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FOR IMMEDIATE : Becca Ackner 412-281-3973 x224 [email protected]

IMAGES User: pressroom Password: pittstadium

CLAY AIKEN stars as TEEN in CLO’s !

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, favorite and vocal virtuoso joins the cast as Teen Angel! Clay most recently starred on Broadway, alongside , in Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Show at the Imperial Theater. called the production ‘A Christmas Miracle’. This came ten years after Clay’s critically lauded Broadway debut in 's .

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 , 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 . 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 , 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), (1st Nat'l), Murder Ballad (’s Playhouse Square), (Idaho Shakespeare Festival) and Spring (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 : World Premiere of 's, A Comedy Of Tenors (Mimi), Goodspeed: (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 (Val), 42nd Street (Peggy Sawyer), , (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), Live (NBC), and Red Dead Redemption 2 (AAA Video Game) this past year. Broadway/ Touring Credits: The Terms of My Surrender, ROCKY: The Musical, , Amazing Grace and .

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), , , , 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), (Cable, Olney Theatre), (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: (Kennedy Center), In the Heights (Pittsburgh CLO), , West Side Story (Carnegie Hall), Cyrano A New Musical and .

BECCA ANDREWS (Marty) is excited to be making her Pittsburgh CLO debut! Favorite credits include: (Grease, Joseph), Maltz Jupiter (Mamma Mia!, Sophie, , Val), Forestburgh Playhouse (The Last Five Years, Cathy) Mason Street Warehouse (Mamma Mia!, Sophie), Slow Burn Theatre ( 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 . Pittsburgh CLO credits include Gypsy and The Wedding Singer. Other credits: A Sign of the Times (Goodspeed and Delaware Theatre ), (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. 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: ( 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 /Pasadena Playhouse), Here Lies Love (Seattle Rep), Footloose (KC Starlight), The 25th…Spelling Bee (Drury Lane Oakbrook) and (Lyric Opera of ). 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 , Radames in , 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 , Old Globe, Goodspeed, and Cincinatti Playhouse. A proud Affiliated Artist with Arena Stage, roles there include Val in Descending, Lancelot in Camelot (Helen Hayes Award Nom.), Joe Hardy in 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: (). Opera: , 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: / 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. ), 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 (). TV/film: Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Everyone Says I Love You, and (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: , The Office, Scrubs, , and Law & Order: SVU. Additional 2nd place finishes include: in 2012 and the NC 2nd District US House race in 2014.

GREASE is completed with a talented ensemble including Jordan Alexander, Sky Bennett, Bailee Brinkman, William Bureau, Trevor Clarida, Pricilla Curtis, Croix Dilenno, Jamary Gil, Michael Greer, Jessica Ice, Chloe Kehm, Jeffrey Koch, Natalie Leonard, Meghan Manning, Charlie Patterson, Eric Phelps, Jenna Rifkind, Jake David Smith and Lawson Young. Also joining the cast is our teen ensemble including Benjamin Godley-Fisher, Trisha Holmes, Caroline Lucas, Jayne Miner, Felicia Niebel, Will Palicki, Jonathan Parker, Madeline Sclichter, Braedan Steffey, Halle Surgil, Cameron Tino, Grace Vensel, Aaron Ventresca and Lucia Williams.

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM BARRY IVAN (Director/Choreographer) National and International directing credits range from the German State Opera (West Side Story) to Yale. Highlighted Pittsburgh CLO credits include: Miss Saigon, Company, Sunset Boulevard, Aida, Les Misérables, Mamma Mia, Footloose, and . Mr. Ivan’s regional premiere production of won the IRNE Award for Best Musical, as did his production of The Full Monty; and he is IRNE nominated as Best Director for his productions of and Les Misérables. As Producer, his production of Showboat received the Award for Best Musical. New Development works include the US Premiere of Dracula: A Chamber Musical; ’s In The Beginning; #LoveIsLove featuring the music of Bobby Cronin; and through his association with the Dramatists Guild Foundation, upcoming new plays, musicals and TV pilots.

JAMES CUNNINGHAM (Musical Director) returns for his third season as music director for the Pittsburgh CLO summer season. New York credits include (conductor), music director for Bunnicula (TheaterworksUSA and original cast recording), Hot Mess In (Araca Project), and Happy (TACT) for which he also provided original music. National Tours credits as pianist and/or conductor include: ’s White Christmas, Spamalot, and Cats. Other regional credits include productions for Arena Stage, Casa Mañana, Theatre, Sharon Playhouse, Shakespeare Theatre Company, The Engeman Theater, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Muny and Cape Fear Regional Theatre. He holds degrees from Manhattan School of Music and .

GEOFF JOSSELSON, CSA (Casting Director) is a New York-based casting director whose work includes productions for Broadway, Off-Broadway and major New York and regional theatre companies, including the Arena Stage, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Bay Street Theatre, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Bucks County Playhouse, Cape Playhouse, Cleveland Play House, Denver Center, , The Old Globe, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Public Theatre, Round House Theatre, Symphony and the York Theatre Company. He is responsible for casting the Broadway production of The Velocity of Autumn, starring Estelle Parsons and many other acclaimed New York productions, including Southern Comfort, Yank!, Enter Laughing, Pretty Filthy, John and Jen, Himself and Nora, Altar Boyz and Septimus and Clarissa.

HISTORY OF THE SHOW GREASE is a 1972 musical by and . Named after the 1950s working-class youth subculture known as greasers, the musical is set in 1959 at fictional Rydell High School (based on William Howard Taft School in Chicago, Illinois) and follows ten working-class teenagers as they navigate the complexities of peer pressure, politics, personal core values and love. The score borrows heavily from the sounds of early .

Performance Schedule for GREASE

Friday June 7 8pm Saturday June 8 2pm & 8pm Sunday June 9 2pm & 7pm Tuesday June 11 7:30pm Wednesday June 12 7:30pm Thursday June 13 7:30pm Friday June 14 8pm Saturday June 15 2pm & 8pm Sunday June 16 2pm

TICKETS Individual tickets start at $27, and flexible 3 and 6-show season ticket packages are available through June by calling our Season Ticket Hotline at 412-281-2822. Season ticket holders can take advantage of great benefits including exchange privileges, reserved parking, behind-the-scenes email updates and much more. Groups of 10 or more enjoy exclusive discounts and specialty packages. Call our Group Sales Hotline at 412-325-1582 for more information. Student tickets are also available. Visit pittsburghCLO.org for further information.

Pittsburgh CLO gratefully acknowledges the generosity of PNC for its sponsorship of the PNC Spotlight Series and our Season Sponsors: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and WTAE-TV.

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Since 1946, Pittsburgh CLO has been the driving force behind live musical theater in Pittsburgh and the entire Southwestern Pennsylvania region. Under the direction of Van Kaplan since 1997, this not-for-profit arts organization appreciates the support of nearly 200,000 patrons yearly who attend its performances at three venues in the Cultural District: a seasonal subscription series at the Benedum Center, A Musical Christmas Carol at the Byham Theater and year- round shows at the CLO Cabaret. Its dedication to the musical theater art form includes educational programs such as the CLO Academy for Performance and Art, the CLO Mini Stars, the Gene Kelly Awards, the Award and The National High School Theatre Awards. As part of its new works development, the organization has been involved with 22 Broadway shows (30 ®), and in 2014 produced the world premiere of An American in , on Broadway (4 Tony Awards®) and in London’s West End. In addition, Pittsburgh CLO launched the SPARK festival for new small-cast musicals in 2018. For more information please visit pittsburghCLO.org.

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