| Christian Borle Joins the Cast of TAMMY FAYE on Broadway | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 07:04 pm EDT 06/26/24 | |
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| Two-time Tony Award-Winner CHRISTIAN BORLE Joins the Cast of The New Broadway Musical TAMMY FAYE The First Broadway Musical to Play The Legendary Palace Theatre Since Its Renovation Music by Elton John Lyrics by Jake Shears Book by James Graham Choreography by Lynne Page Directed by Rupert Goold Broadway Previews Begin October 19 Opening Night November 14 June 26, 2024— Producers Rocket Stage, Greene Light Stage, and James L. Nederlander have announced that two-time Tony Award-winner Christian Borle will play Jim Bakker in the Broadway production of the acclaimed musical TAMMY FAYE. Borle will star opposite two-time Olivier Award-winner Katie Brayben, who will reprise her Olivier Award-winning performance as Tammy Faye Bakker. The Almeida Theatre production of TAMMY FAYE makes its Broadway debut this Fall at the legendary, newly refurbished Palace Theater (160 W 47th Street). TAMMY FAYE will begin preview performances on October 19th and will officially open on November 14th, 2024. Tickets are currently available at BroadwayDirect.com. "Christian is one of Broadway's most exciting leading men and I am beyond thrilled that he will be joining the company of TAMMY FAYE," said composer Elton John. "I know Christian will perfectly capture both the humor and the darkness written into the role and I, along with the rest of the creative team, cannot wait to see him and Katie bring this unforgettable couple to life this fall." A "divinely delirious glitz-bomb of a musical" (Financial Times), TAMMY FAYE features music by legendary songwriter Elton John, lyrics by Scissor Sisters' Jake Shears, a book by Olivier Award-winning writer James Graham (Dear England, Ink), music supervision, arrangements, and additional music by Tom Deering, choreography by Lynne Page (Ink, Standing at the Sky's Edge), and direction by Olivier Award-winner Rupert Goold (Patriots, Dear England). The production will feature scenic design by Bunny Christie, costume design by Katrina Lindsay, lighting design by Neil Austin, video design by Finn Ross, sound design by Nick Lidster for Autograph, wigs, hair and make-up design by Luc Verschueren for Campbell Young Associates, and orchestrations by Mark Dickman and Tom Deering. Casting is by C12 Casting/Carrie Gardner, Jillian Cimini. Additional casting will be announced in the coming months. Mr. Borle replaces the previously announced Andrew Rannells. CHRISTIAN BORLE (Jim Bakker) is a Grammy and two-time Tony Award-winning actor. Christian won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical as Shakespeare in Something Rotten, and Best Featured Actor in a Play as Black Stache in Peter and the Starcatcher. Most recently on Broadway, he starred as Joe/Josephine in Some Like It Hot (Tony nom.), for which he wrote additional material and received a Grammy Award for its cast album. Additional Broadway credits: Jesus Christ Superstar, Footloose, Amour, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Spamalot, Legally Blonde (Tony nom.), Mary Poppins, Falsettos (Tony nom.), and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He most recently starred as Albert Peterson in the Kennedy Center's production of Bye Bye Birdie in June 2024. He also starred as Orin Scrivello, DDS et al in Little Shop of Horrors at the Westside Theater, for which he received the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Lucille Lortel (or LuLo) Awards for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical. On TV, Christian has appeared in "Hazbin Hotel," "Gilmore Girls," "Evil," "Masters of Sex," "Elementary," "Younger," "Lifesaver," NBC's "Peter Pan Live," and NBC's "The Sound of Music Live." Christian played a recurring role on "The Good Wife/Fight" and received across-the-board praise as Tom on "Smash." Christian also appeared in Michael Mann's feature Blackhat opposite Chris Hemsworth and Viola Davis, and The Bounty Hunter with Jennifer Aniston. Directing: Popcorn Falls (Davenport Theater), Footloose (The MUNY), and Tale as Old as Time, a tribute to Howard Ashman at 92Y's Lyrics & Lyricists series. Playwriting: Hammered: A Thor & Loki Play (Go to marvelspotlightplays.com). ABOUT TAMMY FAYE The story of a traveling preacher's wife who beamed into homes with a message of hope… and stole the country's heart. It's the 1970s. As satellites broadcast brand-new cable programming into American homes, millions fall in love with Tammy Faye Bakker – the charismatic wife of pastor Jim Bakker. Together, they build a nationwide