Sally Struthers to Join Justin Guarini, Michael Rupert & Rachel Bay Jones in THE FIRST GENTLEMAN Readings

Producer Danna Hyams is proud to announce that director Nick Demos will helm a star-studded cast that includes Gerard Cannonico, Justin Guarini, Rachel Bay Jones, Michael Rupert, Brynn Williams and Emmy Winner Sally Struthers in two special reading presentations of Bret Simmons and David Howard's new musical THE FIRST GENTLEMAN at Shetler Studios, 244 West 54th Street, on Monday, February 22nd at 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM.

Russell Cassidy is a proud father and owner of a small construction firm whose life is turned upside when his wife, long-shot candidate Governor Katheryn Cassidy (Rachel Bay Jones) is elected the first female President of the United States! As the first First Gentleman, Russell has a lot on his plate as this once very private man needs to learn how to live a very public life in the glass bowl that is the White House. Can he be a good father to his son (Gerard Cannonico) who's new girlfriend (Brynn Williams) might be a bad influence? How will he navigate the treacherous waters of the White House Press Corps (lead by Michael Rupert) and his wife's overbearing Presidential Staff (Justin Guarani and Sally Struthers)? Will he finally learn the proper way to serve tea to the spouses of other world leaders?

The new musical THE FIRST GENTLEMAN features music by Bret Simmons and Book & Lyrics by David Howard.

Also featured in the cast are Cheryl Daro, Charles Gray, Lance Guest, Olli Haaskivi, Lorinda Lisitza, Paolo Montalban, Eddie Pendergraft, Rick Roemer, Alyssa Simmons and Hannah Simmons.

This reading cast of THE FIRST GENTLEMAN is cast by Daryl Eisenberg, CSA of Daryl Eisenberg Casting. Bret Simmons also serves as the Music Director for these February Readings.

To RSVP to the reading, please call 347-954-9157 or e-mail Gent@theatrical.ag.

BRET SIMMONS is the composer of musicals including Falling for Eve with co-writers David Howard and Joe DiPietro, which enjoyed a successful Off-Broadway run in 2010; Lucky Star which premiered at Phoenix Theatre 2008; and Changing Minds which is being licensed by Theatrical Rights Worldwide. His songs have been featured in live stage shows and special events for such clients as The Walt Disney Company, Vee Corp, and The Olympics. He has composed and arranged music for television shows such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, Live! with Regis and Kelly (ABC), Charles in Charge (Universal), The Megan Mullally Show (NBC), and Car Crazy (Speed). Bret has been a staff writer for music publishers including EMI, and Famous Music Corp. Recordings of his work have been released on CBS/Sony Records, and Walt Disney Records.

While DAVID HOWARD's most visible credit is DreamWork's major feature film Galaxy Quest (Story and Screenplay credit), David Howard has also worked in television, and live theatre. Falling for Eve (lyricist, based on his play Adam Alone) with book by Joe DiPietro and music by Bret Simmons, appeared Off-Broadway at the York Theatre in the summer of 2010. Other credits as a lyricist include the theme song for the Disney Channel series Zeke and Luther. Television credits include The Carver Brothers (series pilot), with Robert Deniro's Tribeca Films for CBS (co-written with M.F. McDowell) and Dead and Breakfast (pilot) for the WB. David also recently adapted the children's book The Three Little Wolves and the Big Bad Pig, by Eugene Trivizas, as a musical (book and lyrics) also with composer Bret Simmons, licensed by Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

NICK DEMOS is an award-winning director and producer. Formerly he was the Artistic Director of Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma. Current directing projects include the musicals, #FirstWorld Problems, and The First Gentleman, the documentary Invisible: Fibromyalgia and the web series, HAG (also writer). Other directing credits include the short film, Policy of Truth (LA Indie Film Festival; ReelHeART International Film Festival, Toronto; Beverly Hills Film Festival; SoHo International Film Festival; Dead Center Film Festival) Not As Cute As Picture (GLAAD Media nomination). As a producer: Memphis (West End, Broadway, First National Tour - 2010 Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critic's Circle Awards, Oliver nom), Make Me a Song (West End, Off-Broadway- Drama Desk, Outer Critcis noms) and the First National Tour of The Drowsy Chaperone, among others. www.nickdemos.net, follow on twitter @NickDemos

DANNA HYAMS has been producing theater in Los Angeles for over 30 years. For most of her life she alternated between theatre and film production, including work as a Creative Executive at New Line Cinema. Most recently, she spent ten years as the Producing Director of The Hayworth Theatre. Projects there included new works such as "Havana Bourgeois", "Exiles" and "Nowhere On The Border", by Carlos Lacamara, which continued on to successful regional productions in Portland, Miami, Chicago and New York. Award-winning writer/director, Paul Mazursky directed two productions at The Hayworth, including "Adam Baum and the Jew Movie", starring Richard Kind and Hamish Linklater. Frances Fisher and Paul Ben-Victor starred in the World Premier of "Sexy Laundry". The Hayworth also developed the critically acclaimed, "Lovelace, A Rock Opera", with Charlotte Caffey of The Go Go's. The Hayworth's successful original reading series, included such actors as Dan Lauria, Michael Urie, Carol Kane, Charles Durning and Jessica Chastain. Danna is currently working with Audible, developing original scripted series for a new division set to launch later this year.