Phillip Boykin, Jennifer Hope Wills, Tom Hewitt and More Cast in Music Circus' 2013 Season!

After auditioning performers in New York City, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California Musical Theatre Artistic Director Glenn Casale has announced casting for the 63rd Music Circus season, including Broadway veterans, Tony nominees and audience favorites from previous Music Circus seasons. The five-show season at the Wells Fargo Pavilion includes The Wizard of Oz, Show Boat, Sugar, The King and I and the Music Circus premiere of Chicago.

Casting highlights include Phillip Boykin, playing Joe in Show Boat, who was nominated for a 2012 Tony Award for his role as Crown in the Broadway production of Porgy and Bess. Also in Show Boat are three The Phantom of the Opera veterans, Jennifer Hope Wills, who played Christine on Broadway; Ron Bohmer, who played the Phantom on a national tour; and George Lee Andrews, who was in Phantom on Broadway for nearly 25 years. Playing Billy Flynn in Chicago is Tony nominee Tom Hewitt, who played this role in the Broadway production of the show.

Tickets for all 2013 Music Circus productions are on sale at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office, 1419 H Street, by phone at (916) 557-1999, or online at Tickets.com. Single-show tickets start at $30. Season tickets are still available at a savings of up to $128 on a pair of tickets.

Music Circus is produced under the leadership of Artistic Director Glenn Casale and Executive Producer Scott Klier. California Musical Theatre President and CEO is Richard Lewis.

CAST HIGHLIGHTS:

The Wizard of Oz: June 21 - 30

Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Dana Solimando
Music Director: Jeff Rizzo

In this family favorite, Emily Walton, whose Broadway credits include Peter and the Starcatcherand August: Osage County, will make her Music Circus debut in the role of Dorothy. Her uncle,Jim Walton, will return to Music Circus to play the Scarecrow after performing in Hello, Dolly!,Funny Girl and Annie. Shannon Stoeke will play the Tinman after appearing as Starkey in the national tour of Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan and eight Music Circus shows. Also on his way to see the Wizard will be Jamie Torcellini as the Cowardly Lion. His Broadway credits include Man of La Mancha, Beauty and the Beast and the original company of Billy Elliot. Returning to Music Circus to play Glinda will be audience favorite Heather Lee, whose Broadway credits includeGypsy, Guys and Dolls and Beauty and the Beast. The Wicked Witch of the West will be played by veteran performer Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, the only actor in history to portray both Cosette and Fantine in Les Misèrables on Broadway. Another Music Circus favorite, she last appeared in 2011's Oliver! as Nancy. Playing Uncle Henry will be Doug Carfrae, who recently completed a six-and-a-half year run with The Phantom of the Opera in Las Vegas. Bill Nolte, playing Professor Marvel/the Wizard, will return to Music Circus after playing Franz Liebkind in 2011's The Producers as well as roles in She Loves Me and Jesus Christ Superstar.

Show Boat: July 9 - 14

Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: Dan Mojica
Music Director: Dennis Castellano

This musical masterpiece with a classic score by Kern and Hammerstein will feature Phillip Boykin in the role of Joe. A renowned Broadway actor, he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2012 for his performance as Crown in Porgy and Bess. Ron Bohmer will appear as Gaylord Ravenal after his turn as Sir Galahad in Spamalot at Music Circus in 2010 and multiple Broadway and touring productions. Playing Magnolia will be Jennifer Hope Wills, who spent nearly four years starring as Christine in Broadway's longest-running musical, The Phantom of the Opera. Music Circus favorite Jennifer Cody, whose numerous voice acting credits include "The Princess and the Frog" and "The Winx Club," will play Ellie.

George Lee Andrews, who will play Cap'n Andy, holds the Guinness World Record for the most performances in the same Broadway show for his run with The Phantom of the Opera. Audrie Neenan, known for her role as Ray Parkins in the Clint Eastwood film "Sudden Impact," will play Parthy Ann Hawks. Portraying the role of Julie will be Nikki Crawford, a TV, film and theater actress whose credits include Stormy Weather, Othello and Play On! Gordon Goodman, who appeared in Oliver! in 2011, will portray the role of Steve. Playing Queenie will be Sharon Wilkins, who performed in original Broadway companies of All Shook Up and Seussical. Returning for their second productions of the season will be Jamie Torcellini and Doug Carfraeas Frank and Windy, respectively.

