Kyle Selig, Ron Bohmer, Kerry O'Malley and More to Look to the Stars in OCTOBER SKY at The Old Globe; Cast, Creatives Set!

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team of the West Coast premiere of OCTOBER SKY, which will blast off the Globe's 2016-2017 Season with a tale of boys, rockets, and big dreams.

Inspired by the beloved 1999 Universal Pictures film and Rocket Boys by Homer H. Hickam, Jr., OCTOBER SKY features a book by Drama Desk nominee Brian Hill (Broadway's The Story of My Life) and Aaron Thielen (Hero) and a score by Michael Mahler (Diary of a Wimpy Kid). OCTOBER SKY is directed and choreographed by Joseph Jefferson Award winner Rachel Rockwell (Brigadoon, American premiere of Ride the Cyclone) and produced in association with Universal Stage Productions (Wicked, Billy Elliot: The Musical, Bring It On: The Musical).

Starring as Homer Hickam is Kyle Selig, a rising star in the theatre world who recently took on the role of Elder Price in the smash Broadway musical The Book of Mormon. Playing his father, John Hickam, is San Diego local Ron Bohmer, whose extensive credits include the Broadway musicals A Little Night Music, Ragtime, The Scarlet Pimpernel, and LES MISERABLES, as well as originating the role of Percival Glyde in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Woman in White. Taking the stage as Elsie Hickam, Homer's mother, is Kerry O'Malley, a stage and screen veteran whose Broadway credits include On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Billy Elliot, and the Baker's Wife in the acclaimed 2002 revival of Into the Woods directed by James Lapine, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.

Also featured in the stellar cast of OCTOBER SKY are Rebecca Bellingham of San Diego (A Child's Christmas in Wales Off-Broadway) as Mary Bykovski, Joel Blum (two-time Tony Award nominee, Kiss Me, Kate at the Globe) as Ike Bykovski, San Diegan Will Branner (Music Theatre Wichita's Jesus Christ Superstar and Mamma Mia!) as Buck, James Royce Edwards of San Diego (creator and star of That Bachelorette Show Off Broadway) as Jake, North County native Steve Gouveia (Jersey Boys original Broadway cast) as Earl, Kevyn Morrow (current Tony-winning revival of The Color Purple) as Ken, San Diego native Austyn Myers (LES MISERABLES on Broadway, Brighton Beach Memoirs at the Globe) as O'Dell, Destan Owens (Rent, Chicago, Smokey Joe's Café on Broadway) as Bathtub Amos,Eliza Palasz (Rob Ashford's Carousel at Lyric Opera of Chicago) as Dorothy, Liam Quealy (Off Broaday's Dear Edwina) as Jim, Patrick Rooney (Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for Rent in Chicago) as Roy Lee, Connor Russell (world premiere of Disney's Aladdin) as Quentin, San Diego actor Lance Arthur Smith (over a dozen San Diego regional credits) as Otis, Betsy Stewart (Ilse in Marriott Theatre's Spring Awakening) as Emily Sue, Nick Sullivan (original Broadway companies of Newsies and Footloose) as Mr. Turner, and Ensemble members Nicolette Burton of San Diego (Putting the Pieces Together at 54 Below), John Cardoza (Seymour in Summer Rep's Little Shop of Horrors), San Diegan Clay Stefanki (Miss Saigon internationally, The Grinch at the Globe), Scott Wakefield (Globe's Bright Star, Broadway's Hands on a Hardbody), and Angela Wildflower (Motown on Broadway). Final casting will be announced shortly.

The design team is comprised of Kevin Depinet (Scenic Design), Linda Cho (Costume Design), Japhy Weideman (Lighting Design), Garth Helm (Sound Design), Shawn Sagady (Projection Design), Charlie Alterman (Music Director), Bruce Coughlin (Orchestrations), Courtney Cerny (Assistant Director and Associate Choreographer), Howie Cherpakov, CSA (Casting), and Anjee Nero (Stage Manager). Due to a scheduling conflict, MarSha Norman, previously announced to join the creative team, has instead served as a creative consultant to The Old Globe production.

OCTOBER SKY will run September 10 - October 23, 2016 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run September 10 - September 21.Opening night is Thursday, September 22. Tickets start at $36 and go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 12 at 12:00 noon. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

The Old Globe's 2016-2017 Season launches into orbit with the new musical OCTOBER SKY, inspired by the beloved 1999 movie, which itself was based on a true story. In the sleepy town of Coalwood, West Virginia, school is just something you do until you're old enough to work in the coal mines. After the Soviets launch the Sputnik rocket, a local high schooler named Homer decides to enter a rocketry competition against the wishes of his domineering, practical-minded dad. With the help of his friends and the local community, he just might light up the night. OCTOBER SKY is a musical slice of small-town Americana packed with youthful exuberance that will send your heart soaring and inspire you to reach for the stars.

