Tony Award-Nominee L Morgan Lee Cast as Nina Mae

East Haddam, CT - Goodspeed Musicals proudly announces the cast for A Complicated Woman, a new musical about embracing your true identity that features a gender-diverse cast. A Complicated Woman will appear at Goodspeed’s Terris Theatre. Opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals, The Terris Theatre will also be celebrating 40 years and its return to a full season of three new musicals.
 
John Kenley was a theatre impresario who brought Hollywood stars like Gene Kelly and Ann Miller to Ohio’s summer stock stages. But when summer ended, he wintered in Florida where John disappeared… and Jean came to life. A Complicated Woman is a new musical that features a Golden Age score and a gender-diverse cast. Join us for the intriguing story of a theatre legend who had to navigate the joy, pain and pitfalls of leading a double life.
 
When asked why they wanted to be part of A Complicated Woman, Nora Brigid Monahan who will play John/Jean said, "It's been an amazing experience participating at various stages in the development of A Complicated Woman, and I'm humbled to get to bring the show to life at The Terris Theatre this spring with this wonderful creative team. Special credit is due to Donna Lynn Hilton and the entire team at Goodspeed for investing in new musicals – and for making sure that trans voices and stories are included in the future of the musical theatre canon."
 
L Morgan Lee who will play Nina Mae said, "Ianne (book), Jonathan (composer) and Jeff (director) are cooking up quite the meal with this show. I'm thrilled to be part of its development! Nina Mae is a kind of woman many theatre ‘girls like us’ have been waiting for and her 40+ year friendship with Kenley is one for the ages. Mame and Vera better watch out because Kenley and Nina Mae are on the prowl!"
 
A Complicated Woman features a book by Ianne Fields Stewart whose work spans across many fields including: theatre, film, dance, creative writing, arts administration, and social justice. Music and lyrics are by Jonathan Brielle (Broadway: Foxfire, Off-Broadway: Himself and Nora) with additional lyrics by Sam Salmond.
 
John/Jean will be played by Nora Brigid Monahan, a playwright and performer best known for writing and starring in the award-winning solo comedy Diva. Nina Mae will be played by L Morgan Lee, who made history as the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Tony Award (Broadway: A Strange Loop). Oscar will be played by Christian Brailsford (Off-Broadway: Oratorio for Living Things, Cleopatra, Francois & the Rebels). Myrtle will be played by Klea Blackhurst (The Goodspeed: Hello, Dolly!; Off-Broadway: Party Face, Bingo). Lee Shubert will be played by Danny Rutigliano (The Goodspeed: Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn; The Terris: The Fabulous Lipitones; Broadway: I Need That, Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn, Beetlejuice). Carl will be played by Dashiell Gregory (Off-Broadway: Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical). Muhlaysia will be played by Zachary A. Myers (Broadway: A Strange Loop). Diamond will be played by Arewà Basit (Off-Broadway: A Map to Know Where).
 
The ensemble will feature Bryan Munar and Siena Rafter (Off-Broadway: Runaways, Deep Blue Sea, The Division).
 
A Complicated Woman will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award-nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway: Newsies, Bonnie & Clyde, Jekyll & Hyde, Grease).
 
Music direction will be by Debra Barsha (Broadway: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical, Jersey Boys). Scenic design will be by Tobin Ost (The Goodspeed: Bye Birdie; Broadway: Disaster!, Jekyll & Hyde, Newsies (Tony Award nominee)). Costume design will be by Ph??ng Nguy?n (The Terris: Private Jones). Lighting Design will be by Jason Lyons (The Goodspeed: Hello, Dolly!, Something’s Afoot; The Terris: The Bikinis, The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, Cutman; Broadway: Hand to God, On the Town). Sound design will be by Jay Hilton who has designed countless productions at both The Terris Theatre and The Goodspeed and serves as Goodspeed’s Audio Supervisor/Resident Sound Designer. Wig, hair & make-up design will be by Tommy Kurzman (The Goodspeed: The Mystery of Edwin Drood; Broadway: I Need That, Gutenberg: The Musical!, The Cottage). Orchestrations will be by Jonathan Brielle and Nathan Dame.

Devin Day will be the Production Stage Manager. Casting for this production is by Paul Hardt / Hardt Casting.

A Complicated Woman will run May 10th – June 2nd, 2024, at The Terris Theatre located at 33 North Main Street, Chester, Conn. [Official Press Opening: May 29, 2024.] Curtain times are Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select performances at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.).
 
Single tickets are on sale now and start at $20. Season tickets are also available starting at $117 for all three shows at The Terris Theatre. Tickets are available through the Goodspeed Box Office (860.873.8668), open weekdays at 10:00 a.m. and weekends at 11:00 a.m., or online at goodspeed.org. For show highlights, exclusive photos, special events and more, visit us at goodspeed.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
 
The Terris Theatre is supported by The Norma Terris/Albert D. Firestone Foundation.

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Book by: Ianne Fields Stewart
Music and Lyrics by: Jonathan Brielle
Additional Lyrics by: Sam Salmond

Director and Choreographer: Jeff Calhoun
Music Director: Debra Barsha
 
Scenic Designer: Tobin Ost
Costume Designer: Ph??ng Nguy?n
Lighting Designer: Jason Lyons
Sound Designer: Jay Hilton
Wig, Hair & Make-Up Designer: Tommy Kurzman
Co-Orchestrators: Jonathan Brielle and Nathan Dame
Production Stage Manager: Devin Day
Casting: Paul Hardt / Hardt Casting
 
Principals:
Nora Brigid Monahan (John/Jean)
L Morgan Lee (Nina Mae)
Christian Brailsford (Oscar)
Klea Blackhurst (Myrtle)
Danny Rutigliano (Lee Shubert)
Dashiell Gregory (Carl)
Zachary A. Myers (Muhlaysia)
Arewà Basit (Diamond)
 
Ensemble:
Bryan Munar
Siena Rafter

Dates: May 10 – June 2, 2024

Performance Times: Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with a select performance at 2:00 p.m.), Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 3:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:00 p.m. (with select performances at 6:30 p.m.)
Select Performances: Thursday 5/30 at 2:00 p.m., and Sunday 5/12, 5/19, 5/26 at 6:30 p.m.

Location: The Terris Theatre, 33 North Main Street, Chester, CT  06412
 
Tickets: Start at $20.00. All prices subject to change based on availability.
Goodspeed Box Office (860.873.8668) or online at goodspeed.org

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