Khamary Rose, Brennin Hunt, Sharon Leal & More to Star in INVINCIBLE - THE MUSICAL World Premiere at The Wallis

Casting has been announced for Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts' WORLD PREMIERE production of INVINCIBLE - THE MUSICAL, featuring the music of Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, from November 22 to December 18, 2022, in The Wallis' Bram Goldsmith Theater. This inventive new work weaves the four-time GRAMMY® Award and 2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductees' legendary catalogue and inspired new songs throughout a reimagining of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet for the 21st century. Directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene (resident director of Hamilton), with a book by Bradley Bredeweg (creator of "Good Trouble" and GLAAD Award-winning "The Fosters" TV series), music direction and vocal arrangements by Jesse Vargas, arrangements by Jesse Vargas and Neil Giraldo, orchestrations by Neil Giraldo and Jesse Vargas, casting by The Telsey Office, Ryan Bernard Tymensky, CSA, and choreography by Galen Hooks, Invincible - The Musical is presented by special arrangement with Jamie Cesa, Cody Lassen & Bel Chiasso Entertainment.

The cast features Khamary Rose as Romeo (Next to Normal at The Kennedy Center), Kay Sibal as Juliet (original INVINCIBLE staged reading), Sharon Leal as Madame Capulet (Dreamgirls) , Dionne Gipson as Madame Montague (The Wallis & For The Record's Scorsese: American Crime Requiem), Brennin Hunt as Paris (Pretty Woman: The Musical on Broadway), Ari Notartomaso as Benvolio (Paranormal Activity: Next of Kin), Julia Harriman as Nura ("The Voice"), Jon Patrick Walker as Friar (Peter & The Starcatcher on Broadway), Aaron Alcaraz as Mercutio/Ensemble/Romeo Understudy (Rent - 20th Anniversary National Tour) and Josh Strobl as Tybalt/Ensemble/Romeo Understudy (Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway). Other cast members are Steven Agdeppa (Ensemble/Friar Understudy), Gillian Bozajian (Ensemble), Cameron Field (Ensemble), Sophia Hall (Ensemble/Dance Captain), Nadja Hayes (Ensemble), Eric Myrick (Ensemble/Mercutio and Tybalt Understudy), Ian Joseph Paget (Ensemble), Lyric Rachae (Ensemble/Juliet and Nura Understudy), Krystle Simmons (Ensemble/Madame Montague and Madame Capulet Understudy), Kelsey Lee Smith (Ensemble/Benvolio and Juliet Understudy), Ian Ward (Ensemble/Paris and Tybalt Understudy), and Kendyl Yokoyama (Ensemble/Nura Understudy).

Invincible - The Musical is set in the modern, war-torn metropolis of Verona where the newly elected Chancellor Paris vows to destroy the progressive resistance and return the city to its traditional roots. The star-crossed lovers' story, exploring how love and equality battle for survival in times of great transformation, envisions peace in a divided world.

Singer-songwriter Benatar and producer-musician Giraldo will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November. Their partnership, which combines her staggering vocals and take-no-prisoners attitude along with his trailblazing artistry as a guitarist, producer and songwriter, forged the undeniable chemistry and unique sound that created eternal rock hits including "We Belong," "Invincible," "Love Is A Battlefield," "Promises In The Dark," "We Live For Love," "Heartbreaker" and "Hell Is For Children." Together, Benatar and Giraldo created two multi-platinum, five platinum, and three gold albums as well as 19 Top 40 hits. They have sold over 36 million records worldwide and have won an unprecedented four consecutive GRAMMY® awards.

Tickets for Invincible ($39-$125, with previews $29-$105) are on sale now, as are single tickets and subscriptions to all performances in The Wallis' 2022/2023 Season. TheWallis.org/Invincible

Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts is located at 9390 N. Santa Monica Blvd, Beverly Hills. To purchase single tickets, subscriptions and for more information, please call 310-746-4000 (Monday - Friday, 10 am to 6 pm) or visit TheWallis.org.

The Wallis is closely monitoring the ever-changing local health and safety environment carefully and addressing known health factors at the moment. Should plans change and any performance be required to be postponed or cancelled or if venue capacity limitations are instituted, ticket holders will be notified immediately with options for their purchased tickets per The Wallis' ticketing policies.