"I'm very happy to open our 2016-2017 Season with this inspiring, heartwarming, and altogether lovely new musical," said Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein. "OCTOBER SKY is a great American story of small-town values and the triumph of the iconoclast. Its beautiful score and music by Michael Mahler are memorable, and Brian Hill and Aaron Thielen tell a beguiling story. I'm proud to welcome Rachel Rockwell to the Globe with a show I know San Diego audiences will adore."

OCTOBER SKY was originally premiered by The Marriott Theatre, August 2015; Terry James, Executive Producer; Aaron Thielen, Artistic Director.

Tickets to OCTOBER SKY start at $36 and go on sale to the general public on Friday, August 12 at 12:00 noon. Ticketscan be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 234-5623, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park. Performances begin on September 10 and continue through October 23. Performance times: Previews: Saturday, September 10 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, September 11 at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 13 at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 15 at 8:00 p.m., Friday, September 16 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, September 17 at 8:00 p.m., Sunday, September 18 at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, September 20 at 7:00 p.m., and Wednesday, September 21 at 7:00 p.m. Opening night is Thursday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m. Regular performances: September 23 - October 23: Tuesday and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 p.m.; Thursday and Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. There will be no performances on Saturday, September 24 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 15 at 2:00 p.m., and there will be an additional matinee performance on Wednesday, October 12 at 2:00 p.m. Discounts are available for full-time students, patrons 29 years of age and under, seniors, military members, and groups of 10 or more.

ABOUT THE CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM:

Rebecca Bellingham (Mary Bykovski, Ensemble) recently moved to San Diego and is delighted to be making her Old Globe debut. Her New York theatre credits include New York Musical Theater Festival, Irish Repertory Theater, Symphony Space, Theater for a New City. Regional: New Jersey Shakespeare Theater, Prince Theater (Barrymore Award winner for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical), Westport Country Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, Trinity Repertory. While in NYC, she performed with a "JewGrass" band at venues in and around NYC including Carnegie Hall's Isaac Stern Auditorium, Rockwood Musical Hall, The Angel Oresanz foundation, and Friends Seminary. Ms. Bellingham is also a literacy and arts-based educator who works at Columbia University Teachers College and with public and independent schools around the country. Her TedTalk on the Power of Reading Aloud has been widely viewed by educators around the country.

Joel Blum (Ike Bykovski, Ensemble) made his Globe debut last year in Kiss Me, Kate. He most recently appeared inThe Fabulous Lipitones at Florida Studio Theatre. Mr. Blum has appeared on Broadway in Showboat (Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor in a Musical), Steel Pier (Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor in a Musical), as Marcellus in The Music Man, the original production of 42nd Street directed by Gower Champion, Stardust, Elaine May's After the Night and the Music, A Christmas Carol, and Debbie. His Off Broadway credits include Golf: The Musical (Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical), And the World Goes 'Round, and Game Show, and his tour credits include Billy Elliot: The Musical, Doctor Doolittle starring Tommy Tune (also associate choreographer), 101 Dalmatians, And the World Goes 'Round, and Annie Get Your Gun starring Debbie Reynolds. Mr. Blum has been seen regionally in Tin Pan Alley Rag (Barrymore Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Musical), Meet John Doe (Helen Hayes Award nomination), Damn Yankees with Tony Randall, and Pal Joey with Lena Horne. His film and television credits include Those Lips, Those Eyes, "Ed," "The Sopranos," two Bob Hope specials, "The Sonny and Cher Show," "The Tonight Show," and "Law & Order" twice.

Ron Bohmer (John Hickam) has appeared on Broadway and in national tours as Joseph Smith in The Book of Mormon, The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, Joe Gillis in Sunset Blvd. (Jefferson Award nom.), Alex inAspects Of Love, Enjolras in LES MISERABLES, Fyedka in Fiddler on the Roof, Coach Bolton in Disney's High School Musical, Sir Percival Glyde in The Woman in White, title role in The Scarlet Pimpernel (National Broadway Theatre Award nom.), Father in Ragtime revival and Frid in A Little Night Music revival (with Bernadette Peters). Regional - Volodya in Bed & Sofa at the Wilma Theatre (Barrymore Award nomination), Phileas Fogg in Around the World in 80 Days for the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, El Gallo in The Fantasticks for the Cincinnati Playhouse (Acclaim Award) and, for the Rep of St. Louis, Dr. Givings in In the Next Room, or the vibrator play and George in Sunday in the Park with George (Theatre Critics Circle Award). His television credits include Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Rescue Me, Ryan's Hope, One Life to Live, and As The World Turns. Recordings include two solo albums -Everyman and another life and numerous cast recordings. Mr. Bohmer is a frequent guest vocalist with symphonies around the world.

Will Branner (Buck, Ensemble) Recent credits include Al in A Chorus Line (SRT), Peter in Jesus Christ Superstar(MTW), Boland in Dogfight (Farmers Alley), and Sky Masterson in Guys and Dolls. Will recently made his film festival debut as Maxwell in Present Day at the Traverse City Film Festival. Along with acting, Mr. Branner is an aspiring director. Recent directing credits include Gruesome Playground Injuries (University of Michigan) and Rock of Ages(Pioneer Theatre Guild).

