Arena Stage Announces Partial Casting For DUKE ELLINGTON'S SOPHISTICATED LADIES

Jazz and swing will thrive on U Street as Duke Ellington's music comes home to the Lincoln Theatre in Arena Stage's upcoming musical Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies. Partial casting is set for the show conceived by Donald McKayle, based on the music of Duke Ellington, with music and dance arrangements by Lloyd Mayers and vocal arrangements by Malcolm Dodd and Lloyd Mayers. This revival will be choreographed by and star legendary performer Maurice Hines. Directed by Charles Randolph-Wright (director/playwright of Arena's Cuttin' Up and director of Arena's Guys and Dolls starring Hines) the production will also feature an onstage orchestra. Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies runs April 9-May 30, 2010 at Arena Stage at the Lincoln Theatre. The press opening performance is April 15, 2010 at 8:00 p.m. Full casting and release to follow at a later date.

Making their professional regional theater debuts will be two D.C.-based teen brothers John and Leo Manzari. John, 17, and Leo, 14, accomplished dancers on the regional and national scene, stood out at a master class and open audition Hines held in D.C. in October 2009. Their talent quickly caught the eyes of both Hines and Randolph-Wright, and John was immediately asked to join the show and Leo was given the role of Male Swing. John and Leo both attend The Field School in Northwest, D.C. Of the pair, Hines shared, "I see a great deal of myself and my brother [the late Gregory Hines] in them when they dance. They are just fabulous."

Partial Casting for Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies as of February 23, 2010:

Maurice Hines is a star of stage, screen and television. He started career at the age of 5 studying tap and performing with his brother, Gregory Hines. He appeared in the original Broadway production of Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, taking over the role from Gregory in 1981. He was last seen at Arena Stage in Guys and Dolls, which went on to a national tour. Highlights from his many credits include Broadway: Eubie!, Bring Back Birdie, Uptown... It's Hot! (Tony award nom for Best Actor in a Musical). National Tour: Harlem Suite, Jelly's Last Jam. International: Havana Night (Cuba), The Red Shoes (Dominican Republic).Film: The Cotton Club.

Marva Hicks Broadway: Caroline, or Change; The Lion King; Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. Off-Broadway: Thunder Knocking on the Door. Regional: Crowns (Arena Stage), Cuttin' Up, The Women of Brewster Place (Arena Stage and ALLIANCE THEATRE), Porgy and Bess (Zach Scott Theatre).

Sabra Lewis New York: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Phantom of the Opera (Broadway); Camelot, Mack and Mabel (Lincoln Center). National Tour: Spamalot. Regional: Oklahoma! (Paper Mill Playhouse), Minsky's (Center Theatre Group).

Tony Mansker New York: Mary Poppins (Broadway), Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall). National Tour: West Side Story. Regional: 42nd Street, Singin' in the Rain, Oklahoma!, Cabaret.

John Manzari D.C.: Walking the Winds: Arabian Tales, Nutcracker, Brothers of the Knight (Kennedy center); The Nutcracker (Warner Theater).

Wynonna Smith Broadway: Sarava, The Three Musketeers, Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, Grind, Hot Feet. Off-Broadway: Jazzbo Brown.

Keith LaMelle Thomas Broadway: The Red Shoes, Ragtime, Swing!, Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies, The Producers, Jelly's Last Jam, Black and Blue, Porgy and Bess. Other New York: Harlem Song (Apollo).

DeMoya Watson New York: Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall). Regional: The Last Adam (Holy Land Experience); Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo the Musical (Disney Entertainment).

Hollie E. Wright Broadway: Hot Feet. National Tour: The Color Purple. Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel (ALLIANCE THEATRE), principal dancer with the Philadelphia Dance Company.

Richard Riaz Yoder New York: Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Broadway), Voices of Bahá (Carnegie Hall). International Tour: 42nd Street. Regional: Hairspray, 42nd Street, The Music Man (MUNY).

Leo Manzari (Swing) D.C.: The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Brothers of the Knight (Kennedy Center); The Nutcracker (Warner Theater).

The Creative Team for Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies includes Musical Director David Alan Bunn, Choreographer Maurice Hines, Assistant Choreographer Kenneth Lee Roberson, Set and Projection Designer Alexander V. Nichols, Costume Designer Reggie Ray, Lighting Designer Michael Gilliam and Sound Designer Timothy J. Thompson.

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