Elizabeth Stanley & Andrew Samonsky Will Lead National Tour of Jason Robert Brown's THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY

Jason Robert Brown's much-loved, though short-lived musical THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY, based upon the best-selling novel by Robert James Waller, will soon take its sweeping love story on the road - today, the actors tapped to portray the piece's central love-torn couple have been revealed.

BroadwayWorld has learned that Elizabeth Stanley, currently turning heads in the Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN, will play 'Francesca,' with Andrew Samonsky, last seen in THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME at Paper Mill Playhouse, in the role of 'Robert'. The parts were originally portrayed by Tony winner Kelli O'Hara and Steven Pasquale on the Great White Way.

As previously reported, the 'BRIDGES' national tour will fittingly open its coast-to-coast run this fall at the the Des Moines Civic Center in Iowa, with engagements in over 15 additional North American major markets planned.

Additional stops and casting are expected to be announced within the coming weeks.

Per press notes, "THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY tells the story of Iowa housewife Francesca Johnson and her life-changing, four-day whirlwind romance with traveling photographer Robert Kincaid. It's an unforgettable story of two people caught between decision and desire, as a chance encounter becomes a second chance at so much more.

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Stanley is currently starring as the man-crazed anthropologist Claire De Loone in the Broadway revival of On the Town (Drama Desk Nomination). Other roles originated on Broadway: Dyanne in Million Dollar Quartet; Allison in Cry-Baby, and April in the Tony Award-winning revival of Company First National Tour: Kira in Xanadu. Off-Broadway: Gussie in the New York City Center, Encores! production of Merrily We Roll Along, and The Nurse in Hello, Again (Transport Theatre Group-Drama League Nomination, best ensemble). Favorite regional roles: Kate in Kiss Me Kate, Sugar in Sugar, Constanze in Amadeus. TV: Black Box, Made in Jersey, Fringe, The Chappelle Show, and PBS Great Performances --Company. Graduate of Indiana University. www.elizabethstanley.net

Samonsky recently played Captain Phoebus in the American premiere of The Hunchback of Notre Dame at the Paper Mill and La Jolla Playhouse. Broadway: The Mystery of Edwin Drood (Neville), Scandalous (Kenneth Ormisten, original cast recording), and South Pacific (Lt. Cable, including the Live From Lincoln Center PBS broadcast). Off-Broadway: Queen of the Mist as Frank Russell (Drama Desk Award nomination, original cast recording), and Encores! productions of Fiorello! and Merrily We Roll Along. Original productions of Somewhere in Time (Richard, Portland Center Stage), Tales of the City (Beauchamp, ACT), Little Miss Sunshine (La Jolla Playhouse, Joshua), and Disney's On the Record (Original Cast Recording). He's a soloist with symphonies across the country. TV/Film: Elementary, Guiding Light.

The critically acclaimed musical of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY features one of Broadway's most accomplished creative teams with music and lyrics by three-time Tony Award-winning composer JASON ROBERT BROWN (Parade, The Last Five Years), book by Pulitzer Prize-winning writer MARSHA NORMAN (The Secret Garden, The Color Purple, 'night, Mother), and led by the Tony Award-winning director BARTLETT SHER (South Pacific, The King and I, The Light in the Piazza).

The team also includes scenic design by two-time Tony Awardwinner MICHAEL YEARGAN (The Light in the Piazza, South Pacific), costume design by six-time Tony Award winner CATHERINE ZUBER (South Pacific, The Light in the Piazza, The Coast of Utopia), lighting design by two-time Tony Award winner DONALD HOLDER (South Pacific, The Lion King), sound design by JON WESTON, orchestrations by JASON ROBERT BROWN, and movement by DANNY MEFFORD.

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