CLAY AIKEN Stars As TEEN ANGEL in Pittsburgh CLO's GREASE!
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. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Becca Ackner 412-281-3973 x224 [email protected] IMAGES User: pressroom Password: pittstadium CLAY AIKEN stars as TEEN ANGEL in Pittsburgh CLO’s GREASE! June 7 – 16 at the Benedum Center Pittsburgh, PA ∙ May 20, 2019 – Pittsburgh CLO will fill the Benedum Center with the sock-hop sounds of the original high school musical, GREASE, June 7 – 16. Tickets are now available by phone at 412-456-6666, online at pittsburghCLO.org or by visiting the Box Office at Theater Square. Superstar of stage and silver screen, American Idol favorite and vocal virtuoso Clay Aiken joins the cast as Teen Angel! Clay most recently starred on Broadway, alongside Ruben Studdard, in Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show at the Imperial Theater. The New York Times called the production ‘A Christmas Miracle’. This came ten years after Clay’s critically lauded Broadway debut in Monty Python's Spamalot. ABOUT THE SHOW THIS SHOW IS "THE ONE THAT YOU WANT!" Since making its Broadway debut in 1972, Grease, the story of innocent, lovesick Sandy and bad-boy Danny attempting to rekindle a summer romance, has been captivating audiences of all generations. Take a rock ‘n’ roll trip back to the 1950s with electrifying choreography and unforgettable hits from the iconic movie including: “You’re The One That I Want,” “Summer Nights,” “Greased Lightnin’” and many more. ABOUT THE CAST Fresh off Broadway as Dimitri in Anastasia, Zach Adkins is making his Pittsburgh CLO debut as the leather jacket wearing heartthrob, Danny Zuko. Joining Mr. Adkins in the role of wholesome new girl, Sandy, is Kristen Martin who returns to Pittsburgh CLO after starring as Ariel in Footloose. Ms. Martin has also been seen on Broadway in Spider-Man Turn Off The Dark, and as Nessa Rose in Wicked. Rounding out this high-energy cast of Pink Ladies and T-Birds is Jackie Burns, another Wicked alum (Broadway and National Tour) who holds the title for the longest running Elphaba, with over 1,300 performances, as Rizzo; and Damon J. Gillespie, who was featured on NBC’s Rise and in Pittsburgh CLO’s In the Heights, as Doody. This production will also feature a Teen Ensemble of 14 Pittsburgh CLO Academy students. ZACH ADKINS (Danny) is making his Pittsburgh CLO debut. Recent credits include: Anastasia (Broadway), Kinky Boots (1st Nat'l), Murder Ballad (Cleveland’s Playhouse Square), Sweeney Todd (Idaho Shakespeare Festival) and Spring Awakening (Beck Arts, Broadway World Award). BWMT. KRISTEN MARTIN (Sandy) is excited to be back at Pittsburgh CLO! Credits include: Broadway: Wicked (Nessarose), Original cast of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark (u/s Mary Jane). Off-Broadway: The City Club (Crystal LaBelle) Regional: Cleveland Playhouse & McCarter Theatre: World Premiere of Ken Ludwig's, A Comedy Of Tenors (Mimi), Goodspeed: 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer), La Cage (Anne), Pittsburgh CLO & Maine State Music Theatre: Footloose (Ariel), The Baystreet Theatre: Dames At Sea (Ruby) Nat'l Tours: Wicked (Nessarose), A Chorus Line (Val), 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer), Cats, (Demeter). TV: Deception, Film: Psychotic (Roxy). VINCE ODDO (Kenickie) likes a nice beach and a sunset, but when he isn't doing that he had been busy doing God Friended Me (CBS), Jesus Christ Superstar Live (NBC), and Red Dead Redemption 2 (AAA Video Game) this past year. Broadway/ Touring Credits: The Terms of My Surrender, ROCKY: The Musical, American Idiot, Amazing Grace and Cabaret. DANIEL J. MALDONADO (Sonny) is thrilled to be making his Pittsburgh CLO debut! Some recent credits include the world premiere of Moulin Rouge! The Musical based on Baz Luhrmann’s critically acclaimed film (Emerson Colonial Theater, Boston), The Graduate, Newsies, Rock of Ages, and Tommy (Forestburgh Playhouse). Rider University MT graduate. ALEX PRAKKEN (Roger) is thrilled to make his Pittsburgh CLO debut. Tour: Disney's Newsies (Oscar/ Jack and Davey u/s). Favorite regional: Disney's Newsies (Jack, La Mirada); Les Misérables (Marius, MUNY), Jesus Christ Superstar (Jesus, Connecticut Rep), South Pacific (Cable, Olney Theatre), Next to Normal (Gabe, Farmers Alley). New York Concerts: Gutenberg the Musical! (Bud, Green Room 42), 1776 (Courier, 54 Below). Upcoming: 1776 (Courier, MUNY). Training: BFA from University of Michigan, LAMDA. DAMON J. GILLESPIE (Doody) TV--Rise, Empire, Netflix’s The Society, Emmy-Winning “Girl You Don’t Need Makeup” on Inside Amy Schumer. Broadway: Disney's Newsies, Aladdin. Other: The Music Man (Kennedy Center), In the Heights (Pittsburgh CLO), Dear Evan Hansen, West Side Story (Carnegie Hall), Cyrano A New Musical and The Prom. BECCA ANDREWS (Marty) is excited to be making her Pittsburgh CLO debut! Favorite credits include: The MUNY (Grease, Joseph), Maltz Jupiter (Mamma Mia!, Sophie, A Chorus Line, Val), Forestburgh Playhouse (The Last Five Years, Cathy) Mason Street Warehouse (Mamma Mia!, Sophie), Slow Burn Theatre (Legally Blonde The