Nicolette Burton (Ensemble) is thrilled to be making her official Old Globe debut in OCTOBER SKY. Her previous credits include Hair, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, 42nd Street, Nine, Songs for a New World, Spamalot, and Kiss Me, Kate, as well as cabaret performances at 54 Below and The Triad Theater in New York City. A San Diego native, she represented the The Old Globe in 2012 and was as a runner-up in the National High School Musical Theater Awards at The Minskoff Theater on Broadway. She was featured in the 3-part documentary series, "Broadway or Bust" on PBS.

John Cardoza (Ensemble) is making his debut here at The Old Globe with the cast and crew of OCTOBER SKY. A Massachusetts native, and recent graduate of The Boston Conservatory (Spring Awakening, Godspell, Hair), and having spent two consecutive summers in San Francisco (Little Shop of Horrors, A Chorus Line, La Cage Aux Folles), he is grateful to be back in California, this time here in San Diego, working at this historic theatre.

James Royce Edwards (Jake, Ensemble) starred last year as the "Scarecrow" in the World Premiere of OZ at Lamb's Players Theatre in Coronado, as "Jake" in 80's musical miXtape at the Horton Grand Theatre, "Nicky Fangs" in the off-Broadway hit That Bachelorette Show which he also co-created, "Prince Harry" in the Lythgoe's A Snow White Christmas at the Laguna Playhouse, and "Chris" in Miss Saigon at the Electric Theatre in Utah. He last appeared at the Globe as "Young Max" in the 10th Anniversary Production of Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! James's Broadway and national tour credits include Mamma Mia!, Hairspray, All Shook Up, Pippin, and The Grinch. Off Broadway: Altar Boyz, Matthew Passion, and Wanda's World. Mr. Edwards starred as "Tarzan" in the regional premiere of Disney's Tarzan, and as "Prince Eric" in the regional premiere of Disney's The Little Mermaid at Tuacahn Center for the Arts. He also appears around the world as the superhero "Sportacus" from the children's television show "Lazytown."

Steve Gouveia (Earl, Ensemble) is honored to be back in his hometown making his Old Globe debut. His credits include Jersey Boys (original Broadway cast/first national tour/La Jolla Playhouse), The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Little Shop of Horrors, Pageant, Hedwig and the Angry Inch (Cygnet Theatre) The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (La Jolla Playhouse), miXtape (Lamb's Players Theatre), Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story (The Apollo Theatre Centre/Stage West), It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues, Cabaret, A Christmas Carol (San Diego Repertory Theatre), Sweeney Todd (The Fritz Theatre), and Hair (Starlight Bowl). As a musician, Steve has played with Pete Townshend, Alex Lifeson, John Wesley of Porcupine Tree, Ray Manzarek and Robby Krieger of The Doors, Rik Emmett of Triumph, Jung-Ho Pak and the San Diego Orchestra, Chris Thompson of ManfrEd Mann, The Verve Pipe, Andy Qunta of Icehouse, The Red Dirt Band, Micky Dolenz, John Goodman, Debbie Gibson, The Tokens, The CBS Orchestra, and many others. His solo album Shine is available online on iTunes.

Kevyn Morrow (Ken) comes directly from the Tony Award-winning Best Revival of a Musical The Color Purple. His Broadway credits include the original casts of The Scarlet Pimpernel, Dream, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Leader of the Packas well as Dreamgirls (1987 revival) and A Chorus Line (1990 closing company). West End credits: 125th Street andRagtime (Olivier Nominee Best Actor in a Musical). Off Broadway: While I Yet Live, Boys in the Band, Blue. Regional:Driving Miss Daisy w/Sandy Duncan, Whipping Man, Gem of the Ocean, Stormy Weather w/Leslie Uggams, First Wives Club (NAACP Best Actor Nominee), Race, Radio Golf, LES MISERABLES (Javert), The Little Mermaid, Three Musketeers, Tambourines to Glory (Helen Hayes Best Actor nominee), Dreamgirls (Barrymore Best Actor nominee). Film: Fair Market Value, The Trade, Staying Alive. Television: Recurring- Person of Interest, Elementary, Hope and Faith, Ed, One Life to Live. Guest Star: Hostages, L&O, Coach, Murphy Brown, LA Law. Kidsworld (Host).

Austyn Myers (O'Dell) is honored to be back at The Old Globe. Broadway: LES MISERABLES revival. Broadway National Tour: Les Miserablés. His television and film credits include Meet Dave, Team Spitz, Moon Rocks and Lighter Fluid. Animated Series; Bommi and Friends. Regional: Brighton Beach Memoirs, Lost in Yonkers, First Wives Club, (The Old Globe), Kingdom City (La Jolla Playhouse), Twelfth Night, Prince of Egypt,(Bay St. Theatre)Lost in Yonkers (McCoy Rigby Entertainment); Secret Garden, (Lambs Players); Spring Awakening, 13, Peter and the Starcatcher, (The Barn Stage Company); Master Harold and the Boys, (Living Light Theatre); A Christmas Carol, (North Coast Rep); King John, (Intrepid); Urinetown (Mira Costa College), Roar of the Greasepaint (Starlight); Big River, Suessical, Ragtime, Spelling Bee, Annie, Les Miserablés (CYC theatre); excited to be a Junior in UCSD's Theater Department this fall.

