Paper Mill Playhouse鈥檚 production of Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz will begin performances in New Jersey September 26 ahead of October 6. Directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Denis Jones, with orchestrations by Larry Blank and David Libby and music direction by Lawrence Yurman, the new musical will continue through October 27.
Chasing Rainbows: The Road to Oz has a book by Marc Acito, musical adaptation and additional music by David Libby, and concept and additional lyrics by Tina Marie Casamento. The musical, which chronicles Judy Garland鈥檚 early career from vaudeville baby to MGM teen star, is also the story of love between a father and daughter. The production features such songs as 鈥淥ver the Rainbow,鈥� 鈥淵ou Made Me Love You,鈥� and 鈥淓verybody Sing.鈥�
The principal cast features Ruby Rakos, who starred in Chasing Rainbows at the Flatrock Playhouse and Goodspeed, as Judy Garland, Tony nominee Max von Essen (An American in Paris, Falsettos national tour) as Frank Gumm, Olivier winner (Matilda, Dames at Sea) as Ethel Gumm, (Mamma Mia!, And the World Goes 鈥楻ound) as Ma Lawlor/Kay Koverman, (, Boardwalk Empire) as Louis B. Mayer, Michael Wartella (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Tuck Everlasting) as Mickey Rooney, and Colin Hanlon (Modern Family, Benny & Joon) as Roger Edens.
Flip through photos of rehearsal below:
Rounding out the cast are Tia Altinay, Mackenzie Bell, Kristen Grace Brown, Lamont Brown, Joe Cassidy, Clara Cox, Tessa Grady, Sophie Knapp, Molly Lyons, Kimberly Immanuel, Christina Maxwell, Kevin B. McGlynn, Allsun O鈥橫alley, Samantha Joy Pearlman, Drew Redington, Joshua J. Schwartz, Parker Slaybaugh, Sean Thompson, Violet Tinnirello, and Kathy Voytko.
The production will also have scenic design by , costume design by Linda Cho, lighting design by , sound design by Matt Kraus, projection design by Peter Nigrini, hair and wig design by Charles G. LaPointe, and makeup design by Dena Olivieri. John Fricke serves as creative consultant. The production stage manager is Bonnie Panson. Casting is by Tara Rubin Casting.
In a statement Casamento said, 鈥�Chasing Rainbows is about how, against all odds, the teenage Frances Gumm became the legendary Judy Garland, and it鈥檚 a story I鈥檝e wanted to tell as a musical for years, since first reading a Garland biography.鈥�
