Powers, Ryness et al. Lead DANGEROUS BEAUTY at Pasadena Playhouse in 2011

Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Stephen Eich, Executive Director) announced principal casting for the new musical DANGEROUS BEAUTY by Jeannine Dominy (book), Amanda McBroom (lyrics) and Michele Brourman (music). Joining the principal cast, with previously announced lead actress Jenny Powers (Broadway's Grease) as Veronica Franco, are James Snyder (Drama League Award-nominee for Broadway's Crybaby) as Marco, Bryce Ryness (Drama Desk Award-nominee for Broadway's Tony Award-winning revival of Hair) as Maffio, Laila Robins (Broadway's Heartbreak House) as Paola, Michael Rupert (Tony and Drama Desk Awards for Sweet Charity) as Domenico, Megan McGinnis (Ovation Award-nominee for the Rubicon Theatre's Daddy Long Legs) as Beatrice, John Antony (Broadway's Passion) as Pietro and Morgan Weed (Second Stage Theatre's Next to Normal) as Giulia. Tony Award-nominee Sheryl Kaller directs the world premiere, which begins performances on February 1, 2011 with the official press opening on February 13, 2011 at Pasadena Playhouse (39 S. El Molino Avenue).

"It is tremendously exciting to have brought together such an incredibly talented Acting Company for our production of this new musical. Our gifted director, Sheryl, was searching for performers with versatility, character, emotional depth, and musical expertise during the casting process, and she has brought together a cast that embodies all of these attributes. I know that they will bring genuine theatrical vitality to this already vibrant project," said Sheldon Epps, Pasadena Playhouse Artistic Director.

James Snyder will portray Veronica's love and Venice's golden boy, Marco. He has appeared on the stage and screen, from starring in John Waters's Crybaby at the La Jolla Playhouse and on Broadway (which earned him a Drama League Award nomination) to guest starring on television shows such as "Drop Dead Diva" and "CSI." Additional stage credits include Marius in Fanny at NY City Center, Broadway: Three Generations at The Kennedy Center, the Los Angeles and Las Vegas productions of Rock Of Ages, Happy Days, The Fantasticks, Sneaux, among others. He also played Luke Skywalker in the critically acclaimed Star Wars Trilogy in 30 Minutes in Los Angeles, Paris and Scotland. Film credits include An American in China, Anderson's Cross, Shuttle, She's The Man and Pretty Persuasion, which premiered at the 2005 Sundance Film Festival.

Playing Maffio, Veronica's rival and nemesis, is Bryce Ryness, whose Broadway credits include the Tony Award-winning revival of Hair (Woof, Drama Desk Award Nomination) and Legally Blonde (Aaron, Emmett u/s). His Off-Broadway credits are Hair (Delacorte, Public), the NY premiere of See Rock City... (Jess/Cutter) and Crossing Brooklyn (Transport Group). Bryce's regional theatre credits in Los Angeles include Floyd Collins (Floyd, Ovation Award Nomination), Leap Of Faith (Dude, Jonas u/s). He has appeared as Roger in the national tour of Rent.

Laila Robins, who will portray Veronica Franco's mother Paola, was seen on Broadway in Heartbreak House, the Tony-nominated play Frozen (Lucille Lortel Nomination), The Herbal Bed and The Real Thing. Off-Broadway credits include That Hopey Changey Thing, The Great War, Antony and Cleopatra, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sore Throats (Lucille Lortel nomination), Tiny Alice, Mrs. Klein (for the national tour of Mrs. Klein she received a Joseph Jefferson Award and a Helen Hayes Nomination), The Merchant Of Venice (Calloway Award), The Extra Man, Bloody Poetry and The Film Society.

Michael Rupert plays the distinguished poet Domenico. Rupert has appeared on Broadway in Ragtime, Falsettos (Tony Award Nominee), City of Angels, Mail, Sweet Charity (Tony and Drama Desk Awards), Shakespeare's Cabaret, Pippin and The Happy Time (Tony Award Nomination, Theatre World Award, Variety Critics' Poll Award). Off-Broadway credits include Ancient History, Putting It Together, March of the Falsettos, Festival, Fragile and Handle with Care. As a composer, he wrote 3 Guys Naked From The Waist Down (Drama Desk Nomination), Mail (World Premiere at Pasadena Playhouse) and Streets of America.

