Hoty, Gualtieri, Fischer Join NYMF's Night of the Hunter

The cast for The Night of the Hunter, the musical thriller that will be presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival from September 26th through October 1st at the 37 Arts Theatre (450 West 37th Street), has changed.

Tony Award-nominee Carolee Carmello has been replaced by Tony Award-nominee Dee Hoty (Mamma Mia!, The Will Rogers' Follies) in the role of Willa Harper, while Tom Gualtieri has replaced Ron Bohmer (The Woman in White) as Ben Harper. In addition, Lestat star Allison Fischer has joined the cast as Ruby.

The Night of the Hunter features book and lyrics by Stephen Cole (After the Fair), and music by Claibe Richardson (The Grass Harp). "Love and Hate co-exist in all of us, but when an evil West Virginia depression era Preacher with those words tattooed on his hands goes after $10,000 hidden in a little girl's doll, the eternal battle between good and evil becomes a musical thriller that takes a little boy on a coming of age journey," according to NYMF notes on the show, which is based on the 1954 novel by Davis Grubb.

The show will also feature the previously-announced Beth Fowler (The Boy from Oz, Sweeney Todd) as Rachel Cooper, Brian Noonan (San Francisco premiere of Night of the Hunter, Phantom of the Opera) as the preacher Harry Powell, Mary Stout (Beauty and the Beast, Jane Eyre) as Icey Spoon and Tina Johnson (State Fair, Damn Yankees) as Miz Cunningham, as well as Gerry Vichi, Sy Adamowsky, Ellen Harvey, Lois Hart, Doug R. Paulson, Matt Bailey, Gordon Weiss, Kaylie Rubinaccio, Morgan Reilly, Michael Turay, and Emma Parks.

Directed by Nona Lloyd (assistant director of The Color Purple), the production will feature musical direction by Matthew Ward, with sets and costumes designed by Drama Desk-nominees Michael Bottari and Ronald Case.  It will be presented as a co-production with Dallas Stage.

The Night of the Hunter, which was seen in San Francisco two years ago to positive reviews, is also famous as the subject of a 1955 film that starred Robert Mitchum, Lillian Gish, and Shelley Winters.

Visit www.nymf.org for tickets and more information.