The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
‘A Complicated Woman’
Goodspeed to stage musical with gender-diverse cast
CHESTER — Goodspeed Musicals has announced the cast for upcoming performances of “A Complicated Woman” at the Norma Terris Theatre. This new musical is about embracing one’s true identity and features a gender-diverse cast.
John Kenley was a theater “impresario” who brought Hollywood stars, such as 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,” the statement said.
This new musical features a Golden Age score. It tells the “intriguing” story of a theater “legend who had to navigate the joy, pain and pitfalls of leading a double life.” “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,” Nora Brigid Monahan, who will play John/Jean, said in the news release.
Monahan is a playwright and performer best known for writing and starring in the award-winning solo comedy
“Diva.”
“Ianne (book), Jonathan (composer) and Jeff (director) are cooking up quite the meal with this show . ... 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,” L. Morgan Lee said in the statement.
Lee made history as the first openly transgender person to be nominated for a Tony Award (Broadway: “A Strange Loop”), according to the Goodspeed. The production features abook by Ianne Fields Stewart,
whose work spans across many fields, including theater, film, dance, creative writing, arts administration and social justice.
Music and lyrics are by Jonathan Brielle (Broadway: “Foxfire” and OffBroadway: “Himself and Nora”), with additional
lyrics by Sam Salmond.
Oscar will be played by Christian Brailsford (OffBroadway: “Oratorio for Living Things,” and “Cleopatra, Francois & the Rebels”). Myrtle will be played by Klea Blackhurst (The Goodspeed: “Hello, Dolly!” and OffBroadway: “Party Face” and “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,” and “Irving Berlin’s “Holiday Inn” and “Beetlejuice”).
Carl will be played by Dashiell Gregory (OffBroadway: “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” and “The Division”). The show will be directed and choreographed by Tony Award-nominee Jeff Calhoun.
Performances are from May 10 to June 2 at 33 N. Main St. Curtain times are Wednesday at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m. (with select shows at 2 p.m.), Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 3 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 (with select shows at 6:30 p.m.). Single tickets start at $20. To purchase them, call 860-873-8668 or visit at goodspeed.org.