Asolo Rep Announces Casting for Lerner and Loewe's CAMELOT
Directed by Associate Artistic Director Celine Rosenthal,
CAMELOT runs March 17 - 31
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(SARASOTA, FL) – Asolo Rep proudly announces casting for its upcoming production of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot. Directed by Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director Celine Rosenthal with Music Direction and new orchestrations by Steve Orich, this concert production of David Lee's adaptation previews March 17 and 18, opens March 19 and runs through March 31 on Asolo Rep's outdoor Terrace Stage, located on the front steps of the FSU Center for the Performing Arts.
The all-star cast features Britney Coleman as Guenevere (Asolo Rep: Marian in The Music Man; Broadway: Company, Tootsie, Sunset Boulevard and Beautiful), Nick Duckart as Arthur (Asolo Rep: Juan Perón in Evita, National Tour: Come From Away) and Alex Joseph Grayson as Lancelot (Broadway: A Bronx Tale: The Musical; 1st National Tour: Once on This Island).
The cast also includes John Rapson as Mordred/Sagramore (Broadway: Les Misérables; Off Broadway: Between the Lines, Sweeney Todd), Joseph Torello as Dinadin (Asolo Rep: The Music Man; Lincoln Center: Show Boat, Carousel, Carnegie Hall: Guys & Dolls) and Levin Valayil as Lionel/Dap/Tom (Asolo Rep: Mowgli in The Jungle Book, Off Broadway: Song of Solomon).
Director Celine Rosenthal is a Tony® nominated producer. This season she helmed Asolo Rep's We Need a Little Christmas holiday concert. Her work has been seen at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London, New York City Center, Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis and more.
"Camelot's brilliant score, unforgettable characters and timeless story make it the kind of masterpiece that simply doesn't require a massive set, orchestra or cast to be done exquisitely," said Director Celine Rosenthal. "I'm thrilled for our audiences to experience this joyful classic in a brand new, effortlessly organic way."
Music Director/Orchestrator Steve Orich was nominated for a Tony Award for Jersey Boys. At Asolo Rep he has served as Music Director for We Need a Little Christmas, The Music Man, Ragtime, and as Orchestrator for Asolo Rep world premiere productions of Beatsville, Josephine and Pulse.
Camelot tells the mythical tale of King Arthur, Queen Guenevere and Sir Lancelot. Its celebrated Broadway premiere in 1960 starred Richard Burton, Julie Andrews and Robert Goulet, and was nominated for five Tony Awards, winning four.
"Camelot teaches us to challenge the philosophy that 'Might is Right,' and instead urges us to use Might for Right," said Asolo Rep Producing Artistic Director Michael Donald Edwards. "The legend begs us to strive for Justice and Equality with indomitable spirit and tenacity. This freshly adapted production, in the hands of Associate Artistic Director Celine Rosenthal, will capture every bit of joy and magic in the original while keeping the story focused on who we are now. The romantic, sweeping score, newly orchestrated by Steve Orich, will lift your spirit and infuse you with determination."
Asolo Rep’s Outdoor Series is brought to you by Headline Sponsors, Drs. Joel and Gail Morganroth. Additional support for the series is provided by the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation and the Linnie E. Dalbeck Memorial Foundation Trust.
Health and Safety Protocols
Asolo Rep Outdoor Performances
Following the guidance of government health officials, Asolo Rep has implemented several policies to help make your experience as smooth and safe as possible.
· Advanced ticket sales only, cut off is two hours prior to performance. No walk-up sales.
· Upon arrival at venue, patrons, staff and volunteers will receive no-contact infra-red temperature checks.
· Contactless Entry: print at home tickets can be printed or scanned from phone
· Masks are required to be worn over the nose and mouth by patrons, staff, and volunteers at all times when on the premises
· Concessions will not be available for purchase and food and drinks are not allowed in the seating area.
· Performances will have no intermission.
· Seats are arranged in socially distanced pairs and cannot be moved. Larger parties will be seated as close as safety protocols allow.
· No physical playbills; performance information will be projected on large screens, emailed to patrons, and available on Asolo Rep’s website.
· Portable outdoor restrooms will be available.
· Patrons will not have access to the building.
· Hand sanitizing stations will be available throughout the venue.
· Prior to and following each performance, all seats and common areas will be disinfected with an electrostatic sprayer.
CAST
(In Alphabetical Order)
BRITNEY COLEMAN*………………....…………...…………………….Guenevere
NICK DUCKART*…………..........................................................………….Arthur
ALEX JOSEPH GRAYSON*…………….….………….…………….....……Lancelot
JOHN RAPSON*………………….........................……………Mordred/Sagramore
JOSEPH TORELLO* ………………………......……………………………….Dinadin
LEVIN VALAYIL*………………........................................……………Lionel/Dap/Tom
*Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.