congregation that puts the fun back into faith. But, even as Tammy dazzles on screen, jealous rivals plot behind the scenes, threatened by her determination to lead with love. Wrapped in a joyful and deliriously fun score that could only come from Elton John, TAMMY FAYE shines a sparkling light on the generous, loving, often lonely soul behind the illustrious lashes. Reprising her Olivier Award-winning West End performance, Katie Brayben will lead the cast as Tammy Faye. Two-time Tony Award-winner Christian Borle will step into the role of Jim Bakker. TAMMY FAYE had its world premiere at London's Almeida Theatre in Fall 2022, where it received rave reviews and was nominated for four Olivier Awards, including Best Musical. For more information and upcoming news, please visit https://tammyfayebway.com/ ABOUT THE CAST KATIE BRAYBEN (Tammy Faye Bakker) is a two-time Olivier Award Winner for Best Actress in A Musical for Tammy Faye (2023) and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (2015). Her theatre credits include Tammy Faye (Almeida Theatre); Nine Lessons and Carols: stories for a long winter (Almeida Theatre); Girl From The North Country (West End/Royal Alexandra Theatre, Toronto); A Walk On The Moon (American Conservatory Theater, San Francisco); Honour (The Park Theatre); My Mother Said I Never Should (St. James's Theatre); The Spoils (Trafalgar Studios); Beautiful: The Carole King Musical (West End); King Charles III (Almeida Theatre & West End); American Psycho (Almeida Theatre); A Midsummer Night's Dream; Ragtime (Regent's Park Open Air Theatre); Joking Apart (Nottingham Playhouse/ Salisbury Playhouse); 13 (National Theatre); Company (Southwark Playhouse); John and Jen (Landor Theatre); The Great British Country Fete (Bush Theatre); Mamma Mia! (West End). Film: A Serial Killer's Guide to Life. Television credits include "Mandrake" (ITV), "Queen Charlotte - A Bridgerton Story" (Netflix); "Cell 8" (Fremantle); "Miss Scarlet and The Duke" (Alibi); "War of the Worlds" (Canal+); "The Wheel Of Time" (Amazon); "Grace" (ITV); "Luther" (BBC); "The Alienist" (Paramount); "Doctor Who" (BBC); "King Charles III" (BBC); and "Vera" (ITV). ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM ELTON JOHN's (Music) theatre work includes: The Lion King (Broadway/ West End/ Worldwide, Tony Award nomination for Best Original Score and Olivier Award nomination for Best New Musical), Elton John and Tim Rice's Aida (Broadway/ US tour, Tony Award for Best Original Score and Grammy Award for Best Musical Show Album), Billy Elliot the Musical (Broadway/ West End/ Worldwide, Olivier Award for Best New Musical and Tony Award for Best Musical), Lestat (Broadway), and The Devil Wears Prada. Elton John is one of the most highly acclaimed and successful solo artists of all time. He has achieved one diamond, 32 platinum or multi-platinum, and 21 gold albums, over 70 Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. He holds the record for the biggest selling single of all time, "Candle in The Wind" 1997, which sold over 33 million copies. Since launching his first tour in 1970, Elton has performed over 4,000 times in more than 80 countries. JAKE SHEARS (Lyrics) is a founding member of the platinum selling band Scissor Sisters. He has created six albums with the band and as a solo artist. His first musical, Tales of the City, went into production at the American Conservatory Theater in 2010, and he starred as Charlie Price in Kinky Boots in Broadway and at the Hollywood Bowl. In 2018 he authored his first book, the memoir Boys Keeps Swinging. He's been nominated for two Grammys and received three Brit Awards, as well as an Ivor Novello Award. He lives between London and New Orleans. He recently made his West End acting debut as the Emcee in the acclaimed revival of Cabaret. JAMES GRAHAM's (Book) theater work includes Dear England (National Theatre/West End, nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Play), Ink (Almeida/West End/Broadway, nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Play and Tony Award for Best Play), Best of Enemies (Young Vic/West End), Boys from the Blackstuff (Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool), Quiz (Chichester Festival Theatre/ West End), Labour of Love (West End, Olivier Award for Best New Comedy), This House (National Theatre/ Chichester Festival Theatre/ West End/ UK Tour), Privacy (Donmar Warehouse/ Public Theatre New York), Monster Raving Loony (Theatre Royal Plymouth/ Soho Theatre), the book for Finding Neverland (American Rep/ Broadway), The Whisky Taster (Bush Theatre), Bassett (National Theatre/ Bristol Old Vic), The Man, Sons of York, Little Madam, Eden's