Sugar: July 23 - 28

Director: Glenn Casale
Choreographer: John MacInnis
Music Director: Dennis Castellano

In this musical version of the hilarious film "Some Like It Hot," Jerry (Daphne) will be played byJason Graae, a Music Circus veteran who returns after performing in past hits including Anything Goes and last summer's The Music Man. Joining in on his comical antics as Joe (Josephine) will be Brent Barrett, who has appeared on Broadway in Chicago and Annie Get Your Gun.Elisabeth Stanley, the originAl Allison in Cry-Baby on Broadway, will play Sugar Kane. Back after over a dozen Music Circus productions will be Lenny Wolpe, this time portraying the role of Osgood Fielding, Jr. Brad Bradley, who performed in Spamalot and Billy Elliot on Broadway, will play Spats Palazzo. Playing the role of Bienstock will be Ray DeMattis, a Broadway actor who performed in the original companies of Little Shop of Horrors and City of Angels. Sweet Sue will be played by Alix Korey, who was in last season's Music Circus production of Crazy for You.

The King and I: August 6 - 11

Director: Stafford Arima
Choreographer: Bob Richard
Music Director: Craig Barna

Playing Anna in this belovEd Rogers and Hammerstein treasure will be Christiane Noll, a Tony nominee and acclaimed Broadway actress known for her performances in Ragtime and Jekyll & Hyde. Paul Nakauchi, whose credits include The King and I on Broadway and voices for the video game Call of Duty, will play the King of Siam. Alan Ariano of Broadway's Miss Saigon andM. Butterfly will portray the Kralahome. Appearing as Lun Tha will be Telly Leung, who plays the recurring role of Wes the Warbler on the hit TV series "Glee." Diane Phelan, who starred in the national tours of West Side Story, South Pacific, Thoroughly Modern Millie and The King and I, will play Tuptim.

Lady Thiang will be portrayed by Ann Sanders of Broadway's Beauty and the Beast and Avenue Q. Luis Avila returns to The King and I to play Simon after previously appearing in the show at Music Circus and on tour. Ron Wisniski, a Music Circus favorite whose numerous credits includeThe Little Mermaid, Les Misèrables and Oliver! will appear as Captain Orton. Rumi Oyama, who was seen at Music Circus in Miss Saigon, will play George, and Michiko Takesama will play Eliza. This production will also feature Sacramento actor Michael Stevenson in the role of Sir Edward Ramsay.

Chicago: August 20 - 29

Director: Ron Kellum
Choreographer: Randy Slovacek
Music Director: Darren Ledbetter

This Music Circus premiere that includes the legendary choreography of Bob Fosse will feature a number of actors who performed in the show on Broadway and on tour. Lindsay Roginski will star as Roxie Hart, a role she played on both national and international tours. Brenda Braxton, a Broadway actress who has appeared in Chicago, Smokey Joe's Cafe and Dreamgirls, will portray the role of Velma Kelly. Playing Bill Flynn will be Tom Hewitt, whose performance as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the 2000 revival of The Rocky Horror Show garnered him a Tony Award nomination.Ric Stoneback of Broadway's 1776 and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer will appear as Amos Hart. C. Newcomer, who performed in Chicago on Broadway, will take the stage as Mary Sunshine. Playing the role of Matron Mama Morton will be Broadway veteran Roz Ryan, also known for her role as Amelia on the sitcom "Amen."

FULL CAST

The Wizard of Oz
Role: Actor
Dorothy Gale: Emily Walton
Aunt Em / Glinda: Heather Lee
Hunk / Scarecrow: Jim Walton
Hickory / The Tinman: Shannon Stoeke
Zeke / The Cowardly Lion: Jamie Torcellini
Almira Gultch / Wicked Witch: Jacquelyn Piro Donovan
Professor Marvel / Wizard of Oz: Bill Nolte
Uncle Henry / Head Winkie: Doug Carfrae
Female Ensemble: Kim Arnett
Female Ensemble: Jeanne Marie Jacobson
Female Ensemble: Zonya Love
Female Ensemble: Theresa Murray
Female Ensemble: Lisa Rohinsky
Female Ensemble: Kristen J. Smith
Male Ensemble: Craig Blake
Male Ensemble: Eric Anthony Johnson
Male Ensemble: Stanley Martin
Male Ensemble: Ivory McKay
Male Ensemble: John B. Williford
Male Ensemble: Andrew Wilson