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo

In a pop culture world defined by its perpetual changes, the partnership of singer songwriter Pat Benatar and producer-musician Neil Giraldo has been a potent, steadfast union that has soared to the top of the charts and into fans' hearts on their own terms. Her staggering vocals and take-no-prisoners attitude, along with his trailblazing artistry as a guitarist, producer and songwriter, forged the undeniable chemistry and unique sound that created eternal rock hits including "We Belong," "Invincible," "Love Is A Battlefield," "Promises In The Dark," "We Live For Love," "Heartbreaker" and "Hell Is For Children." Their stunning achievements are a testament to their vision. Together, Benatar and Giraldo have created two multi-platinum, five platinum and three gold albums, as well as 19 Top 40 hits. They have sold over 36 million records worldwide and have won an unprecedented four consecutive GRAMMY® awards. They have also been feted with three American Music Awards, a People's Choice Award and a 2008 induction into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame. This November Benatar and Giraldo will also be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame. On top of his six-string and songwriting skills showcased with Benatar, Giraldo has also written, produced, arranged and recorded for multiple artists including John Waite (the Ignition album), Kenny Loggins (the GRAMMY®-nominated Top 20 hit "Don't Fight It"), and Rick Springfield (his #1, Grammy-winning classic "Jessie's Girl" and Top 10 hit "I've Done Everything For You"). Starting with the 1979 debut In The Heat Of The Night, Benatar's powerful vocals and fierce stage presence created a successful template for hard rocking women in the 1980s while also appealing to pop fans. The video for "You Better Run" was the second clip ever to be shown on MTV; she was the first female artist and Neil the first guitarist to be featured on the channel. Their videos dominated the first decade of MTV. Their 1991 release True Love, a collection of jump blues and swing tunes, anticipated the swing revival of the late '90s. Throughout their 43-year musical partnership, Benatar and Giraldo have always shirked trends and explored a wide variety of musical styles. Over four decades into their hit-laden, genre-blending repertoire, Benatar and Giraldo continue to play to sold out crowds on their annual tours. Their artistic journey is on-going with many exciting possibilities to come.

Tiffany Nichole Greene

(Director) (she/her) is the resident director of Hamilton (Philip Tour) and directed the off-Broadway premiere of Steph Del Rosso's 53% Of (Second Stage). Recent credits include the world premiere of Vichet Chum's High School Play: A Nostalgia Fest (Alley Theatre); Christina Ham's Nina Simone: Four Women (Arizona Theatre Company); the world premiere of Deneen Reynolds-Knott's Shoebox Picnic: Route One (Alabama Shakespeare Festival); Adrienne Kennedy's Ohio State Murders (Goodman Theatre); and the world premiere of Something Grim(M) (Dallas Theater Center), which she also created. Digital credits include the world premieres of Lydia Diamond's Whiterly Negotiations and Lynn Nottage's What Are The Things I Need To Remember? for Octopus Theatricals (NYT Critic's Pick); Stacey Rose's As Is: Conversations With Big Black Women In Confined Spaces (Manhattan Theatre Club); Alice Childress' Wine In The Wilderness (Portland Center Stage); and Battle Cry by Bianca Sams (Cleveland Play House). Greene is the Associate Artistic Director of Dallas Theater Center and holds an MFA from Brown University/Trinity Rep. www.tiffanynicholegreene.com.

Bradley Bredeweg

(Book) is known for creating the critically acclaimed Freeform family drama "The Fosters," which garnered awards including Outstanding Drama Series at the GLAAD Awards, the Emmys' Television Academy Honors Award for Excellence in Television, the Television Critics Award for Outstanding Drama Series, and the Teen Choice Awards Best Drama Series. Executive Produced by Bredeweg, Peter Paige and Jennifer Lopez, the series ran for five season and resulted in the highly acclaimed spin-off "Good Trouble," now entering its fourth season on Hulu and Freeform. He currently has a blind script deal with Skydance Studios and has sold pilots to Showtime, Amazon, Netflix, The CW, ABC and USA. In partnership with Google, he wrote, produced and directed the new musical Headless, a re-imagining of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, which starred Hadestown's Reeve Carney. Bredeweg also wrote, produced, and directed the musical smash-hit Scissorhands, a re-working of the classic Tim Burton tale as a modern queer love story. Other theatrical credits in LA include SCISSORHANDS The Musical and The Last Breakfast Club. He also continues to be an active producer and investor in the Broadway and West End scenes. Shows include the critically acclaimed revival of Side Show, Green Day's American Idiot, the smash hit Dear Evan Hansen, as well as the latest Broadway sensation, Moulin Rouge. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @BradleyBredeweg

Jesse Vargas

(Orchestrations and Arrangements) has worked internationally as a music director, arranger, orchestrator and music producer. Broadway: Glory Days (Arrangements & Orchestrations); The Ritz (Orchestrations). Off-Broadway: bare-A Pop Opera (MD & Vocal Arrangements); Rooms-A Rock Romance (Arrangements & Orchestrations); Shida; and Saved. National Tours: Xanadu; Barry Manilow's Copacabana. Other as Arranger/Orchestrator: A Little More Alive; DCM; White Noise; One Hit Wonder; Peep Show; What A Wonderful World; Asphalt Beach; Bright Lights, Big City; Hair In Concert (Grammy Nominated Album); Pippin (2006 Tour). Jesse served as music director/conductor/orchestrator for Clay Aiken from 2004-2008. He was also the MD/arranger for the bands Nick Blaemire and The Hustle and The Midtown Men. He's produced, arranged and orchestrated albums for Scott Alan, Kooman & Dimond, Daniel Reichard, Michael Longoria, and more. For the past six years, Jesse has been the Music Supervisor for the Los Angeles entertainment company FOR THE RECORD LIVE. He's arranged, and orchestrated FTR productions of Baz-Star Crossed Love; The Brat Pack; Scorsese-American Crime Requiem; Tarantino Live; and the critically acclaimed Love Actually-Live at The Wallis. TV credits include Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (Orchestrations) and Good Trouble (Songwriter & Music Producer). @shouthollermusic

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