Kerry O'Malley (Elsie Hickam) New York theatre credits include roles on Broadway as Betty Haynes in Irving Berlin's White Christmas; the Baker's Wife in Into the Woods (Outer Critics and Drama Desk nominations); Dr. Sharone SteinOn a Clear Day You Can See Forever; Dolly Tate in Annie Get Your Gun; Billy's Mum in Billy Elliot. Off Broadway: Fran Kubelik in Promises, Promises (Encores); Sharon in Finian's Rainbow; Mary in Dublin Carol; How I Learned to Drive(original cast). Las Vegas: Steve Wynn's ShowStoppers. Her film credits include Terminator Genysis, Annabelle, Annabelle 2, Cowboy Drifter, Earth to Echo, Case 39, The Happening, and Rounders. Television credits include: The Last Tycoon,Those Who Kill (series regular), recurring roles on Shameless, Brotherhood, Survivor's Remorse, Boardwalk Empire, and Hart of Dixie; and numerous guest star appearances including Major Crimes, Second Chance, Backstrom, Masters of Sex, Rizzoli & Isles, The Mentalist, Criminal Minds, Detroit 187, Without a Trace, Cold Case, Law & Order, Law & Order: LA, Law & Order: SVU.

Destan Owens (Bathtub Amos, Ensemble) has appeared on Broadway in Rent (Tom Collins), Chicago (Billy Flynn),Smokey Joe's Café (Adrian), The Who's Tommy 15th Anniversary Concert (Hawker); Regional: Dreamgirls (C.C.),Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel (Pilate), Stormy Weather "The Lena Horne Story" (Teddy Jr.), It Happened in Little Rock(Artist/Reporter), Carmen (Escamillo) Trouble in Tahiti (Sam), A Little Night Music (Lindquist), Die Fledermaus (Dr. Falke); TV: 30 Rock 'The Break-Up' (Black Niles); Film: Marie and Bruce, Get Rich or Die Trying, Across the Universe. Solost with Oklahoma City Philharmonic, Arkansas Symphony Orchestra, Sun Valley Opera, Omaha Symphony, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The Jackson Symphony, Southwest Florida Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Memphis Symphony Orchestra, Grand Rapids Symphony, Lake Charles Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, and the Long Island Philharmonic. Member of Broadway Inspirational Voices.

Eliza Palasz (Dorothy) is making her Globe debut continuing with one of her favorite stories. A recent graduate of Northwestern University, Chicago credits include Wendla Bergman in Spring Awakening, Mistress in Evita, Eliza inGodspell (Marriott Theatre), Antiochus' Daughter in Pericles (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre), and Margaret Snow in Rob Ashford's Carousel (Lyric Opera of Chicago) starring Steven Pasquale and Laura Osnes. As an actor and musician she has worked in her hometown, Seattle, on numerous new works and premieres with the Village Theatre, ACT, 5th Avenue Theatre, and Contemporary Classics. Ms. Palasz's vocal solos have been featured on the CASA, Voices Only, Contemporary A Cappella Recording Award compilations, and as winner at the ICCAs.

Liam Quealy (Jim, Ensemble) is making his Globe debut and continuing his journey with OCTOBER SKY. Based out of Chicago, he has performed at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Writers Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire, Drury Lane Oakbrook, Paramount Theatre in Aurora, and Theatre at the Center in Munster, Indiana. He also toured with Fiddler on the Roof and performed Off Broadway in Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich's Dear Edwina.

Patrick Rooney (Roy Lee) makes his Globe debut with OCTOBER SKY. Chicago credits include: Rent (Roger: Jeff Award nomination) at Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre; Spring Awakening (Melchior), OCTOBER SKY (Roy Lee), and Godspell(Judas u/s) at The Marriott Theatre; Arcadia (Septiums/Valentine u/s) at Writers Theatre; LES MISERABLES at The Paramount Theatre; Camelot (Mordred), and Next To Normal (Gabe/Henry u/s) at Drury Lane Oakbrook. He has also participated in workshops at Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, and The Marriott Theatre.

Connor Russell (Quentin) New York credits: Babes in Arms, Light and Shadow. Regional: Idaho! The Comedy Musical(The Smith Center), World Premiere of Disney's Aladdin, A Chorus Line, The Music Man, Hairspray Anniversary Concert (5th Avenue Theatre), A Musical Christmas Carol (Pittsburgh CLO), White Christmas (Arkansas Rep),The Who's Tommy, Funny Girl (Village Theatre), High School Musical (Seattle Children's Theatre), and Gypsy (Capital Repertory Theatre). Select Film: Paul in The Hinterlands (IAWTV Award nomination Best Leading Actor), Brand Upon the Brain (Toronto Film Festival/ New York Film Festival), Truth Slash Fiction (SeriesFest 2016 Winner).

