Brandon Espinoza has replaced the previously announced Mauricio Mart铆nez in the upcoming Off-Broadway bow of Joy: A New True Musical, Ken Davenport and AnnMarie Milazzo's musical about Wonder Mop inventor and businesswoman Joy Mangano.
Espinoza, whose Broadway credits include SpongeBob SquarePants, Tuck Everlasting, Gypsy, Big, Les Miserables, and The Will Rogers Follies, will now play the role of Tony.
鈥淎s my time with Joy comes to an end, I want to send the entire team my love and wish them all the success as they move forward telling this inspiring and uplifting true story,鈥� said Mart铆nez (On Your Feet!) in a statement. 鈥淢aking this decision was not easy for me, but for personal reasons I am unable to continue in this beautiful production. I am truly honored and grateful to have been a part of this journey, surrounded by such an incredibly talented group of artists. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Don鈥檛 miss this incredible show!鈥�
Now in rehearsals, the musical is set to begin previews Off-Broadway at the Laura Pels Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre June 21 prior to an official opening July 20.
As previously reported, Betsy Wolfe (& Juliet) will star as Joy Mangano with Charl Brown (Tammy Faye) as Dan, Adam Grupper (Pictures From Home) as Rudy, Jill Abramovitz (Beetlejuice) as Joy's mother Toots, Honor Blue Savage (The Goodbye Girl) as Joy's daughter Christie, Gabriela Carrillo as Ronni, Paul Whitty as Cowboy Eddie, and Jaygee Macapugay as Lorraine plus ensemble members Dana Costello, Ryan Duncan, Gaelen Gilliland, Sydni Moon, Manuel Santos, Brian Shepard, Allysa Shorte, Lael Van Keuren, and Alan Wiggins as well as swings Briana Brooks, Nora Mae Dixon, Micha艂 Ko艂aczkowski, and Jerome Vivona.
Lorin Latarro is directing, and Joshua Bergasse is choreographing.
Joy, which features a book by Tony winner Davenport and music and lyrics by Tony nominee Milazzo, is based on the true story of Mangano, the inventor of the Miracle Mop, and follows the single mother's financial struggles as she builds a business empire. The musical is adapted from Mangano's memoir, Inventing Joy: Dare to Build a Brave and Creative Life, and played a world-premiere engagement at New Jersey's George Street Playhouse in 2022.
Video: See Betsy Wolfe Belt 'The Shape of Things' From Joy
The upcoming production will also have scenic design by Anna Louizos, costume design by Tina McCartney, lighting design by Yael Lubetzky, sound design by Daniel Lundberg, projection and video design by David Bengali, hair and wig design by Darion Matthews, music supervision by Andy Einhorn, music direction by Jillian Zack, production stage management by Gary Mickelson, and general management by ShowTown Theatricals.
Sandi Moran and Davenport produce with TBD Theatricals, Christine Petti, Jonathan and Rae Corr, Scott Abrams, Adam Riemer, Christine G. Williamson, Sheri and Les Biller, Michael T. Cohen & Robin Reinach, Ashley Howe, Stark Sands, Laurie and Emily Tisch, Marco Santarelli, Beauty Theatrical Productions, Mark Jacobs, Shalini Matani, Sara Miller McCune, Megan Ann Rasmussen, and Larry Craig's and the Bird.
Performances will continue through August 17.
Although it is being performed at the Steinberg Center, Joy is not a Roundabout Theatre Company production.
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