Morton, Youmans & Vidnovic to Star in Kushner & Sendak's Brundibar & Comedy on a Bridge

By: Oct. 09, 2005
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Taboo star Euan Morton has been cast in the title role of the new Tony Kushner opera Brundibár, while Wicked's William Youmans and Broadway veteran Martin Vidnovic will headline its companion piece Comedy on a Bridge. The shows are collaborations with children's book author and illustrator Maurice Sendak (of Where The Wild Things Are fame).

They will begin a limited run at California's Berkeley Repertory Roda Theatre (2015 Addison St.) from November 11th through December 28th before moving to the Yale Repertory's University Theatre (222 York St. in New Haven, CT) from February 10th through March 5th, 2006. The one-act shows will then play New York's New Victory Theater (209 W. 42nd St.) from April 26th through May 21st.

The pieces, which are Berkeley Rep Theatre and Yale Rep Theatre co-productions, will be helmed by Tony Taccone. Brundibár is a tale about a shadowy organ grinder (Morton) who comes into contact with Pepicek and Aninku, two children who are in town to win money for their sick mother through their singing talents. The children will be played by Aaron Simon Gross and Devynn Pedell, respectively, while Geoff Hoyle will be seen as The Dog and The Baker.

Comedy on a Bridge centers on a group of people on a bridge who are caught between two opposing armies. That piece will also star Anjali Bhimani, Hank DiGiovann, Matt Farnsworth, and Angelina Reáux in addition to Youmans and Vidnovic. With Brundibár, the show clocks in at 95 minutes and both pieces will feature some double casting and a chorus of 29 local school children.

Brundibár and Comedy on a Bridge will both feature librettos by Kushner (Angels in America, Homebody/Kabul, Caroline, or Change). He has adapted them from older pieces by Adolf Hoffmeister and Vaclava Klimenta Klicpery; Brundibar has music by Hans Krasa and Comedy on a Bridge's music is by Bohuslav Martinu. Sendak, with whom Kushner wrote a 2003 children's book version of Brundibár, will handle the production design.

The design team for the one-acts will comprise Kris Stone (sets), Robin I. Shane (costumes), Don Holder (lighting), and Rob Milburn and Michael Bodeen (sound). Conductor Valerie Gebert will also provide musical direction.

Morton received Tony Award and Drama Desk Award nominations for playing Boy George in Taboo--he had previously appeared in the West End production. Morton also was seen in the Actors' Fund benefit concert of Hair. Youmans' other Broadway credits include La Boheme, Titanic, Big River and The Little Foxes. Vidnovic has performed on Broadway in Guys and Dolls, Baby, Brigadoon, Oklahoma! and others.

To order tickets to the Berkeley Rep engagment, call (510) 647 2949, toll-free (888) 4-BRT-Tix or visit www.berkeleyrep.org. To order for the Yale Rep run, call (203) 432-1234 or visit www.yalerep.org. For tickets to the New York production, call (646) 223-3020 or go to www.newvictory.org.
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