Cast Set for LAUNCHINGFWD at City Winery

Casting is complete for LaunchingFWD : Season 2, the second annual sneak preview concert of new musicals in development offered by FWD Theatre Project, one of the most-watched new arts organizations in town. Last year's LaunchingFWD event (starring headliner and hometown superstar Jessie Mueller in her first Chicago appearance since winning the Tony Award for Beautiful) sold out the 320 seat main room at City Winery and required overflow seating; FWD hopes this year's event will be even more impressive.

On Monday, February 8th, the FWD team will present LaunchingFWD : Season 2, a high-profile industry party with performances from five new works, chosen from over 170 submissions this year. The program will be hosted by Chicago legend and Tony Award nominee, Felicia P. Fields (Broadway's The Color Purple) and stars a who's-who of top musical theatre talent.

• Roberta Duchak (Broadway: Ragtime, National Tour: Scrooge, Showboat, ...Spelling Bee - Jeff Award winner and personal vocal coach for Russell Crowe, Hugh Jackman, and Anne Hathaway on Les Miserables (Working Title/Universal)
• Michelle Aravena (Broadway: Rocky, Jersey Boys, A Chorus Line, National Tour: West Side Story, Les Miserables, Mama Mia, Jersey Boys, Steel Pier - Jeff Award winner, currently starring in Bye Bye Birdie at Drury Lane)
• Sarah Bockel (National Tour: Beautiful: The Carol King Musical currently in Chicago - Paramount, Hypocrites, Bohemian)
• Larry Adams (Broadway: Phantom of the Opera, Off Broadway: The Hunchback Variations)
• David Girolmo (Broadway: Candide - Jeff Award winner, currently featured in ...Sherlock Holmes at Mercury Theater)
• Laura Stuart Obernauf (National Tour: Million Dollar Quartet)
• Jennie Sophia (National tour: South Pacific, Jeff Award nominee - Goodman, Lyric Opera, Court, Chicago Shakespeare)
• Samantha Pauly (currently starring as Amber in Hairspray at Paramount, Eva Peron in Evita at Marriott this spring)
• Harter Clingman (National Tour: Peter and the Starcatcher - Chicago Shakespeare, Steppenwolf Garage, Griffin, Mercury)
• Rodrigo Ignacio Cruz (National Tour: Cats - Chicago Shakespeare, Drury Lane, TATC)
• Wade Elkins (Off Broadway: Blue Man Group - currently starring in Blue Man Group Chicago)

And featuring

• Gilbert Domally (currently starring as Seaweed in Hairspray at Paramount)
• Veronica Garza (Heathers at Kokandy this spring - Porchlight, Mercury, Provision, Lifeline, TATC, American Blues)
• Matthew Keffer (currently featured in ...Sherlock Holmes at Mercury - Chicago Shakespeare, Paramount, Bailiwick)
• Allie Jae (currently featured in Hairspray at Paramount)
• Katherine Jaeck (Film: Backdraft, Crisis - Drury Lane, Marriott)
• Yando Lopez (Little Shop of Horrors at American Blues this spring - Brown Paper Box, Porchlight)
• Courtney Mack (Veronica in Heathers at Kokandy this spring - Porchlight)
• Hillary Marren (Paramount, Hypocrites, TATC, Strawdog)
• Jaymes Osborne (currently featured in Hairspray at Paramount - Bailiwick, Theo Ubique)
• Kevin Ray (7 solo albums, 6 NYMF Awards)
• Will Skrip (Tony in West Side Story at Paramount this winter - Lyric Opera, Drury Lane, Chicago Shakespeare, Marriott)
• Patrick Tierney (Paramount, Drury Lane, TATC)
• Jennie Villas (Hypocrites, Marriott, Paramount, Timeline)
• Brittany Wolf (Rent at Metropolis this spring)
• Kristine Bogan (written/recorded for Disney Channel, performed at Birdland, Rockwood Music Hall, Bitter End, 54 Below)
• Phil Young (currently featured in Hairspray at Paramount)
• Abby Burke (Circle in the Square School, Ellen's Stardust Diner)

Directed by FWD Executive Director Michael Gillis with Music Direction by Alex Newkirk, LaunchingFWD : Season 2 will feature a full band, Chicago's biggest arts patrons, directors, producers, actors, and theatre fans gathering for cocktails, dinner, and an inside look at the best new musicals in development from across the country.

Between February and June, FWD will offer four more staged readings of new works as part of their Season 2 Festival of Works in Development.

• Neurosis by Allan Rice (book), Ben Green (music), & Greg Edwards (lyrics)
• code name: CYNTHIA by Steve Multer (book, lyrics) & Karen Multer (music)
• Coyote by Tim McCorry (music, lyrics) & Michael Aman (book)
• Central Avenue Breakdown by Kevin Ray (book, lyrics, music), Andrea Lepcio & D.A. Taylor (book), with additional story by Suellen Vance

Tickets

Tickets for LaunchingFWD : Season 2 are $40-60 through the City Winery box office at 312-733-9463 or online at citywinery.com/chicago/tickets