Empire, Albert's Boy (all for Finborough Theatre), A History of Failing Things (Theatr Clywd), Tory Boyz (Soho Theatre), Coal Not Dole, The Tour Guide (Edinburgh Fringe). TV credits include Sherwood, Quiz, Brexit; The Uncivil War, Coalition. RUPERT GOOLD (Director). Artistic Director of the Almeida Theatre, founding Artistic Director of Headlong (2005 to 2013), former Associate Director at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Artistic Director of Northampton Theatres (2002 to 2005). Broadway: Ink, King Charles III (Tony nominated for both), Macbeth (also BAM), American Psycho, Enron. This year he also has two new Almeida productions on Broadway, in the spring, Patriots by Peter Morgan, and in the fall Tammy Faye, a new musical by James Graham, Jake Shears and Elton John. For the Almeida: Cold War, Women, Beware the Devil, Tammy Faye, Patriots, Spring Awakening , Albion, The Hunt, Shipwreck, Richard III, Medea, The Merchant of Venice, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, American Psycho; King Charles III, Ink. Theatre includes: Dear England (National Theatre/ West End); The 47th (The Old Vic); The Effect; Earthquakes in London (Headlong/ National Theatre); Time and the Conways (National Theatre); The Merchant of Venice; Romeo and Juliet; Speaking Like Magpies (RSC); Enron (Headlong/West End/Broadway); Made in Dagenham; Oliver!; The Glass Menagerie; No Man's Land (West End); King Lear (Headlong/ Liverpool Everyman/ Young Vic); Six Characters in Search of an Author (Headlong/ West End); Macbeth (Chichester Festival Theatre/ West End/). In 2025 he will direct Hamlet for the RSC. Film includes: Judy (with Renee Zellweger); True Story. Television includes: "Macbeth," "King Charles III," "Richard II." Opera includes: Turandot (ENO), Le Comte Ory (Garsington Opera). Rupert has received Olivier, Critics' Circle and Evening Standard awards for Best Director twice and won a Peabody Award in 2011 for Macbeth. Rupert received a CBE in 2017 New Year's Honours for services to drama. LYNNE PAGE (Choreographer).For the Almeida: Spring Awakening, Ink (also West End/ Broadway), American Psycho (also Broadway), There Came a Gypsy Riding, The Late Henry Moss Almeida Theatre. Other theatre includes Stranger Things (West End), Standing at The Sky's Edge (National Theatre and West End, Olivier Nomination for choreography); Company, Assassins (Crucible Theatre, Sheffield); The Grinning Man, Funny Girl (West End); La Cage Aux Folles, A Little Night Music (West End/ Broadway); American Psycho (Broadway); Little Shop of Horrors (Menier Chocolate Factory/ West End); St George and the Dragon, The Cherry Orchard, Never So Good, The Merchant of Venice (National Theatre); Volpone, The Two Gentlemen of Verona (RSC); My Fair Lady (Theatre Du Chatelet, Paris); Jesus Christ Superstar (European Tour). Opera includes Death in Venice (Royal Opera House), Marnie (Met/ENO), Medea (ENO), Les Troyens (La Scala, Milan/ San Francisco), Andrea Chenier (Bregenz Festival), Carmen (OHP). Film credits include Judy, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Fred Claus, Hippie Hippie Shake. Television: The Crown, So You Think You Can Dance. Lynne created her first work for The Royal Ballet main stage in May 2021. She won a WhatsOnStage Award and was nominated for an Olivier, as well as a Tony and Drama Desk award for her work on La Cage Aux Folles. She has choreographed all the Pet Shop Boys world tours since 2007 and directed Pet Shop Boys: Inner Sanctum at the Royal Opera House in 2018. Her other music credits include working with Kanye West, Muse, Stormzy, Jess Glynne and GoGo Penguin. ABOUT THE PALACE THEATRE As one of Broadway's most preeminent theatres, "Playing The Palace" has been synonymous with the pinnacle of success since the theatre opened in 1913. The venue closed in 2018 for a significant renovation and restoration, including raising the historically landmarked venue 30 feet in the air, and recently reopened. ABOUT THE ALMEIDA THEATRE The Almeida makes brave new work that asks big questions: of plays, of theatre and of the world around us. Since 2013, it has been led by Artistic Director Rupert Goold and Executive Director Denise Wood. Recent highlights include A Streetcar Named Desire (transferred to the West End, winner of 3 Olivier Awards), The Hunt (transferred to St Ann's Warehouse, New York), The Doctor (transferred to the West End and Park Avenue Armory, New York), and critically acclaimed productions of Spring Awakening (screened in cinemas UK wide), The Tragedy of Macbeth (screened on BBC Four) and Patriots (transferred to Broadway this spring). |
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