Megan McGinnis portrays Veronica Franco's dear friend Beatrice. Megan returns to Dangerous Beauty after originating the role of Beatrice at New York Stage and Film. She most recently garnered an Ovation Award Nomination and Indy Award for her portrayal of Jerusha Abbott in Daddy Long Legs at the Rubicon Theatre. Broadway credits include Eponine in the revival of Les Miserables, Beth March in Little Women, Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Parade and The Diary of Anne Frank.

Portraying Pietro, the powerful Senator and father of Marco and Beatrice, is John Antony. John's Broadway and National Tour credits include: Irving Berlin's White Christmas Stephen Sondheim's Passion, Dirty Dancing, 42nd Street, High School Musical, Titanic, Sunset Boulevard, Annie Get Your Gun, Pal Joey and Encores! Off Broadway and Regional credits include: Hurricane Mata Hari, Notes to Marianne, Prairie (with Patrick Swayze and Melissa Gilbert), Chicago (New Hampshire Best Actor Award 2005), Aida, Footloose, Funny Girl, Chess, Songs From The Tall Grass, Sweet Charity, The Umbrellas Of Cherbourg and Annie. Film and Television: Nothing In Common (with Tom Hanks & Jackie Gleason); Night Eyes, The Producers, among others.

Morgan Weed plays Giulia, the woman betrothed to Marco. Morgan recently appeared in Venice at the Kirk Douglas Theatre. Her Off-Broadway credits include Saved at Playwrights Horizons and Next to Normal at Second Stage Theater. Chicago Theatre credits include: Bowery Boys, Little Women, Grease, The Wild Party, and others. She was in the workshop productions of Venice; Porn, The Musical; American Idiot by Green Day; Dangerous Beauty; among others.

DANGEROUS BEAUTY, based on a true story, tells the tumultuous tale of Veronica Franco, a celebrated courtesan/poet of 16th century Venice. Forced to become a courtesan when her family fortune is lost, preventing her from marrying the man she loves, Veronica ultimately embraces the courtesan life because it affords her extraordinary education and access. It is not long before she is the most influential woman in the cultural and political life of her beloved city. As Veronica's star rises, however, Venice is ravaged by war, plague, and the Inquisition. When Veronica finds herself on trial for witchcraft, she realizes that only her personal integrity can save her. DANGEROUS BEAUTY is adapted from the New Regency screenplay The Honest Courtesan written by Jeannine Dominy, released as the film Dangerous Beauty and inspired by the scholarly book The Honest Courtesan by USC Professor Margaret Rosenthal.

Joining the creative team with Kaller are Benoit-Swan Pouffer, choreography (Artistic Director of the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre); Fred Lassen, music director (Broadway's South Pacific); Bruce Coughlin, orchestrations (Tony Award-winner The Light in the Piazza); AnnMarie Milazzo, vocal design (Broadway's Spring Awakening and Next to Normal); Ben Butler, additional orchestrations (Sony Classics' Heights); Tom Buderwitz, scenic design (Pasadena Playhouse's Mauritius); Soyon An, costume design (Two-time Emmy Award-winner for Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance"); Russell Champa, lighting design (Broadway's God Said, "Ha!"); Jon Weston, sound design (Broadway's The Color Purple); Brian Danner, fight director (Furious Theatre Company's Boom); Howie Cherpakov, casting (Broadway's Next Fall); Amy Lieberman, casting (Reprise's How to Succeed...); and Joe Witt, production stage management (The Pee-Wee Herman Show).

DANGEROUS BEAUTY was selected for the 2004 West Coast ASCAP Workshop. In 2005, it was read at the Rubicon Theatre and had a workshop production at Vassar College's New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theatre Season. In 2006, the production was part of the National Alliance of Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals and in 2007 it was chosen to be part of Northwestern University's American Musical Theatre Project.

DANGEROUS BEAUTY will play at the Pasadena Playhouse from February 1 - 27, 2011 with the official press opening on February 13, 2011. Pasadena Playhouse is located at 39 South El Molino Avenue in Pasadena. The performance schedule is Tuesday through Friday at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. The ticket price range is from $49.00 - $69.00. Rush tickets are available for $15.00 one hour prior to the performance time and are subject to availability. Rush tickets must be purchased at the Pasadena Playhouse Box Office. Tickets are available by calling the Pasadena Playhouse at 626-356-7529 or by visiting the Pasadena Playhouse Box Office, Monday - Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. during non-performance dates and Tuesday- Sunday from 12:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. on performance dates. The box office is closed on holidays. Tickets are available 24 hours online at www.Pasadenaplayhouse.org. Group Sales (15 or more) are available by calling 626-921-1159. For additional information visit www.PasadenaPlayhouse.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos

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