Pittsburgh CLO announces exciting casting for 2009 Season!!

[sfs1414]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 6:01pm

The first set of casting was announced today and I must say The CLO has snagged some amazing talent for this summer. It includes: Shoshana Bean as the Narrator in Joseph, Robert Cuccioli as Javert in Les Miz, Jennifer Cody as Little Red in Into The Woods and.....Beth Leavel as the Witch in Into the Woods. She is going to Rock it!! More casting was announced as well. Check out the link. Nice work PGH CLO!!

http://www.pittsburghclo.org/cast-announcement

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 6:12pm

2005: Shoshana Bean announces she is "over" theatre and recording a CD.

2008: Shoshana Bean releases CD.

2009: Shoshana Bean takes role in Summer Stock show.

Nice progression...

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 7:14pm

Girl gotta pay rent!

And I really want to see "Into the Woods" - Jen Cody is going to rock that!

[sfs1414]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 7:16pm

Yea the girls gotta eat! I'm looking forward to seeing the rest of the cast list for ITW. I bet it will be very awesome!! I'm so looking forward to Beth and Jen!!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 7:18pm

Is Shoshana Bean a soprano? I am used to seeing soprano singers playing the role of the Narrator.

[sfs1414]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 7:25pm

She is going to Belt the crap out of it I can tell you that much!!

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:13pm

Glad I'm home this summer

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 9:16pm

This is a really exciting batch!!!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 4/1/09 at 10:19pm

You know, Shoshana CAN focus on music while still doing theatre.. It doesn't have to be ALL theatre or nothing..

I would LOVE to catch the Bean in Joseph.. It will be AMAZING no doubt.
Beth Leavel should be a great Witch.. I hope they are reusing their Into the Woods set designed by Paul Wonsek.. it is goreous. But really? Jen Cody as Little Red?? She'd be better suited to be Little Red's Granny at this point.. shame..
Jacqueline Piro Donovan, Matthew Scott, and Keavin Early are fantastic as well!

[tourboi]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:13am

Bean's casting just made me go from wanting to go to PGH to see JOSEPH to wanting to be as far from that production as possible. Not a fan.

[delucad15]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:25am

I know a few other cast members set for Into the Woods

Tim Hartman will be playing the Narrator/Mysterious Man

Gregg Brandt will be playing Rapunzel's Prince

I believe Betsy Lawrence is playing Jack's Mother, but dont quote me on that. I'll confirm it for sure though.

And I'll try to find out more info about everyone else and I'll get back to you

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:34am

I want to know who is playing Jack!

And I'm surprised it only runs for such a short period of time. And also, Early is doing 3 shows? Wow. Do you think he was contracted that way or they just really wanted him for all 3 shows? Seems weird.

[delucad15]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:36am

Yep! Betsy Lawrence is playing Jack's mother

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 12:50am

I'm referring to Bean's rather public anti-Broadway/musical theatre attitude towards the end of her Elphaba run. She acted like she had moved on and was above it.

[bwaybabe2]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 5:24am

Did anyone see the national tour? I remember I saw it in 1990, while on a working vacation. It really stuck with me, although I must say I found the end a bit depressing (though possibly realistic), inspite of "No one is alone". The song seemed to redeem the lucklessnes of the characters a bit (as I'm sure that was "the point").
My only wish: To have been lucky enough to see Bernadette in this one (AND to have seen it on Broadway)

[Lefou]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 11:05am

"But really? Jen Cody as Little Red?? She'd be better suited to be Little Red's Granny at this point.. shame.."

Woah there, have you seen Jen Cody perform? Girl is sounding fierce and looking amazing lately and is the perfect and obvious choice for little red. Red's Granny would be a complete waste of her talent

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 11:36am

Agreed! Cody deserves a starring role! Her and Sieber were the best part of Shrek.

[jennamajig]

Posted: 4/2/09 at 11:43am

"But really? Jen Cody as Little Red?? She'd be better suited to be Little Red's Granny at this point.. shame.."

Woah there, have you seen Jen Cody perform? Girl is sounding fierce and looking amazing lately and is the perfect and obvious choice for little red. Red's Granny would be a complete waste of her talent

Was the first a reference to her age? Little Red is typically cast younger, I think, and normally I'd agree with that. But Jen Cody is a fantastic performer with the comedic touch to pull off the laughs Little Red can get and her shorter height helps. I saw her back when she was in Urinetown and have thought she's needed a bigger role since. If I were in Pittsburgh, I'd see it in a heartbeat. Of course, I also totally heart Into the Woods as well.

[daisy2]

Posted: 4/3/09 at 1:11pm

I saw Jen Cody play Junie B Jones at the Lortel just a few months back and she looked like she was 6. No joke. And that is a small theatre. I know she must be in her 30's but she is believable as a kid. I'm excited that Little Red will be funny and not childish. Wish I could see it.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 5/11/09 at 11:35pm

This is a video of her from the Andrew Lloyd Webber concert and if this is any start... I can only imagine how phenomenal she will sound in the show...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdQyfQCosiA

[outdamnwench]

Posted: 5/12/09 at 12:14am

"Is Shoshana Bean a soprano? I am used to seeing soprano singers playing the role of the Narrator. "

Shohana Bean doesn't have a range.

[tourboi]

Posted: 5/14/09 at 2:14am

You call that phenomenal? I call it bland, off pitch in places, and the riffing frightening.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/25/09 at 1:25am

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/09145/972159-325.stm

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/25/09 at 3:12am

I've heard that Julia Murney will be playing The Baker's Wife in INTO THE WOODS.

Updated On: 5/25/09 at 03:12 AM

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 5/25/09 at 3:30am

Okay.. so now the Baker's Wife has two lazy eyes and a vibrato that sounds like a goat, Little Red has completed menopause, and the Stepmother can barely legally drink - but has daughters that are Cinderella's age. Wonderful.