Kyle Selig (Homer Hickam) made his Broadway debut in The Book of Mormon as Elder Price during his junior year at Carnegie Mellon School of Drama, after appearing in the show's national tour. A native of Huntington Beach, California, he was most recently seen at the Hollywood Bowl in the role of Baby John in the LA Philharmonic concert of West Side Story. He is a past winner of the Jimmy Award for High School Musical Theater and LA Music Center Spotlight Award. His original albums "And the Tree Was Happy" and "She Breathes" are available on iTunes.

Lance Arthur Smith (Otis, Ensemble) is an actor, writer, and fight choreographer. His local credits include work at San Diego Rep, Cygnet, North Coast Rep, Mo'olelo, Moonlight Stage, Starlight, Ion, Intrepid, and Lamb's Players Theatre. He's worked regionally at Kingsmen Shakespeare, Ark Theatre Company, PCPA, and African American Theatrical Ensemble. He is the author of the nonfiction book Princess Geek, and his commissioned play Hemispheres: In the Secret City will receive its second workshop at New Village Arts in summer 2017.

Clay Stefanki (Ensemble) made his debut at The Old Globe last year in Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!His regional credits include Mary Poppins (Ogunquit Playhouse), The Little Mermaid (Alabama Shakespeare Festival),Starlight Express and Thoroughly Modern Millie (Tuacahn). His other regional credits include 42nd Street, Hairspray,Life Could Be A Dream (Moonlight Stage Productions), Spamalot, Hairspray (Musical Theatre West), Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Cabrillo Music Theatre), and Miss Saigon (McCoy Rigby Entertainment). He also performed internationally with Miss Saigon at the Macau International Music Festival in Macau, China.

Betsy Stewart (Emily Sue) is making her Globe debut. She was most recently seen as Ilse in Spring Awakening and as Emily Sue in OCTOBER SKY at the Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire, Illinois. She is a proud graduate of Northwestern University.

Nick Sullivan (Mr. Turner, Ensemble) is making his Globe debut. He has worked on Broadway in Newsies, Footloose, Black Comedy, Moliere Comedies, and Kinky Boots (Broadway Touring Company). Off-Broadway credits include Lone Star Love, Merry Wives of Windsor (NY Shakespeare in the Park), and Kinky Boots (National Tour). Nick has worked regionally at Shakespeare Theatre of D.C., Shakespeare Theatre of NJ, Goodspeed Opera, Fulton Opera, George Street Playhouse, Papermill Playhouse, North Shore Music Theater, TUTS, TOTS, 5th Avenue, Two River Theater, Cleveland Playhouse, Virginia Stage Company. Television and film credits include "Madame Secretary", "Good Wife", "BrainDead", "Elementary", "Boardwalk Empire", "Girls", "30 Rock", "Alpha House", "Royal Pains", and "Law and Order"(all three flavors), Our Idiot Brother, Prison Song, Revenge of the Green Dragons, and Puccini for Beginners. Mr. Sullivan has recorded over 400 audiobooks, garnering various awards, and is the author of the just-released novelZombie Bigfoot.

Scott Wakefield (Ensemble) returns to The Old Globe having appeared in last season's Bright Star. He has performed on Broadway in Hands on a Hardbody, Ring of Fire, and It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues, and Off-Broadway in The Joy Luck Club, The American Clock, Paint Your Wagon, and Texas In Paris. Favorite regional roles include Millet in Fuddy Meers, Camille in A Flea in Her Ear, Victor in The Price, Kruger in The Front Page, Tom in The Glass Menagerie, Louis DeRougemont in Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, and Michael in Dancing at Lughnasa at such prestigious venues as Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Milwaukee Repertory, Seattle Repertory, La Jolla Playhouse, and ALLIANCE THEATRE. Mr. Wakefield garnered three Best Actor awards for his portrayal of Will Rogers in The Will Rogers Follies and another Best Actor award for playing Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Mr. Wakefield has written and produced two CDs of original music: Older Than Dirt and Vegetarian Nightmare.

Angela Wildflower (Ensemble) is an actress and music artist with a passion for stage, television, and film. Fresh off her Broadway debut as Mary Wells in "Motown The Musical", Ms. Wildflower was recently featured on CBS' "Blue Bloods", Currently stars as "Samantha" on the ABFF nominated web dramedy "First Dates" (online at firstdates.tv) and just wrapped the new feature film, "Roxanne, Roxanne". Additional credits include, International: Hinton Battle's Variety Bang (Osaka, Japan), Regional: Venice (Hailey Daisy, Public Theatre/Kirk Douglas Theatre), Crowns (Yolonda, Pasadena Playhouse/Unicorn Theatre), Avenue Q (Gary Coleman, 3-D Theatricals), All Shook Up (Lorraine, 3-DTheatricals), Dangerous Beauty (Pasadena Playhouse), Princess and The Black Eyed Pea (San Diego Rep), Once On This Island (Timoune, Coterie Theatre) , Ragtime (Sarah, Center Stage), and many more. Wildflower is a dedicated philanthropist who mentors young artists & volunteers with Broadway Serves. Ms. Wildflower is a music artist and poet who can be seen performing her original work on stages from LA to NYC.

