place in Central Park. The production then moved to Imperial Palace and had opening night on December 2, 1985.
According to Broawayworld.com, the cast includes Stephanie J. Block (Edwin Drood), Will Chase (John Jasper), Tony Winner Jim Norton (Chairman), Andy Karl (Neville Landless), four-time Tony nominee Gregg Edelman (Reverend Mr. Crisparkle), Tony nominee Jesse Mueller (Helena Landless), Betsy Wolfe (Rosa Bud) will all be staring along with the already revealed star of the show, two-time Tony winner Chita Rivera (Princess Puffer).
This cast is no stranger to Broadway collectively performing in numerous hits. Block just finished her run as Reno Sweeney in Broadway’s “Anything Goes,” she has also performed in “9 to 5,” “The Pirate Queen,” “Wicked,” and “The Boy From Oz.”
Chase recently known for his role as Michael Swift in NBC’s Smash, also has TV and film credits in Law & Order: Criminal Intent, One Life to Live, Rescue Me, and Pan Am. Chase’s Broadway resume includes “The Story of My Life,” “Billy Elliot: The Musical,” “Lennon,” “Aida,” “High Fidelity,” “Rent,” and “Miss Saigon.”
“The Mystery of Edwin Drood” is based on the unfinished novel of the same name by Charles Dickens, who died while working on the novel in 1870. Adapted by Tony Award winning writer and composer Rubert Holmes, the play is about a play. The audience chooses the murder in this whoduneit comedic musical. The musical takes the audience back to a Victorian music hall, where the suspects (actors) try to finish Charles Dickens’ novel. The show ends differently every night, based upon which actor the audience chooses as the murderer, according to RoundaboutTheatre.org.
Scott Ellis will direct “The Mystery of Edwin Drood,” with Warren Carlyne as the choreographer, and music direction by Paul Gemignani. The production will also feature Nicholas Barasch (Deputy), Peter Benson (Bazzard), Robert Creighton (Durdles), Alison Cimmet, Nick Corley, Justin Greer, Shannon Lewis, Kiira Schmidt, Eric Sciotto, Jim Walton, and Cody Williams. The full cast list will be announced soon, according to Playbill.com.
The theater production of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” will begin preview performances on October 19. Opening night will be on November 29 at the Studio 54 theater on 254 West 54th Street. Performances will run Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday matinees will start at 2:00 p.m.
The New York Times has called the show “delightful” and “ingenious,” according to the RoundaboutTheatre.org. The Roundabout Theatre Company subscribers will gain first access to tickets. Single tickets for the 2012-2013 season of “The Mystery of Edwin Drood” will go on sale on July 9. To buy subscriptions and find out more about the production visit RoundaboutTheatre.org
