Rose Buzz
Casting is complete for our five summer shows. We held our local auditions in March with 160 performers attending, some coming from as far away as Ashland and Seattle. Sharon and I also went to New York and had a day of auditions - whittled down from hundreds of submitted headshots and resumes. I really give credit to anyone who is willing to put it all out there and be judged at an audition. It’s not easy. I saw some of the most talent performers I know shaking off their nerves as they prepared to sing for a table full of directors and musical directors. I have a lot of respect for performers.
I’m pleased to announce some of our cast members for Les Misérables: In the lead role of Valjean will be University of Oregon Opera Theater Director Douglas Webster. Doug played Valjean on Broadway and in the national tour. Currently in the tour of My Fair Lady, Jazmin Gorzline (Hansel and Gretel) will return home to play Cosette. Also returning home from his tour of Evita will be James Langston Drake (Forever Plaid, Jekyll & Hyde) in the role of Marius. The role of the relentless policeman, Javert, will be played by Leif Norby (Jekyll & Hyde, No Way to Treat a Lady), and Wade Willis (Jekyll & Hyde, Forever Plaid) will play the student Enjolras. Eponine will be played by Laila Murphy and Meredith Weber (Cole) will play Fantine. The comic roles of the Innkeeper and his wife will be played by Darius Pierce and Lori Paschall (Nunsense) respectively.
Some of your favorite Broadway Rose performers will also star in Dames at Sea. The cast is cast headed up by Peggy Taphorn (Chicago), Daniel Lee Robbins (Singin’ in the Rain), Lindsay Michelet (The Will Rogers Follies, The Case of the Dead Flamingo Dancer), Amy Palomino (42nd Street, Singin’ in the Rain), Tony Palomino (42nd Street), and yours truly.
We are thrilled that Cherie Price (The World Goes ‘Round) is returning to Portland to star in the summer’s final show, Nite Club Confidential. The rest of the cast will make their Broadway Rose debut: Chris Crouch, J.D. Daw, Andrew Foster and Sara Catherine Wheatley.
What an exciting season we have lined up. I look forward to seeing you in the lobby!

Dan Murphy
General Manager