Kevin Depinet (Scenic Design) designed Sense and Sensibility at The Old Globe this past summer. He has designed for Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, McCarter Theatre Center, Court Theatre, Writers Theatre, Drury Lane Theatre, Chicago Children's Theatre, Denver Center Theatre Company, Arden Theatre Company, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, Glimmerglass Opera, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, American Players Theatre, Indiana Repertory Theatre, and Mark Taper Forum. His Broadway credits include associate designer for August: Osage County, The Motherf**ker with the Hat, and Of Mice and Men. His national tour credits includeCamelot and Ragtime. Mr. Depinet has also designed for the National Theatre in London, Discovery Channel, Netflix, 21st Century Fox, and Disney.

Linda Cho (Costume Design) is returning to The Old Globe, where she most recently designed last year's The Comedy of Errors. This is her 15th show here since 2002. Her work can currently be seen on Broadway in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, for which she received an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination and a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Musical. Off Broadway she has designed at Theatre for a New Audience, Manhattan Theatre Club, Second Stage Theatre, The Public Theater, Classic Stage Company, Drama Dept., The Acting Company, and Atlantic Theater Company. Regionally her designs have been seen at LA Opera, La Jolla Playhouse, Arena Stage, Guthrie Theater, Goodman Theatre, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Goodspeed Musicals, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Internationally Ms. Cho has designed costumes at Royal Shakespeare Company in England and Stratford Festival in Canada.

Japhy Weideman (Lighting Design) previously designed the Globe productions of Bright Star, Bethany, The Rainmaker, and August: Osage County. His recent Broadway projects include Bright Star, Sylvia, and Old Times. Other Broadway credits include The Visit and Airline Highway (2015 Tony nominations), Of Mice and Men (2014 Tony nomination), Macbeth (Drama Desk nomination), The Snow Geese, Cyrano de Bergerac, and The Nance (2013 Tony nomination). His other regional credits include American Conservatory Theater, Arena Stage, Alley Theatre, Berkeley Rep, Houston Grand Opera, Huntington Theatre Company, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Santa Fe Opera, The Shakespeare Theatre Company, and Williamstown Theatre Festival. Internationally, Weideman has designed at Edinburgh International Festival, London's West End, Royal Shakespeare Company, Ancient Theater of Epidaurus, Greece, National Theater of Korea, La Scala in Milan, Opéra de Lyon, and De Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam. His awards and nominations for lighting design include Tony, Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Hewes Design, San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle, and San Diego Craig Noel Awards.

Garth Helm (Sound Design) Broadway designs include, Pippin. (Tony nomination for Best Sound Design 2013). First national tour Pippin. The Heart of Robin Hood. US Associate Sound Designer for: Rocky The Musical (Broadway 2014), We Will Rock You (US Tour 2013-14), Sao Paulo Brazil (2015-16), Ghost the Musical 2012-14 (Broadway, US Tour 1, South Korea), Les Mis 25Th Anniversary Concert 02 Arena (London, 25th US Tour 1), Priscilla Queen of the Desert (Toronto, Broadway, US Tour 1) Dirty Dancing USA, Phantom Las Vegas, Phantom Of The Opera Broadway (current sound supervisor). Regional designs include: Brigadoon 2014, Beauty and the Beast, Billy Elliott, Barry Manilow's Could It Be Magic, The Buddy Holly Story, Evita, Oliver, Ragtime, Sweeney Todd, Shrek, The Sound of Music, The Most Happy Fella, West Side Story, Xanadu. Mr. Helm is also a sound design consultant for various Live Theatre and performance venues, and owner of Production Sound Services.

Shawn Sagady (Projection Design) has designed the Broadway productions of All The Way (Drama Desk Award nomination, Tony Award for Best Play), Leap of Faith, Memphis (Tony Award for Best Musical). His Off Broadway and regional credits include stop. reset., Mound Builders, and Emotional Creature (Signature Theatre Company), By the Way, Meet Vera Stark (Second Stage Theatre), Father Comes Home from the War (The Public Theater), Memphis andJulius Caesar (national tours), The White Snake and Back Back Back (The Old Globe), Overt Political Correctness(American Repertory Theater), 2666, Brigadoon (Joseph Jefferson Award nomination), and The White Snake (Jeff nomination) (Goodman Theatre), Fingersmith, The Great Society, A Wrinkle in Time, Measure for Measure, andAmerican Night: The Ballad of Juan José (Oregon Shakespeare Festival), and Carmen (La Jolla Playhouse). He also served as Director of Photography for the film project 100 Monologues.

