Cast announced for DLOC's 'THE PRODUCERS' Opening 2/13/09

A 28-member cast for DLOC's East Bay premiere of Mel Brooks' "The Producers" was announced today by Daren A. C. Carollo, the company's artistic director.

The musical comedy will be presented for 20 performances, from Feb. 13 through March 15, 2009, in the Lesher Center for the Arts, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek. Tickets ($15-$43) are on sale at the center ticket office: (925) 943-7469, www.dloc.org, www.lesherartscenter.org

Playing the coveted leading roles are Marcus Klinger as the producer Max Bialystock, Ryan Drummond as the mousy sidekick accountant Leo Bloom, and Ginny Wehrmeister as the Swedish secretary-bombshell Ulla.

In supporting roles are Danny Cozart as Franz Liebkind; TIM JOhnson as Roger DeBris; Stephen Foreman as Carmen Ghia, and Diane Ratto as Shirley.

The ensemble includes Tiffany Davis, Hilary McQuade, Avi Khalsa, Morgan Frazer, Brittany Ogle, Emily Trumble, Mary Kalita, Annie Dahlberg, Marcus Silva, Steven Sloan, Tony Conaty, John Greer, Michael J. Clark, Ned Hansen, John Walbolt, and Stephen Miller.

Klinger, who began performing at age 9, is a veteran of numerous shows in the East Bay, including productions for DLOC, Contra Costa Musical Theatre, Woodminster Theater, Fantasy Forum, Town Hall Theatre and Contra Costa Theatre. He recently appeared in the Solano College Theatre production of "Assassins." When not on stage, he is the director of a choir program he started 12 years ago at Salesian High School in Richmond.

Drummond performed in recent Willows Theatre productions of "Annie Get Your Gun," " Sacagawea," "Jesus Christ Superstar," and "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change." He has performed with TheatreWorks in Mountain View, The Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and the La Jolla Playhouse. His television credits include roles in "Bring It On," "The Invisible Man," and "Baywatch." In 2007, he worked with the noted writer Aaron Sorkin on the pre-Broadway run of "The Farnsworth Invention." His work as an actor in commercials earned him an Emmy Award.

Wehrmeister, who began her career with Stars 2000, DLOC's teen theater organization, received a degree in fine arts from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She has performed with the Diablo Actors Ensemble in Walnut Creek, Role Players Ensemble in Danville, Town Hall Theatre in Lafayette, and Pier 39 Theatre in San Francisco. She is a member of Fantasy Forum Actors Ensemble.

The show will be directed by Ryan Weible, who earned a Shellie Award last January for his direction of the DLOC (Diablo Light Opera Company) production of "Thoroughly Modern Millie."

Weible returned this summer from New York, where he received a master's degree in theater education at New York University. He also worked on Broadway-related jobs, including serving as assistant to the book writer for "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" and assistant director of "Normal Heart" at The Public Theatre.

Mark Hanson, a familiar face in the pit for many Bay Area and national touring theater companies, will direct a 18-piece orchestra.

Jacob Brent, who appeared for many years as Mr. Mistofflees in "Cats" on Broadway as well as in the West End production and film version, will choreograph the show.

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