Casting is now set for the previously announced U.S. premiere of Rolling Thunder, which was originally developed and produced in Australia. Produced by Blake Entertainment's Rebecca Blake, performances will begin July 10 at New World Stages prior to an official opening Off-Broadway July 24.
The rock journey, which features a book by journalist-writer Bryce Hallett, will be directed by Kenneth Ferrone (The Wanderer, Prelude to a Kiss).
The cast will feature Drew Becker as Johnny, Cassadee Pope as Linda, Justin Matthew Sargent as Thomas, Daniel Yearwood as Andy, Courtnee Carter as Lauren and others, and Deon’te Goodman as Mike and others. Understudies Ethan Hardy Benson and Erin Ramirez complete the company.
Part rock concert, part documentary, the show tells the heartfelt stories of young soldiers caught in the Vietnam War and the galvanizing protest movement that sought to end it.
Rolling Thunder showcases more than 20 rock classics of the era, including "A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall," “All Along the Watchtower,� “Born to be Wild,� “People Get Ready,� “The Letter,� “Black Magic Woman,� “Gimme Shelter,� “Help Me Make it Through the Night,� “Eve of Destruction,� “Killing Me Softly with His Song,� “We’ve Gotta Get Out of This Place,� and “Bridge Over Troubled Water.�
The upcoming production will also have set design by Wilson Chin, costume design by Andrea Lauer, lighting design by Jake DeGroot, sound design by Mike Tracey, video design by Caite Hevner, arrangements and orchestrations by Chong Lim AM and Sonny Paladino, and U.S. music supervision and music direction by Sonny Paladino. Casting is by Geoff Josselson Casting.
KGM Theatrical will serve as general management with Jen Ash as production stage manager and Jason Weixelman as assistant stage manager.
Producer Blake said in an earlier statement, �Rolling Thunder
has been a labor of love for many years and salutes Vietnam and
contemporary veterans. It is bursting with energy and passion and has
the invigorating atmosphere and feel of a rock concert. It also has
tremendous energy and heart…I have no doubt that
audiences in New York will be touched and inspired. More than anything, Rolling Thunder is a plea for peace.�
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