Zach Braff to Make Broadway Debut in BULLETS OVER BROADWAY April 2014; Ashmanskas, Wolfe, Wolpe, Yorke, Pastore & More Join Cast

Producers Letty Aronson and Julian Schlossberg have announced initial casting, preview and opening dates for the world premiere production of Bullets Over Broadway, the new Broadway musical adaptation of Woody Allen's and Douglas McGrath's screenplay of the 1994 film.

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY will feature Brooks Ashmanskas (The Producers), Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee Zach Braff ("Scrubs," Garden State), Vincent Pastore("The Sopranos"), Betsy Wolfe (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Lenny Wolpe (The Drowsy Chaperone) and Hélene Yorke (Grease) among an ensemble cast of 29. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY will begin preview performances on Tuesday, March 11 and officially open Thursday, April 10, 2014 at The St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street, between 7th & 8th Avenue).

Five time Tony Award winning director and choreographer Susan Stroman will bring the new musical to the stage with an award winning design team of Broadway veterans including Tony Award winners Santo Loquasto (scenic design), William Ivey Long (costume design), Donald Holder (lighting design), Doug Besterman (orchestrations)and Glen Kelly(musical arrangements and supervision) and Peter Hylenski (sound design).

The Broadway production of Bullets Over Broadway, with an adaptation by Woody Allen, will feature existing music of the period.

BULLETS OVER BROADWAY tells the story of an aspiring young playwright (Braff) newly arrived on Broadway in 1920's New York who is forced to cast a mobster's (Pastore) talentless girlfriend (Yorke) in his latest drama in order to get it produced.

BIOGRAPHIES

Brooks Ashmanskas (Warner Purcell). Broadway: Promises, Promises (Rob Ashford, director), Present Laughter (Nicholas Martin, dir.), The Ritz (Joe Mantello, dir.), Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me (Scott Wittman, dir; Tony, Drama Desk nominations), The Producers(Susan Stroman, dir.), Gypsy (Sam Mendes, dir.), Little Me (Rob Marshall, dir.), Dream(Wayne Cilento, dir.), How To Succeed...(1996; Des McAnuff, dir.). Off-Broadway: Wise Guys (Sam Mendes, dir.), On A Clear Day...(Mark Brokaw, dir.), Labor Day (Jack O'Brien, dir.), London Suite (Daniel Sullivan, dir.), Songs For A New World (Daisy Prince, dir.).Regional: Ford's, Mark Taper, A.C.T., Williamstown, Huntington, McCarter, Hartford, Kennedy Center, Old Globe, Arena, Hangar. TOURS: Cinderella, Noises Off. FILM: Julie And Julia(Nora Ephron, dir.). TV: "The Good Wife." BA from Bennington College.

Zach Braff (David Shayne) will make his Broadway debut in the world premiere musical adaptation of Bullets Over Broadway. He most recently starred in the London premiere of his own play All New People. New York stage experience includes roles in Paul Weitz's playTrust at Second Stage and Public Theater Productions of Twelfth Night and Macbeth directed by George C. Wolfe. His feature film writing and directorial debut, Garden State, premiered at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival and earned him a coveted WGA nomination for Best Original Screenplay. The film also received the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature as well as a nomination for Best First Screenplay. In addition, Braff was awarded Best Directorial Debut by the National Board of Review, Breakthrough Director by the Hollywood Film Festival and Most Promising Filmmaker by the Chicago Film Critics Association. Braff was recently seen in the Disney film Oz the Great and Powerful and is currently shooting the independent film Wish I Was Here which he wrote (with his brother Adam Braff) and will star in alongside Kate Hudson, Mandy Patinkin and Josh Gad. Braff was nominated for a 2005 Primetime Emmy Award and a 2005, 2006 and 2007 Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Dr. John "J.D." Dorian in NBC's comedy "Scrubs." Film credits include roles in The Broken Hearts Club, Getting To Know You, Manhattan Murder Mystery, Dreamworks' The Last Kiss and The Weinstein Company's The Ex. Zach is a native of New Jersey and graduate of Northwestern University's Film Program. His world premiere play All New People debuted at Off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre and on The West End. He has his pilot's license and is a relatively decent swimmer.

