Elena Shaddow as Clara in Piazza Tour

From playbill.com

"It will be a busy summer for Broadway actress Elena Shaddow, who has been cast in the upcoming national tour of The Light in the Piazza.

According to Shaddow's official website, she will play the role of Clara in the forthcoming national tour of Adam Guettel's Piazza."

mmmmhhh.....

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If there is a better reason to see the show, then I don't know what it is. Elena is ridiculously talented and Piazza will be just one more rung on her ladder-climb to stardom. Good for her.

She was far and away the best thing in "Carnival!".

I know she'll be wonderful in "Piazza" and the London "Show Boat".

wooooooohoooo, anyone else find it really akward that playbill did its article based on her website and not an official announcement? i find it slightly tacky and would feel very akward if it was me . . . regardless of how true and "great" it all may be. . .

why are we making a big deal over the fact that she posted it on her site even though a PR department didn't send out the release yet?

Its fairly obvious that she will be doing the role, or else she wouldn't have posted it.

Also, I think she posted that info for her fans (like me!) to see the news, not for message board people to jump down her throat when she was just sharing news on HER site. Its not like she personally sent out a press release. She just posted it on her performance calendar (again, on HER site), so people who are interested will know what she is doing next. Its not like she went to playbill and BWW with the news. She probably posted it on her site, and news sites took their cue off of that. How is that TACKY? Its not!

Anyway, I'm excited!

The "official" press release probably won't come until more of the cast has signed. I don't think the norm is for a press statement to be made about one cast member on a tour (unless it's a Norbert Leo Butz or Julia Murney type situation).

Celia wasn't platinum like the recent Claras...

Yes, her hair was Laura's Blonde wig in WIW. Her real hair is short and black. If they want her to be blonde, I am sure that they can wig her for it.

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If they let Patti move up to the role of Margaret, they wouldn't have to use a wig at all. The brown hair would match.

This whole "wiging" of Broadway has gotten out of hand.

Help stomp out wiging. Just say "no".

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yay Elena!

Yeah, I think she would be a fabulous Franca. Does anyone know if she auditioned for that as well?

Did Elena audition for Kelli O'hara's replacement originally?

Also, does anyone know if Jennifer Hughes will be touring as u/s?

Don't know about Jennifer Hughes on the road - but Katie is on vacation this coming week, so u/s Claras will be on if you want to see them.

Contracts for the tour are out for signing and their return will determine the announcement of the touring cast - which is quite terrific (if it turns out as cast).