Stephen Cerf, Nevada Riley and More Join Theatre Aspen's 43 Summer Season

Theatre Aspen revealed initial casting for Theatre Aspen’s 43rd summer season including Sylvia (June 15-27); Tony and Pulitzer Prize–winning musical A Chorus Line (July 3-25); and Grease (July 31-August 29), along with the previously announced creative teams. Theatre Aspen’s 2026 season will also include its seventh annual co-production with The Aspen Music Festival and School in Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls in Concert on Monday, July 13 and Tuesday, July 14.

In-person single tickets will be available for purchase on Tuesday, May 12 at the Hurst Theatre Tent; online sales will begin on Wednesday, May 13. 

Sylvia will star Jen Cody (Broadway: Urinetown the Musical) as ‘Sylvia,’ Tony Award nominee Erin Dilly (Broadway: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as ‘Kate,’ and David Beach (The Post) as ‘Tom/Phyllis/Leslie.’

Returning for his sixth season with Theatre Aspen, Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster (Urinetown, Little Shop of Horrors) directs Sylvia with a full creative team including Riw Rakkulchon (scenic design); Wheeler Moon (lighting design) returning for a second season; Jeff Sherwood (sound design) and Nicole V. Moody (costume design) both returning for a third season; and Jeff Knaggs (wig design).

The Tony and Pulitzer Prize–winning musical A Chorus Line will star Stephen Cerf (Broadway: Jersey Boys) as ‘Zach,’ Bryan J. Cortés (Broadway: New York, New York) as ‘Paul,’ Eoghan P. Dillon (Parsons Dance) as ‘Larry,’ Sam Faulkner (Broadway: Gypsy) as ‘Bobby,’ Tiffany Furicchia (National Tour: How The Grinch Stole Christmas) as ‘Val,’ Anissa Marie Griego (National Tour: 1776 the Musical) as ‘Diana,’ Joseph Ryan Harrington (Broadway: Billy Elliot: The Musical) as ‘Mike,’ Dakota Hoar (National Tour: Anastasia) as ‘Greg,’ Francesca Mancuso (Goodspeed Opera House’s Summer Stock) as ‘Sheila,’ and Antonia Vivino (National Tour: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer) as ‘Maggie.’

A Chorus Line features a creative team led by Paige Price (direction) celebrating her return to Theatre Aspen having served ten years as Executive Artistic Director. Alongside Price includes Eamon Foley (choreography), Beth G. Tankersley (music direction), Riw Rakkulchon (scenic design), Wheeler Moon (lighting design), Jeff Sherwood (sound design), and Maddie Peterson (costume design).

Rounding out the season is the iconic musical, Grease starring Nevada Riley (Broadway: Beetlejuice) as ‘Sandy Dombrowski’ in her third summer season, Chris Hanford (National Tour: & Juliet) as ‘Danny Zuko,’ Nick Bernardi (National Tour: Annie) as ‘Vince Fontaine’ returning for a second season, DeShawn Travis Bowens (National Tour: Mean Girls) as ‘Johnny Casino,’ Nina Gabianelli (Theatre Aspen’s Beautiful) as ‘Miss Lynch & Teen Angel,’ Emilee Hassanzadeh (National Tour: On Your Feet) as ‘Marty,’ Kiki Lemieux (The Outsiders: La Jolla Playhouse) as ‘Betty Rizzo,’ and Drew Redington (Broadway: Sunset Blvd.) as ‘Kenickie.’

Patrick O’Neill returns to direct Grease, after two years of directing Theatre Aspen’s holiday cabarets. Additional creative team includes Bryan Hunt (associate choreographer), Adam Beskind (music direction), Riw Rakkulchon (scenic design), Wheeler Moon (lighting design), Jeff Sherwood (sound design), Dustin Cross (costume design), and Jeff Knaggs (wig design) returning for a second season.

Additional casting for A Chorus Line and Grease will include members of the 2026 Theatre Aspen Apprentice program.

In partnership with The Aspen Music Festival and School, Theatre Aspen’s seventh annual co-production, Frank Loesser’s Guys and Dolls’ in Concert, will be held on Monday, July 13 at 7:30 PM and Tuesday, July 14 at 7:30 PM in the Michael Klein Music Tent. The production will be directed by Tony Award-nominated Jeff Calhoun and conducted by Andy Einhorn.