Kacergis, Ross, DeSantis Set For Village Theatre's CHASING NICOLETTE 10/30-11/22

Casting for the West Coast Premiere of CHASING NICOLETTE, the new musical authored by the same team that brought last season's popular new musical STUNT GIRL to the Mainstage, has been announced.

Two-time Tony award nominee, Peter Kellogg (Stunt Girl, Anna Karenina) has teamed with Disney composer David Friedman (Stunt Girl) to develop the all-new, clever musical comedy, Chasing Nicolette. An audience favorite in Village Theatre's Village Originals 2008 Festival of New Musicals, this musical premiered at Connecticut's Westport Country Playhouse in 2000 and ran at the Prince Theatre in Philadelphia in 2005. Based on the 13th Century romance "Aucassin et Nicolette," whose author is unknown, the musical confronts these two lovers with endlessly hysterical obstacles, written completely in iambic pentameter.

Playing the young Christian nobleman, Aucassin, is Seattle-born, Atlanta-raised actor Matthew John Kacergis making his Village Theatre debut. Kacergis was most recently seen at Mt. Washington VAlley Theatre in New Hampshire, and has other regional credits at Ford's Theatre in Washington D.C., Atlanta Lyric Theatre in Atlanta, and Ogunquit Theatre in Maine. Playing opposite Kacergis as the young Moorish servant girl Nicolette, is Seattle favorite and American Idol Season One contestant, Tanesha Ross. Ross reprises her role from the 2008 Festival reading of Chasing Nicolette, with Mainstage credits including Saint Heaven (2008-2009), AIDA (2007-2008), and EVITA (2006-2007). Her various regional credits include Pippin, The Rocky Horror Show, and HAIR at The 5th Avenue Theatre.

Footlight Award-winner and Festival favorite Nick DeSantis returns, this time to the Mainstage as Valere, Aucassin's witty, yet comically whiny servant. DeSantis was last seen on the Mainstage as the crowd pleaser Lumiere in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. His most recent credits include Sweeney Todd at ArtsWest (director) and Sunday in the Park with George (Franz) at The 5th Avenue Theatre.

The rest of the cast is a collection of Seattle-based talent, including Allan Barlow (Village Originals: 2008 Festival reading of Chasing Nicolette), Kate Jaeger (Center Stage Theatre at ACT Theatre: Always...Patsy Cline), Eric Polani Jensen (Stunt Girl, Disney's Beauty and the Beast), Brian Demar Jones (5th Avenue: Hello, Dolly!), Timothy McCuen Piggee (The Who's TOMMY, Man of La Mancha; 5th Avenue: Catch Me If You Can), Jessica Skerritt (Stunt Girl, Million Dollar Quartet), and Matt Wolfe (Million Dollar Quartet).

Village Theatre's production of Chasing Nicolette is directed by Steve Tomkins (Village Theatre Artistic Director); scenic design by Scott Fyfe (Stunt Girl, Million Dollar Quartet); lighting design by Tom Sturge (The Importance of Being Earnest); and costume design by Melanie Burgess (Stunt Girl, The King and I). 

CHASING NICOLETE Synopsis:

This hilarious yet touching new musical charts the love between a Christian count and a Muslim princess in a time of war, hatred, and prejudice - except that the year happens to be 1224. Based on the French Romance "Aucassin and Nicolette," Chasing Nicolette confronts the two lovers with endlessly hysterical obstacles: angry parents, murky dungeons, swashbuckling swordplay, a man-hungry convent school graduate, and one very put-upon servant. This must-see new work boasts a melodic score that is both romantic and quirky, with sharp, funny lyrics which accompany a surprising and clever book that will charm you with every word. Chasing Nicolette is a rollicking, romantic comedy you'll want to see again and again.