Show Boat
Role: Actor
Steve: Gordon Goodman
Julie: Nikki Crawford
Joe: Phillip Boykin
Queenie: Sharon Wilkins
Cap'n Andy: George Lee Andrews
Parthy Ann Hawks: Audrie Neenan
Magnolia: Jennifer Hope Wills
Gaylord Ravenal: Ron Bohmer
Ellie: Jennifer Cody
Frank: Jamie Torcellini
Windy: Doug Carfrae
Young Kim (Jr. Co.): Noa Solorio
Female Ensemble: Kim Arnett
Female Ensemble: Danielle Hansen
Female Ensemble: Zonya Love
Female Ensemble: Robin Masella
Female Ensemble: Theresa Murray
Female Ensemble: Lisa Rohinsky
Female Ensemble: Kristen J. Smith
Female Ensemble: Joanna Jones
Male Ensemble: Craig Blake
Male Ensemble: Neil Starkenberg
Male Ensemble: Michael Dotson
Male Ensemble: Karl Warden
Male Ensemble: Eric Anthony Johnson
Male Ensemble: Stanley Martin
Male Ensemble: Ivory McKay
Male Ensemble: Omari Tau

Sugar
Role: Actor
Sweet Sue: Alix Korey
Bienstock: Ray DeMattis
Joe (Josephine): Brent Barrett
Jerry (Daphne): Jason Graae
Sugar Kane: Elizabeth Stanley
Osgood Fielding, Jr.: Lenny Wolpe
Spats Palazzo: Brad Bradley
Female Ensemble: Kim Arnett
Female Ensemble: Bradley Benjamin
Female Ensemble: Alexa Glover
Female Ensemble: Robin Masella
Female Ensemble: Lisa Rohinsky
Female Ensemble: Kristen J. Smith
Female Ensemble: Joanna Jones
Female Ensemble: Shanon Mari Mills
Male Ensemble: Ivory McKay
Male Ensemble: Craig Blake
Male Ensemble: Neil Starkenberg
Male Ensemble: Michael Dotson
Male Ensemble: Eric Anthony Johnson
Male Ensemble: Stanley Martin
Male Ensemble: Freddy Ramirez
Male Ensemble: Brian Steven Shaw

The King and I
Role: Actor
Captain Orton: Ron Wisniski
Anna Leonowens: Christiane Noll
The Kralahome: Alan Ariano
King of Siam: Paul Nakauchi
Tuptim: Diane Phelan
Lady Thiang: Ann Sanders
Lun Tha: Telly Leung
Sir Edward Ramsay: Michael Stevenson
Louis Leonowens: Carter Thomas
Prince Chulalongkorn: Andrew Apy
Princess Ying Yaowalak (Jr. Co.): Ayana Navarro
Royal Dancer - Eliza: Michiko Takemasa
Royal Dancer - George: Rumi Oyama
Royal Dancer - Simon: Luis Avila
Female Ensemble: Thomas Carol Angeli
Female Ensemble: Topsy Katie Boren
Female Ensemble: Alysia Chang
Female Ensemble: Louise Marie Cornillez
Female Ensemble: Linda Igarashi
Female Ensemble: Bety Le
Female Ensemble: Eva Azumi Milligan
Female Ensemble: Jessica Wu
Male Ensemble: Garrick Macatangay
Male Ensemble: Stanley Martin
Male Ensemble: Freddy Ramirez
Male Ensemble (Interpreter): Ray Rochelle
Male Ensemble: Christopher Shin

Chicago
Role: Actor
Velma Kelly: Brenda Braxton
Roxie Hart: Lindsay Roginski
Amos Hart: Ric Stoneback
Matron Mama Morton: Roz Ryan
Billy Flynn: Tom Hewitt
Mary Sunshine: C. Newcomer
Female Ensemble: Juliet Fischer
Female Ensemble: Kathryn Murphy
Female Ensemble: Leslie Stevens
Female Ensemble: Evelyn Tonn
Female Ensemble: Melanie Waldron
Male Ensemble: Aaron Felske
Male Ensemble: Chris Houston
Male Ensemble: Adam Pellegrine
Male Ensemble: Mark Reis
Male Ensemble: Chris Holly
Male Ensemble: Chuck Saculla

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