Boyd Gaines & Rebecca Luker to Lead LITTLE DANCER at Kennedy Center in October 2014; Susan Stroman to Direct

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced partial casting for its world premiere musical production of Little Dancer. Four-time Tony Award winner Boyd Gaines will play Edgar Degas, three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker will play Adult Marie von Goethem, and New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck will play Young Marie von Goethem.

The musical features book and lyrics by Tony Award winner Lynn Ahrens, music by Tony Award winner Stephen Flaherty, and direction and choreography by five-time Tony Award winner Susan Stroman. Performances of Little Dancer will take place in the Kennedy Center Eisenhower Theater in October 2014. Additional casting and details will be announced at a later date.

Part fact, part fiction, and set in the harsh backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet, Little Dancer is inspired by the young ballerina who posed for Edgar Degas and became, inadvertently, the most famous dancer in the world. Torn by her family's poverty, her debt to the artist and the lure of wealthy men, Marie struggles to keep her place in the ballet corps-a girl on the verge of womanhood, caught between the conflicting demands of life and art.

The creative team includes set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by William Ivey Long, lighting design by Ken Billington, sound design by Kai Harada, with music supervision by David Loud and conducted by James Moore.

During the current 2013-2014 season, the Kennedy Center will produce a major revival production of Side Show in association with La Jolla Playhouse from June 14 to July 15, 2014. With direction by Academy Award winner Bill Condon, the musical features book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Henry Krieger who are making revisions to the show before its debut in La Jolla this fall.

Now in its 43rd season, the Center's achievements as a commissioner, producer, and nurturer of developing artists have resulted in more than 200 theatrical productions, dozens of new ballets, operas, and musical works. The Center has co-produced the original productions of Annie, the American premiere of LES MISERABLES, and Titanic. In the past 12 years, the Center has produced the Sondheim Celebration (six Stephen Sondheim musicals produced in 2002), Tennessee Williams Explored (three of Williams' classic plays), August Wilson's 20th Century (Wilson's complete ten play cycle produced as staged and costumed readings), major revival productions of Mame and Carnival!, and Terrence McNally's Nights at the Opera featuring three works by the playwright performed concurrently on three Kennedy Center stages. The Kennedy Center production of Ragtime transferred to Broadway in 2009 and received six Tony nominations. The major revival production of Follies transferred to Broadway in 2011, which was followed by a successful run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. The production was nominated for eight Tony Awards and received one award. Each year, the Kennedy Center hosts the Page-to-Stage new play festival, featuring staged readings by more than 40 theaters from the D.C. metropolitan area, all with a mission to produce and support new work.

For more information about the Kennedy Center, please visit www.kennedy-center.org.