Ruby Rakos, who played Frances Gumm/Judy Garland in developmental productions of Chasing Rainbows at North Carolina鈥檚 Flat Rock Playhouse and Connecticut鈥檚 Goodspeed Musicals, again stars as the beloved entertainer.
She is joined by Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies) as Mickey Rooney, Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys) as Frank Gumm, Sally Wilfert (Assassins) as Ethel Gumm, Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!) as Kay Koverman, Michael McCormick (Hello, Dolly!) as L.B. Mayer, Colin Hanlon (Falsettos) as Roger Edens, Samantha Joy Pearlman (Summer in the City) as Mary Jane Gumm, Andrea Laxton (Ghost) as Virginia Gumm, Violet Tinnirello (鈥淎merica鈥檚 Got Talent鈥�) as Shirley Temple, Sophie Knapp (Les Miserables) as Baby Frances Gumm, and Christina Maxwell (New York Music Festival鈥檚 Sonata 1962) as Edna Mae Durbin.
The cast also includes John Battagliese (Grumpy Old Men), MacKenzie Bell (Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Curtis Holland (Mean Girls), Ben Laxton (The Book of Mormon), Kevin McGlynn (Kiss Me, Kate), Shina Morris (Tootsie), Jonalyn Saxer (Mean Girls), and Jesse Sharp (The Addams Family).
The Broadway-aimed show has a book by Marc Acito (Allegiance) with musical adaptation by David Libby (Play It Cool) and music direction by Larry Yurman (War Paint). Tony nominee Denis Jones (Holiday Inn, Tootsie) directs.
Chasing Rainbows is the first stage, film, or television property about the life of Judy Garland to receive the endorsement of the Garland Estate. The musical utilizes tunes from the Sony Music/Feist Robbins catalog, including 鈥淥ver the Rainbow,鈥� 鈥淵ou Made Me Love You,鈥� 鈥淓verybody Sing,鈥� 鈥淚n Between,鈥� and 鈥淒ear Mr. Gable.鈥�
The production was conceived and created by actor, director, and teacher Tina Marie Casamento. Garland historian John Fricke, author of The Wizard of Oz: An Illustrated Companion to the Timeless Classic, is a consultant on the project.
Karen Mason has been a special guest performer on 半岛体育's Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are now on sale for 半岛体育鈥檚 April 7鈥�14, 2019, featuring , , , , and , and , 半岛体育 Travel鈥檚 first domestic cruise, will bring passengers on a journey through the Pacific Northwest from April 26鈥揗ay 4, 2020. 半岛体育 Travel is currently accepting waitlist travelers for its sold out cruises: (September 1鈥�9, 2019) and (June 24鈥揓uly 1, 2019). Call 半岛体育 Travel for tickets at 866-455-6789 or visit .
