Arena Stage Announces Cast of THE FANTASTICS, LaCause to Star

Full casting is set for the upcoming Arena Stage musical The Fantasticks by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. Arena's re-imagined production with direction by Amanda Dehnert, musical direction by George Fulginiti-Shakar and set direction by EuGene Lee runs November 20, 2009 through January 10, 2010 at Arena Stage at the Lincoln Theatre. 

The FANTASTICS, a simple, classic love story about a boy and a girl who fall in love at the hands of their meddling fathers, charmed Off-Broadway for a record-breaking 42 years.  Rising star director Amanda Dehnert re-imagines this timeless fable in an abandoned amusement park, an appropriate playground for the story's emotional carnival.

The cast features: Sebastian (El Gallo), Addi McDaniel (Luisa), Timothy Ware (Matt), Michael Stone Forrest (Hucklebee), Jerome Lucas Harmann (Bellomy), Terrence Currier (Henry), Nate Dendy (The Mute), and Jesse Terrill (Mortimer/The Handyman).

The Creative Team for The Fantasticks includes Musical Director George Fulginti-Shakar, Set Designer EuGene Lee, Illusion Designer Jim Steinmeyer, Choreographer ShaRon Jenkins, Costume Designer Jessica Ford, Lighting Designer Nancy Schertler, Sound Designer Timothy Thompson and Stage Manager Martha Knight.

Sebastian LaCause (El Gallo) Broadway: The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Chicago, Once Upon a Mattress, Minnelli on Minnelli and Kiss of the Spiderwoman. Off-Broadway: Competing Narratives, Wingman and The Bus to Buenos Aires. D.C.: She Loves Me (Arena Stage) and Carnival (Kennedy Center).

Addi McDaniel (Luisa) Off-Broadway: The Fantasticks. Regional: Disney's High School Musical (North Shore Music Theatre) and Little House on the Prairie (Guthrie).

Timothy Ware (Matt) National Tours: Mamma Mia and Jesus Christ Superstar. Regional: Mamma Mia (Las Vegas), Like Jazz (Mark Taper Forum) and Godspell (Syracuse Stage).

Michael Stone Forrest (Hucklebee) D.C.: The Capitol Steps, 1776 (Ford's Theatre, Helen Hayes nomination), Mame (Kennedy Center) and Sweeney Todd (Signature Theatre, Helen Hayes nomination).

Jerome Lucas Harmann (Bellomy) Off-Broadway: Rio, Ton Beau Capitain, Bingo and Obeah. National Tours: Swing!, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Dreamgirls. Regional: The Full Monty (Paper Mill Playhouse).

Terrence Currier (Henry) Broadway: Damn Yankees. D.C.: Heidi (Imagination Stage); longtime Arena Stage resident actor in more than 80 productions, including Born Yesterday, Of Mice and Men and Guys and Dolls.

Nate Dendy (The Mute) Off-Broadway: Underground Bound (MCC Theater) and Poof! (Playwrights Horizons/MCC Theater). Regional: The Fantasticks (Trinity Repertory Company).

Jesse Terrill (Mortimer/The Handyman) Regional: Marat/Sade (Forum Theatre), She Loves Me (Arena Stage), Born Yesterday (Arena Stage), Frankenstein (Roundhouse Theatre) and A Midsummer Night's Dream (Shakespeare Theatre Company).

Tickets for The Fantasticks range from $25 to $74 plus applicable fees. Discount tickets are available for patrons purchasing tickets for multiple shows, students and groups. A limited number of $10 tickets for patrons ages 30 and under go on sale beginning each Monday for performances that week. (All patrons must present valid ID.) HOTTIX, a limited number of half-price, day-of-performance tickets, are available 90-30 minutes before curtain prior to every performance. Tickets may be purchased online at www.arenastage.org, by phone at (202) 488-3300 or at the Arena Stage Sales Office at 1800 S. Bell Street, Arlington, VA 22202.

Under the leadership of Artistic Director Molly Smith and Managing Director Edgar Dobie, Washington, D.C.-based Arena Stage has become the largest theater in the country dedicated to American plays and playwrights. Founded in 1950 by Zelda Fichandler, Thomas Fichandler and Edward Mangum, Arena Stage was one of the nation's original resident theaters and has a distinguished record of leadership and innovation in the field. With the opening of the new Mead Center for American Theater in 2010, Arena Stage will be a leading center for the production, presentation, development and study of American theater. Now in its sixth decade, Arena Stage serves a diverse annual audience of more than 200,000. For more information please visit www.arenastage.org.