Vincent Pastore (Nick Valenti) made his Broadway debut as "Amos Hart" in the long running hit musical Chicago. He recently appeared in the regional production of Guys and Dolls with the Indiana Symphony Orchestra as narrator "Big Julie" and as narrator "Fat Frankie" in The Rascals: Once Upon A Dream. Off Broadway credits include Lampost Reunion, Golden Boy and Italian Bred. He is the author of the full length play Wild Childrenwhich enjoyed a sold out run at the Nyack Village Theater. Recent television credits include: "The Sopranos" (HBO), "Blue Bloods" (CBS), "Celebrity Apprentice" (NBC), "The Practice" (ABC), "Law & Order" (NBC), "General Hospital" (ABC), "Dellaventura" (CBS), "One Life to Live" (ABC), "Repo Man, Stealing for a Living" (TLC). Made for television movies include Gotti(HBO), Witness to the Mob (NBC). Upcoming movies include The Family with Robert DeNiro,Once Upon a Time in Brooklyn, Oy Vey My Son is Gay, I Married a Church Girl. Other film credits include Made, The Hurricane, Jerky Boys, Two Family House, Serving Sara, Deuces Wild, Looking for Palladin, Corky Romano, This Thing of Ours, Riding in Cars with Boys,Mickey Blue Eyes, Revolver.

Betsy Wolfe (Ellen) most recently played Cathy in the box office breaking Off-Broadway revival of The Last 5 Years at Second Stage. Earlier in the season she created the role of Rosa Bud in the Tony Award nominated Roundabout revival of The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Other New York roles include Beth in Merrily We Roll Along at Encores. She created the role of Mary Ann Singleton in ACT's World Premiere of Tales of the City, a musical based on Armistead Maupin's novels, with music by the Scissor Sisters. Before Drood, She was last seen on Broadway in Everyday Rapture with Sherie Rene Scott, a show she also performed Off- Broadway in 2009. Other Broadway includes 110 in the Shade at Studio 54, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Wonderful Life. Ms. Wolfe starred in the San Francisco and Boston companies of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Regional credits include Tommy (Mrs. Walker) at Dallas Theatre Center, Ragtime (Evelyn Nesbitt) at Paper Mill Playhouse. She has been a guest artist for over 30 Symphony, Pops, and Philharmonic Orchestras across the U.S. and internationally, including most recently a Carnegie Hall appearance with Steven Reineke. Ms. Wolfe was a guest soloist for the New York City Ballet where she performed at Lincoln Center and at The Coliseum in London. Recent and upcoming releases include The Last 5 Years, The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Stage Door Canteen, 35MM, Merrily We Roll Along, Everyday Rapture, 110 in the Shade. She holds a BFA in musical theatre from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. (CCM).www.betsywolfe.com

Lenny Wolpe (Julian Marx) is currently starring in the hit Off-Broadway comedy Old Jews Telling Jokes. Broadway: Wicked (Wizard), The Drowsy Chaperone, The Sound of Music,Mayor, Copperfield, Into the Light, Onward Victoria. National tours: Wicked, Little Shop of Horrors, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, South Pacific, Guys & Dolls.Regional: Paper Mill, Goodspeed, St Louis Rep, Denver Center, Pasadena, Pioneer, Westport, Reprise L.A., McCarter. TV: series regular "Baby Talk," "You're The One," 100 guest spots from "L.A. Law," "ER," "6 Feet Under" to "Roseanne," "Golden Girls," "Chappelle's Show."

Heléne Yorke (Olive Neal). Broadway: Grease (Marty).Off Broadway: Walmartopia(Minetta Lane), What's That Smell... (Atlantic Theater Company); TV: "30 Rock" (NBC), "A Gifted Man" (CBS), "I Just Want My Pants Back" (MTV), "Louie" (FX), and Showtime's upcoming series "Masters of Sex." Film: Wifed Out, Darkroom. BFA in Musical Theatre, The University of Michigan.