Musical, Elle) Stages St. Louis (Legally Blonde The Musical, Cinderella, A Chorus Line), Theatre By The Sea (Grease, Sandy), APAC (25th..Spelling Bee, Olive). BFA Webster Conservatory. MELESSIE CLARK (Jan) is a graduate of Point Park University with a BFA in Musical Theatre. Pittsburgh CLO credits include Gypsy and The Wedding Singer. Other credits: A Sign of the Times (Goodspeed and Delaware Theatre Company), Dreamgirls (Alhambra Theatre), After Midnight (Norwegian Cruiselines), Dulcy (Pittsburgh Playwrights Theatre), The Old Settler (New Horizon Theater) and An Octoroon (Kinetic Theatre). MEI LU BARNUM (Frenchy) is originally from the Boston area and is making her Pittsburgh CLO debut. She recently graduated with her BFA in Musical Theatre from Point Park University. PPU: Sunday in the Park with George (Celeste #2), Coram Boy (Thomas Ledbury) and The Who’s Tommy (Sally Simpson). Other recent credits: Anything Goes (Reagle Music Theatre) and A New Brain (Front Porch Theatricals). ANDREA WEINZIERL (Patty) is a Pittsburgh native, the 2010 Gene Kelly Award recipient for Best Actress, and was a member of the Teen Ensemble in Grease in the 2006 production at the Benedum. Off-Broadway: Bells Are Ringing, Funny Face. National Tour: A Chorus Line. Regional: Arena Stage (Helen Hayes Nomination), Pittsburgh Public, Riverside, Westchester Broadway. Andrea can be seen in the upcoming Martin Scorsese movie The Irishman. Musical Theatre graduate of Point Park University. JORDAN DeLEON (Eugene) is making his Pittsburgh CLO debut. Select Regional credits include Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (The Muny), Vietgone (Denver Center), Waterfall (The 5th Avenue Theatre/Pasadena Playhouse), Here Lies Love (Seattle Rep), Footloose (KC Starlight), The 25th…Spelling Bee (Drury Lane Oakbrook) and The King and I (Lyric Opera of Chicago). Graduate of CCM Musical Theatre. MATT BOGART (Vince) is pleased to return to Pittsburgh CLO where he last played Sam Carmichael in Mamma Mia! Matt also played Curly in Oklahoma at Pittsburgh CLO alongside the illustrious Shirley Jones. Other credits: Broadway: Nick Massi in Jersey Boys, Radames in Aida, Chris in Miss Saigon, The Civil War, Smokey Joe’s Café (also filmed for television and DVD) and Lancelot in Camelot (National Tour). Off-Broadway: James Joyce in Himself and Nora and in Dublin Ireland. He has premiered leading roles at La Jolla Playhouse, Old Globe, Goodspeed, and Cincinatti Playhouse. A proud Affiliated Artist with Arena Stage, roles there include Val in Orpheus Descending, Lancelot in Camelot (Helen Hayes Award Nom.), Joe Hardy in Damn Yankees and the upcoming new Georgia Stitt musical, Snow Child. TV credits include HBO’s Vinyl as Robert Goulet, Smash as JFK, and Law and Order & L&O: SVU. He earned his BFA from Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. HANNAH KOHN (Cha-Cha) Recent credits: Mary Poppins (Paper Mill Playhouse). New York City Opera: Candide, La Campana Sommersa. Holiday Inn, Mamma Mia! (Merry Go Round Playhouse). National Tour: Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Regional credits: Disney's The Little Mermaid, The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. TV: Fosse / Verdon FX Network. RUTH GOTSCHALL (Miss Lynch) Broadway: Mary Poppins, The Music Man (Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn), Laughing Room Only, A Funny Thing Happened…Forum, Cabaret (dir. Harold Prince), The Goodbye Girl, Legs Diamond, Prince of Central Park, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Other credits: Liza: Steppin’ Out, The Desert Song (NYC Opera), Sondheim: A Celebration, First Lady Suite, Mame (Kennedy Center) and Carlotta in Phantom (Germany). TV/film: Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Everyone Says I Love You, and Annie (Disney). CLAY AIKEN (Teen Angel) most recently starred on Broadway, alongside Ruben Studdard, in Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show at the Imperial Theater. The New York Times called the production ‘A Christmas Miracle’. This came ten years after Clay’s critically lauded Broadway debut in Monty Python's Spamalot. On the heels of Idol, he became the first artist in history to have his first single debut at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart. His subsequent album, Measure Of A Man, also debuted at #1 with the highest first week sales by a debut artist. His 2004 holiday release, Merry Christmas With Love, set a record for the fastest selling holiday album of the SoundScan era and remains tied for the highest charting debut of a holiday album in Billboard history. He served 9 years as a UNICEF Ambassador and in 2003, he co-founded, with Diane Bubel, what is now the National Inclusion Project to advocate and increase opportunities for children with disabilities to be included in extracurricular activities (such as summer camps and after-school programs) with their non-disabled peers. Additional TV appearances include: 30 Rock, The Office, Scrubs, Days Of Our Lives, and Law & Order: SVU. Additional 2nd place finishes include: The Celebrity Apprentice in 2012 and the NC 2nd District US House race in 2014.