‘Almost Famous’ Musical Sets Broadway Opening, Announces Cast – Deadline
The stage musical adaptation of Cameron Crowe’s 2000 movie Almost Famous will will start Broadway previews on Tuesday, September 13, with an official opening on Tuesday, October 11, and a cast that includes Chris Wood, Anika Larsen, Solea Pfeiffer, Drew Gehling and Casey Likes.
The venue shall be a Shubert theater to be introduced.
“Broadway fans and rock fans have so much in common,” mentioned Crowe, who wrote the musical’s guide and lyrics (with authentic music and lyrics by Tom Kitt). “We obsess over the music, we pore over each potential recording we discover, and we treasure these moments when an artist stands on a stage, opens their coronary heart in that almost all personal approach, and creates actual magic. Suddenly every part appears potential.
“Almost Famous,” he continued, “has always been about the power of that connection: hearing a piece of music for the first time, looking into a person’s eyes and feeling the electricity, finding your tribe. The line ‘it’s all happening’ has always been so key to the show, and now that we’re heading to Broadway, it’s finally come true. It actually is… all happening.”
The Broadway company may also embody Rob Colletti, Matt Bittner, Chad Burris, Gerard Canonico, Julia Cassandra, Brandon Contreras, Jakeim Hart, Van Hughes, Jana Djenne Jackson, Katie Ladner, Danny Lindgren, Erica Mansfield, Alisa Melendez, Emily Schultheis, Daniel Sovich, Libby Winters, and Matthew C. Yee. Jeremy Herrin directs, with choreography by Sarah O’Gleby,
The announcement was made at this time by producers Lia Vollack and Michael Cassel Group.
Set in 1973, Almost Famous follows 15-year-old William Miller (Casey Likes), an aspiring music journalist employed by Rolling Stone journal to go on the street with an up-and-coming band. The official synopsis: “William is thrust into the rock-and-roll circus, where his love of music, his longing for friendship, and his integrity as a writer collide. Almost Famous is about a young man finding his place in the world and the indelible characters he meets along the way. It’s a celebration of community, family, fandom and the power of music.”
The musical had its world premiere in Crowe’s hometown of San Diego at The Old Globe in 2019 the place it set the document for the highest-grossing present within the theater’s 90-year historical past. Sony Masterworks Broadway will launch the unique Broadway cast album this fall.
Wood, who will play rocker Russell Hammond, is greatest recognized for his portrayal of Mon-El within the CW collection Supergirl. Larsen, who will painting William’s mom Elaine, has carried out on Broadway in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, Avenue Q, Xanadu, All Shook Up and Rent. Pfeiffer, as band follower Penny Lane, most lately premiered her solo present You Are Here for Audible Theatre and can subsequent star in Tyler Perry’s Netflix movie A Jazzman’s Blues. Gehling (Waitress, Jersey Boys) will play singer Jeff Bebe.
Likes shall be making his Broadway debut within the position of William Miller. He originated the position at The Old Globe.
The design workforce for Almost Famous will embody Derek McLane (scenic design), David Zinn (costume design), Natasha Katz (lighting design), and Peter Hylenski (sound design). (Due to scheduling conflicts, Lorin Latarro has departed the manufacturing and shall be credited with Additional Choreography for her remaining contributions.)