Charlie Alterman (Music Director) was music director for the Tony Award-winning revival of Pippin, as well as the Broadway productions of Next to Normal and Godspell. He made his Broadway debut in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (as both Music Director and standby for several roles). Upcoming Broadway: Half Time (spring '17, seen in Chicago this past winter as Gotta Dance). Other Broadway credits include Legally Blonde (Associate Conductor). He has toured with Grease and served as Music Supervisor for the North American tour of Next to Normal. Off-Broadway favorites:Almost Heaven: Songs of John Denver and Silence: The Musical! Regional work includes shows at The Muny, A.R.T., Arena Stage, Huntington Theatre, La Jolla Playhouse, Trinity Rep, and nine seasons with the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Concert appearances include shows with Brooke Shields, Frankie Avalon, Dana Reeve, Emily Skinner, Billy Porter, Carol Woods, and Ken Page.

Bruce Coughlin (Orchestrations) has several Broadway credits to his name including The Wild Party, The Light in the Piazza (co-orchestrator; Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Urinetown, Grey Gardens, 9 to 5, Annie Get Your Gun, The Sound of Music, Once Upon a Mattress, and the 1996 revival of The King and I; plus additional/contributing orchestrations for Big Fish, On the Twentieth Century, Something Rotten!, and On the Town. His New York and regional credits include War Paint (Goodman), First Daughter Suite (co-orchestrator), Rain, Giant, and See What I Wanna See, the recent London revivals of Assassins and Urinetown, Amélie, Floyd Collins, Children of Eden, Finding Neverland(U.K. version), Sense and Sensibility and A Room with a View (both at The Old Globe), Tales of the City (ACT), and Far from Heaven (Playwrights Horizons). His opera credits include The Grapes of Wrath, 27, and Morning Star, all by Ricky Ian Gordon. His film credits include Hairspray ("Miss Baltimore Crabs") and Fantasia 2000 (principal arranger). He is the winner of a Tony Award (and two additional nominations), Drama Desk Award (and eight nominations), and an Obie Award.

Courtney Cerny (Assistant Director and Associate Choreographer) is delighted to be working for The Old Globe. Her choreography credits include Brigadoon, Peter Pan (Alluvion Stage Company) Phantom of the Opera (Liberty University), and White Christmas (assistant choreographer, Drury Lane Theatre). Courtney's Chicago performance credits include Brigadoon (The Goodman Theatre), Hazel (dance captain), West Side Story, Billy Elliot, White Christmas (Drury Lane Theatre), Oklahoma, Mary Poppins, and In the Heights (Paramount Theatre). In the Midwest region, she has performed with the Fireside Theatre (Footloose, Annie Get Your Gun, Fireside Christmas, Hello Dolly)and Beef and Boards Dinner Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana (The Music Man).

Howie Cherpakov, CSA (Casting) cast the Broadway and national tour productions of Bright Star, Next Fall (2010 Artios nomination), The Seafarer, Coram Boy, Chicago, Annie Get Your Gun, Dirty Dancing, and South Pacific. His Off Broadway and regional productions include Bright Star (Old Globe-2015 Artios Nomination), The Pipeline Festival(Women's Project), Atomic and Abraham Lincoln's...Dance Party (Acorn Theater), Marry Harry (American Theater Group), Dangerous Beauty (Pasadena Playhouse), Next Fall (Naked Angels), Fault Lines (Cherry Lane Theatre, 2009 Artios Award), The Glorious Ones (Lincoln Center Theater), This Isn't Romance (Soho Theatre), Rock Doves (Irish Arts Center), The Opposite of Sex (Magic Theatre), Flight (Lucille Lortel Theatre), In This House (Melting Pot), and This is Our Youth. Additionally, Mr. Cherpakov has cast over 65 new plays and musicals for the Powerhouse Theater season at New York Stage and Film.

Anjee Nero (Production Stage Manager) previously worked on the Globe productions of Kiss Me, Kate, The Twenty-seventh Man, Bright Star, Dog and Pony, The Winter's Tale, Be a Good Little Widow, Allegiance - A New American Musical, A Room with a View, Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show, The Savannah Disputation, Cornelia, Kingdom, and the 2007 Shakespeare Festival. Her selected La Jolla Playhouse credits include Sideways directed by Des McAnuff, Ruined directed by Liesl Tommy, A Midsummer Night's Dream directed by Christopher Ashley, andHerringbone directed by Roger Rees and starring BD Wong. Ms. Nero has worked with several prominent regional theatres including The Kennedy Center, Hartford Stage, Center Theatre Group, Siti Company, Huntington Theatre Company, and Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Her other selected credits include Schick Machine (Paul Dresher Ensemble), which toured nationally and internationally, and Garden of Forbidden Loves and Garden of Deadly Sound(IMAGOmoves), which toured to the International Hungarian Theatre Festival in Cluj, Romania. Ms. Nero was most recently on Broadway with Bright Star.

