Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of BENNY & JOON at The Old Globe - Andrew Samonsky, Hannah Elless, Bryce Pinkham and More!

The Old Globe presents the first show of its 2017-2018 Season, the world premiere musical Benny & Joon, with book by Kirsten Guenther, music by Nolan Gasser, and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein. Based on the beloved 1993 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture written by Barry Berman and Leslie McNeil, Benny & Joon is directed by Jack Cummings III, Artistic Director of New York's Transport Group. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company below!

The show will run September 7 - October 22, 2017, on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Previews run September 7 - 14, with opening night on Friday, September 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Benny & Joon is a delightful world premiere musical based on the beloved offbeat '90s romantic comedy movie. As Joon's sole caretaker, auto mechanic Benny makes sure his eccentric sister lives a comfortable, safe, and predictable life. But when Sam shows up, his off-kilter take on the world-full of classic films, Buster Keaton, and an oddball approach to domestic life-turns everything upside down. With unforgettable characters and a beguiling and tuneful score, Benny & Joon explores what happens when we step out of our comfort zones and take a leap toward love.

The cast features Andrew Samonsky (Broadway's South Pacific, Scandalous) as Benny, Hannah Elless (Bright Star at the Globe and on Broadway) as Joon, and Bryce Pinkham(Tony Award nominee for Broadway's A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder) as Sam, along with Colin Hanlon (Broadway's Falsettos, In Transit) as Mike, January LaVoy (Enron on Broadway, Coraline Off Broadway) as Ruthie, Paolo Montalban (Globe's Allegiance, ABC's Cinderella with Brandy) as Larry, Natalie Toro (Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities, Les Misérables) as Dr. Cruz and Mrs. Smail, and Jason SweetTooth Williams (Disney's Freaky Friday at La Jolla Playhouse) as Waldo and Video Store Owner. Completing the cast as Understudies are San Diego local Katie Whalley Banville (Globe's A Doll's House, Playhouse's Freaky Friday and Escape to Margaritaville) and Jake Millgard (Globe/USD Shiley M.F.A. graduate, Globe's Guys and Dolls).

The creative team includes Scott Rink (Choreographer), Dane Laffrey (Scenic and Costume Design), R. Lee Kennedy (Lighting Design), Kai Harada (Sound Design), Michael Starobin(Orchestrations), J. Oconer Navarro (Music Director), Howie Cherpakov, CSA (Casting), Anjee Nero (Production Stage Manager), and Amanda Salmons (Stage Manager).

Photo Credit: Jim Cox

Andrew Samonsky appears as Benny, Bryce Pinkham as Sam, and Hannah Elless as Joon

Bryce Pinkham appears as Sam and Hannah Elless as Joon

Andrew Samonsky appears as Benny and Hannah Elless as Joon

Bryce Pinkham appears as Sam

Bryce Pinkham appears as Sam

Hannah Elless appears as Joon

Andrew Samonsky appears as Benny

The cast of BENNY & JOON at The Old Globe

Andrew Samonsky appears as Benny, Bryce Pinkham as Sam, and Hannah Elless as Joon

Bryce Pinkham appears as Sam and Hannah Elless as Joon

Andrew Samonsky appears as Benny and Hannah Elless as Joon

Bookwriter Kirsten Guenther, composer Nolan Gasser, and lyricist Mindi Dickstein

Director Jack Cummings III

The cast and creative team of BENNY & JOON at The Old Globe