See the Center Theatre Group Cast of The Secret Garden Recreate an Original Broadway Cast Photo

The cast of Center Theatre Group's The Secret Garden, now in performances through March 26 at at Los Angeles' Ahmanson Theatre, had a little fun recently recreating a press photo from the original 1991 Broadway production. Check out the photo above of the Broadway-aimed revival starring Aaron Lazar as Dr. Neville Craven, Sierra Boggess as Lily Craven, Emily Jewel Hoder as Mary Lennox, Derrick Davis as Archibald Craven, Julia Lester as Martha, John-Michael Lyles as Dickon, and Reese Levine as Colin Craven.

"The Secret Garden was the first musical I ever saw on Broadway, so to be chosen to step into this role of Archibald Craven is the most fulfilling of full circles," says Davis. "Recreating this photo and representing our beautifully diverse company of storytellers is an absolute honor.”

Playbill got our hands on the original photo (ok...Center Theatre Group gave it to us). See the black and white press photo below featuring the Broadway cast: Robert Westenberg, Rebecca Luker, Daisy Eagan, Mandy Patinkin, Alison Fraser, and John Cameron Mitchell. The original Broadway production opened April 25, 1991 at the St. James Theatre. It closed January 3, 1993 having played 23 previews and 709 performances.

Original Broadway Cast of *The Secret Garden*

"Having seen the original Broadway production of The Secret Garden, I knew our Los Angeles audiences would fall in love with this breathtaking musical between the incredible collaboration of Marsha Norman and the late Lucy Simon," says Center Theatre Group Producing Director Doug Baker. "Recreating this production at the Ahmanson has been a magical experience for our team. This company of storytellers are passionate about this authentic version for a new generation of theatregoers."

Based on the Frances Hodgson Burnett novel, The Secret Garden features a book and lyrics by Tony and Pulitzer winner Norman and music by Grammy winner and Tony nominee Simon. The story follows a young girl left orphaned by a cholera epidemic in British-occupied India who is sent to live with her reclusive and grieving uncle in his English country estate. Tony winner Warren Carlyle directs and choreographs the production, which officially opened February 26.

John-Michael Lyles, Emily Jewel Hoder and Julia Lester in *The Secret Garden* Jeff Lorch

The cast also includes Terron Brooks as Major Shelley, Mark Capri as Ben Weatherstaff, Peyton Crim as Major Holmes, Susan Denaker as Mrs. Medlock, Kelley Dorney as Mrs. Winthrop/Cholera, Ali Ewoldt as Rose Lennox, William Foon as Colin Craven alternate, Ava Madison Gray as Mary Lennox alternate, Sadie Reynolds as Mary Lennox alternate, John Krause as Captain Albert Lennox, Yamuna Meleth as Ayah, Cassandra Marie Murphy as Mrs. Shelley, James Olivas as Lieutenant Wright, Kyla Jordan Stone as Alice, Vishal Vaidya as Fakir, and Ariel Neydavoud, with Randi De Marco and Sam Linkowski serving as swings.

PHOTOS: Get an Exclusive Sneak Peek at the Designs for Broadway-Aimed The Secret Garden Revival

Carlyle's creative team includes music supervision and additional orchestrations by Rob Berman, orchestrations by Danny Troob, music direction by Dan Redfeld, scenic design by Jason Sherwood, costume design by Ann Hould-Ward, lighting design by Ken Billington and Brian Monahan, sound design by Dan Moses Schreier, and wig and makeup design by Victoria Tinsman. Casting is by Michael Donovan and Richie Ferris, and David Franklin serves as production stage manager.