Brian Hill (Book) is best known for The Story of My Life, which premiered at Broadway's Booth Theatre in 2009, earning four Drama Desk Award nominations (Outstanding Musical, Music, Lyrics, and Book of a Musical), as well as the newly revised book for Goodman Theatre's acclaimed production of Lerner and Loewe's classic Brigadoon. He was resident director of Disney's The Lion King on Broadway, associate director of The Little Mermaid, and associate director for the national tours of Sunset Boulevard and The Sound of Music. With Neil Bartram he has written the book for The Adventures of Pinocchio; The Theory of Relativity, which premiered in London in 2015; the English language adaptation of Belles Soeurs, based on Michel Tremblay's groundbreaking play; and Broadway's The Story of My Life. Current Bartram and Hill projects include Senza Luce, commissioned by the Canadian Music Theatre Project; You Are Here, co-commissioned by Acting Up Stage and Signature Theatre Company; Bedknobs and Broomsticks, which is being developed with Chicago Shakespeare Theater; and a musical adaptation of Ray Bradbury's Something Wicked This Way Comes. The cast recordings of The Story of My Life and The Theory of Relativity are available on the PS Classics label.

Aaron Thielen (Book) is the Artistic Director at The Marriott Theatre in Chicago. He has long been an advocate for the creation of new musicals. Along with OCTOBER SKY the Musical, which premiered at The Marriott Theatre in 2015, he and Michael Mahler wrote the award-winning musical Hero, which was produced at the Marriott and Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota. Thielen also adapted the 20th Century Fox film For the Boys. He was one of the creative forces in bringing the 2008 world premiere musical The Bowery Boys to The Marriott Theatre. He co-authored the award-winningAll Night Strut!, A Fascinatin' Rhythm, and Now and Forever: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber with Marc Robin.

Michael Mahler (Music and Lyrics) is the Chicago-based composer/lyricist of OCTOBER SKY; Diary of a Wimpy Kid; Hero; Knute Rockne All-American; Wonderland, Alice's Rock & Roll Adventure; How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back?; and others. His songs have been featured in concerts and showcases across the globe, including the National Alliance for Musical Theatre Festival of New Musicals, the ASCAP/MAC Songwriters' Showcase, and an evening at The Kennedy Center. He contributed additional lyrics to the Broadway-bound revival of Boublil and Schönberg's Miss Saigon and served as the original English lyricist for La Révolution Française. His projects in development includeGravediggers' Hamlet and an adaptation of The Secret of My Success. Mahler is also the recipient of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work.

Rachel Rockwell (Director and Choreographer) is a multiple award-winning American theatre director, choreographer, and performer. Rockwell was named Best Director of 2010 by Chicago magazine and the 2012 Chicagoan of the Year in theatre by the Chicago Tribune. Some of her Chicago-area credits include Brigadoon (Goodman Theatre, Joseph Jefferson Awards for Best Production-Musical and Best Choreography), Enron (TimeLine Theatre Company), the world premiere of OCTOBER SKY the Musical, 42nd Street, Shout!, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, A Christmas Carol, Disney's High School Musical, Seussical, and The Wizard of Oz (The Marriott Theatre). Her further Chicago directing credits include Disney's Mary Poppins, In the Heights, The Music Man, Annie, and Hair (Paramount Theatre);Billy Elliot: The Musical (Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Choreography), Sweeney Todd, LES MISERABLES, The Sound of Music (also recorded for the New York Public Library's Theatre on Film and Tape Archive), Ragtime (Joseph Jefferson Awards for Best Production-Musical and Best Director-Musical), Oliver!, and Miss Saigon (Drury Lane Theatre); and the U.S. premiere of Ride the Cyclone, Disney's The Little Mermaid, Shrek The Musical, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Short Shakespeare! Romeo and Juliet, Short Shakespeare! The Taming of the Shrew, The Adventures of Pinocchio, and The Emperor's New Clothes (Chicago Shakespeare Theater). As a performer, Rockwell appeared on Broadway in Mamma Mia! and in national tours of Mamma Mia! and Harold Prince's Showboat.

Universal Stage Productions is the Live Theatre division of the world-famous motion picture studio. Universal's record-breaking musical phenomenon Wicked recently celebrated its 12th smash-hit year on Broadway. With a national tour and multiple international productions, Wicked has been seen by more than 42 million people worldwide and has grossed over $4 billion dollars, making it one of the most successful theatrical ventures of all time. In 2008, Universal's critically acclaimed musical adaptation of Billy Elliot opened on Broadway and went on to win 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical. Universal also produced the Tony-nominated Broadway production of Bring It On: The Musical and the acclaimed revival of The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess and will produce the Broadway premiere of Holiday Inn - The New Irving Berlin Musical at Studio 54 this fall with Roundabout Theatre Company.

The Tony Award-winning Old Globe is one of the country's leading professional regional theatres and has stood as San Diego's flagship arts institution for over 80 years. Under the leadership of Erna Finci Viterbi Artistic Director Barry Edelstein and Managing Director Michael G. Murphy, The Old Globe produces a year-round season of 15 productions of cla