Regional NewsCharlotte Maltby and Jeremy Kushnier Join Secret Garden in HoustonThe Broadway-aimed revival of the Marsha Norman-Lucy Simon musical is set to begin performances October 10 at Houston’s Theatre Under the Stars.
By
Adam Hetrick
September 25, 2017
Charlotte Maltby
Casting has been announced for Theatre Under the Stars’ production of The Secret Garden, which will play Houston as part of its rolling pre-Broadway tryout October 10–22.
As previously reported, Gerald Goehring and Michael F. Mitri of Patriot Productions picked up a Broadway option on the production that is directed and choreographed by David Armstrong. This new staging of The Secret Garden premiered at the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C., and played Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre earlier this year.
The musical is based on the children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, which tells the story of Mary Lennox, an orphan girl being raised by her strangely cold and distant uncle. Librettist Marsha Norman won the 1991 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical. Lucy Simon was nominated for Best Score, and the entire show was nominated for Best Musical that year.
New to the production is Charlotte Maltby (The Sound of Music), who will play housemaid Martha. She steps into the role that was played previously in D.C. and Seattle by original, Tony-winning Secret Garden star Daisy Eagan.
The Houston staging will also welcome Jeremy Kushnier to the role of Archibald Craven.
Returning to the production are Tony Award nominee Josh Young as Neville Craven, Bea Corley as Mary Lennox, Lizzie Klemperer as Lily, Charlie Franklin as Dickon, Sean G. Griffin as Ben Weatherstaff, Jason Forbach as Albert Lennox, Johann George as Fakir, Julian Lammey as Colin, and Anisha Nagarajan as Aya.
The cast also features Alex Alferov, Brittany Baratz, Jared Michael Brown, Candice Donehoo, Mary Jo DuGaw, Catherine Flye, Aaron Shanks, Hayley Travers, Ethan Watermeier, and Rachel Zatcoff. Caroline Basu will be the understudy for the part of Mary Lennox.
The production will feature scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Mike Baldassari, and sound design by Justin Stasiw. Rick Fox is music director/supervisor.
Lupita Nyong'o, Katrina Lenk, Jelani Alladin, and more were on hand to celebrate the October 31 opening night of Michael R. Jackson and Anna K. Jacobs' new musical.