SELECTED CREATIVE TEAM
Director...............................................................Celine Rosenthal
Music Director and Arranger.......................................Steve Orich
Scenic Designer...............................................Adam C. Spencer
Costume Designers.....................David M. Covach & Dee Sullivan
Lighting Designer..........................................................Ethan Vail
Sound Designer.....................................................Matthew Parker
Projection Designer....................................................Aaron Rhyne
Resident Hair & Make-up Designer............................Michelle Hart
SELECTED ARTISTIC BIOS
BRITNEY COLEMAN (Guenevere) is elated to return to Asolo Rep after debuting as Marian in The Music Man in 2018! Her Broadway credits include the 2020 revival of Company (Bobbie u/s), Tootsie (Suzie, Julie u/s), Sunset Boulevard starring Glenn Close (Heather, Betty u/s), and Beautiful (Lucille). Her favorite regional memories include Guenevere in Camelot (Westport Country Playhouse and Two River), Cinderella in Into the Woods (TUTS), Grace Farrell in Annie (MUNY), and Silvia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona (The Old Globe). A huge thanks to Celine, Steve, HCKR, The Fam and especially The Rep for this marvelous opportunity. www.britneycoleman.com
NICK DUCKART (Arthur) is thrilled to be returning to Asolo Rep after having portrayed “Juan Peron” in Evita. National Tours: Original “Kevin J. & others” on the First National Tour of Come From Away. Past Regional credits: Evita, Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical (Directed by Moises Kaufman, Choreographed by Sergio Trujillo), In the Heights, Next to Normal, Man of La Mancha, Zorba!, Company, Carousel, First Date, Assassins, Venus in Fur, A View From the Bridge, among others. TV credits include: Burn Notice, The Blacklist and The Arrangement. Love to Mariand, Lucy, Brett Rigby (CGF) and his amazing family. www.nickduckart.com
ALEX JOSEPH GRAYSON (Lancelot) is elated to be making his Asolo Rep debut! Before the pandemic put a snag on most live theatre, Alex could be seen on the National Tour of Once on This Island. In 2017 Alex made his Broadway debut in Chazz Palmenteri's A Bronx Tale: The Musical. Other credits include Toni Stone (Off-Broadway), Spring Awakening (The Argyle Theatre), The Color Purple (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), and Choir Boy (Briggs Opera House). Alex is a proud SUNY Fredonia Musical Theatre alum and student of the incomparable Matthew Corozine.
STEVE ORICH (Music Director/Arranger) On Broadway, he received a Tony® nomination for his orchestrations for Jersey Boys and recently wrote orchestrations for The Cher Show. Tours: Annie, Godspell, A Class Act. Regional Theatre: Asolo Rep (The Music Man, Ragtime, Beatsville, Josephine, Pulse); Paper Mill Playhouse (West Side Story, Can-Can); Hollywood Bowl (Bernstein's Mass); Pasadena Playhouse (Do I Hear a Waltz?, 110 in the Shade); Geffen Playhouse (Paint Your Wagon); Mark Taper Forum (The Great American Songbook); Theatreworks (Snapshots, A Christmas Memory); The Goodman Theatre (Turn of the Century); Goodspeed Opera House (You Never Know, Both Barrels). He has orchestrated and/or conducted dozens of albums including the Grammy-winning cast album for Jersey Boys. His orchestrations have been performed by the National Symphony, the Boston Pops, the BBC Orchestra, at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, the White House and around the world.
JOHN RAPSON (Mordred/Sagamore) Broadway/Off-Broadway: Sweeney Todd, Les Misérables, Nassim. John originated the role of the D’Ysquith Family in the first national tour of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder. Regional: The Tale of Despereaux (Berkeley Repertory Theatre); Oklahoma! (Sacramento Music Circus); The Play That Goes Wrong (Repertory Theatre of St. Louis); The Drowsy Chaperone (Goodspeed); Disney on Classic (with the Orchestra Japan). John is a graduate of the University of Michigan.
CELINE ROSENTHAL (Director, Asolo Rep Associate Artistic Director) is a Tony®-nominated producer and a proud "Key" member of The Ring Of Keys. Celine has developed new work with the Musical Theatre Factory, NYMF, The Kidoons, Tamasha, and The National Queer Theatre, as well as creating Asolo Rep’s premiere new work series, Asolo Rep: Ground Floor. Recent Projects: The Lifespan of a Fact, We Need A Little Christmas, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and The Tempest at Asolo Rep, Trayf (New Rep), Drowning in Cairo (N.Q.T), A Doll’s House (The Studio Theatre), The Motherf***er with the Hat (FSU/Asolo Conservatory); and the Award Winning Indie short film Wildflower. Celine is a New Georges affiliated artist, member of the 2018/19 MTC Directing Fellowship class, and was awarded an SDC Observership and Asolo Rep Directing Fellowship. Alumnus of the Commercial Theatre Institute, BMI Musical Theatre Workshop, NYU Tisch (BFA), and The New School for Drama (MFA). www.celinerosenthal.nyc
JOSEPH TORELLO (Dinadan) was last seen at Asolo Rep as Olin Britt (the barbershop quartet bass) in his 10th production of The Music Man, after touring alongside Shirley Jones. NY credits include Show Boat (Carnival Barker) and Carousel (Policeman) at Lincoln Center with the NY Philharmonic (both aired on "Live From Lincoln Center" on PBS, with Carousel currently available on Amazon Prime); Guys & Dolls (Mission Quartet) alongside Nathan Lane & Megan Mullally at Carnegie Hall; The Golden Apple (Ensemble) with City Center Encores. Other favorites: Sweeney Todd (Sweeney), The Little Mermaid (Triton), Mamma Mia (Bill), and Smokey Joe's Café (Fred).
LEVIN VALAYIL (Lionel/Dap/Tom) is happy beyond words to be returning to Asolo Rep after playing Mowgli in The Jungle Book. Levin afterwards took Jungle Book on an international tour through the U.S. and Canada. He has starred in Monsoon Wedding (Berkeley Rep); The Fabulous Lipitones (Virginia Rep); and in Craig Carnelia’s new musical Poster Boy at Williamstown Theater Festival. He currently stars in the films Lip Readers, Metros, Thoughtless, and most recently Click Next to Continue, which currently holds 20 laurels and was most recently awarded Best Web Series at the London Indie Short Festival of 24 Frames. www.levinvalayil.com
TICKETS
Tickets start at $25 for blanketed lawn seating. Patrons must bring their own blankets. Seated tickets start at $40.
Tickets are on sale online only at www.asolorep.org.