Wonderful Town

JIMMY RAY BENNETT (Officer Lonigan) was last at Encores! as ‘Sohovik’ in Damn Yankees. Theater: The Mark Taper Forum Alliance Arena The Duke on 42nd Kennedy Center Lincoln Center LaJolla Playhouse McCarter Oqunquit Barrow Street NYTW and Madison Square Garden. TV: Hand of God Billions Hot in Cleveland AJ and the Queen The Blacklist The Daily Show Better Nate Than Ever and DL Hughley's Endangered Species List. He's also “Floyd” in Grand Theft Auto 5.

ETAI BENSON (Frank Lippencott) Encores! debut. On Broadway Benson most recently appeared as Paul in the gender-bent revival of Company. He originated the role of ‘Papi’ in The Band’s Visit (Grammy Award Principal Soloist). Broadway/National Tour: Wicked (Boq) An American in Paris (Adam). TV: Étoile God Friended Me. Regional: Ogunquit Playhouse Paper Mill Playhouse Goodspeed Opera House The Old Globe Dallas Theatre Center and more. Training: University of Michigan and the Moscow Art Theatre. For A&O. @etaibenson

ALLISON BLACKWELL (Mrs. Wade) is thrilled to be making her New York City Center Encores! debut in Wonderful Town. Broadway: New York New York; Pretty Woman: The Musical; A Night with Janis Joplin; The Lion King; The Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Regional Roles: ‘Becky’ in Waitress; ‘Moon’ in Caroline or Change; ‘Fantine’ in Les Misérables; ‘Armelia’ in Ain’t Misbehavin’; ‘Mother Abbess’ in The Sound of Music. Spelman College (BA) and The Boston Conservatory (MM). Love to DGRW. allisonblackwell.com

DeWITT FLEMING JR. (Speedy Valenti) Most recently seen in the Broadway show A Wonderful World as ‘Lincoln Perry’ and served as the show’s tap choreographer. Off-Broadway: MCC’s The Lonely Few (Paul understudy) Encores! The Tap Dance Kid (Daddy Bates) and Cotton Club Parade (Lead/Nicholas Brother). Regional: After Midnight Scottsboro Boys (Ozie/Ruby) Jelly’s Last Jam (Jelly) Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon). National Tours: Riverdance (Lead Tapper Baritone Soloist) TV/Film: Boardwalk Empire Smash Limitless How to be Single. More on Fleming please visit dewittflemingjr.com

JESSIE HOOKER-BAILEY (Helen) is thrilled to be a part of Encores! Wonderful Town! Thank you to HCKR Zhailon and the team. Off-Broadway/Broadway: The Jonathan Larson Project (standby) Waitress (Dawn understudy) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Other credits: ‘Sarah’ in Sondheim’s Company (national tour) ‘Andy’ understudy (performed) in the world premiere of The Devil Wears Prada musical (Chicago). In addition to performing Hooker-Bailey is a passionate musical theater educator and audition coach. Graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory. IG @jessiehookerbailey    

AISHA JACKSON (Eileen Sherwood) Broadway: The Notebook Once Upon A One More Time Paradise Square Beautiful: The Carole King Musical Waitress and Frozen where she made history as the first Black woman to portray ‘Anna’ on Broadway. She desires to continue creating roles for Black women to lead and shine bright onstage and on-screen because representation matters! TV: Up Here (Hulu) Harlem (Amazon Prime). Voiceover: Central Park (Apple TV) Melon's House Party. For Vaughn. Luke 1:37   

JAVIER MUÑOZ (Robert Baker) is best known for starring and co-creating the role of ‘Alexander Hamilton’ in Hamilton and as ‘Usnavi’ in In the Heights both on Broadway. He’s currently starring in the Broadway-bound Galileo. He just finished a run as ‘Doc Lopez’ in Schmigadoon at The Kennedy Center. Feature credits include Monuments Love Reconsidered and Three Months. TV credits include Shadowhunters Blindspot and Full Frontal with Samantha Bee. Muñoz is an outspoken activist for LGBTQ+ rights.

FERGIE PHILIPPE (Wreck) will soon be touring the nation as ‘The Beast’ in the 30th Anniversary Revival tour of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast. Previous Credits—Broadway: Hamilton (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison) Camelot (Sir Sagramore; King Arthur Understudy). Off-Broadway: The Connector (Bob Henshaw/Willis Taylor). National Tour: Hamilton (Hercules Mulligan/James Madison). TV/Film: The Good Fight The Gilded Age Law and Order: SVU Space Cadet. He sends his love to Rose his family and Disney World. Insta: @fergsters95

JOHN RAPSON (Chick Clark) Broadway: ‘Beadle Bamford’ in the 2023 Revival of Sweeney Todd Les Misérables. Off-Broadway: Ragtime (City Center) The Play That Goes Wrong Sweeney Todd (Barrow Street) Between the Lines. Tour: The D’Ysquith Family in A Gentleman’s Guide... Regional: Asolo Rep Paper Mill Westport Playhouse Goodspeed Berkeley Rep Broadway Sacramento St. Louis Rep. Rapson's theatrical adaptation of Washington Irving’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow The Hollow premiered in 2022 at Amphibian Stage. TV/Film: A Christmas Carol The Blacklist The Gilded Age. Training: University of Michigan.

ANIKA NONI ROSE (Ruth Sherwood) Broadway: Uncle Vanya; Caroline, Or Change (Tony, Theatre World, and Lortel Awards); Carmen Jones (Lortel and AUDELCO Awards); A Raisin in the Sun (Tony Nomination); Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Film/TV: Mufasa: The Lion King; Maid; Dreamgirls; Roots; Power; The Good Wife; The Princess and the Frog; Half of A Yellow Sun. An eleven-time NAACP Image Award nominee. An international performer, Rose is the author of children’s book Tiana’s Perfect Plan.

DANIEL TORRES (Mr. Appopolous) is thrilled to be returning to New York City Center for his third production! Broadway: Tammy Faye Sweeney Todd The Music Man (Ewart Dunlop) Beautiful (Barry Mann) Evita The Pirate Queen and The Woman in White. Other NYC: ‘Young Scrooge’ in A Christmas Carol (MSG) ‘Juan’ in Altarboyz (New World Stages) Evita (City Center) and ‘The Major’ in Titanic (Encores!). National Tour: Wicked. Follow @danieltweardytorres on IG for more!

DAVID FOLEY JR. (Ensemble Understudy for Mr. Appopolous & Chick Clark) Select New York/touring credits: Funny Girl (Tom Keeney) The Phantom of the Opera (Reyer Firmin) Forbidden Broadway and the title ogre in Shrek The Musical. Favorite regional: Oz (L. Frank Baum freeFall Theatre Company) Finding Nemo: The Musical (Marlin WDW) and Guys and Dolls (Nathan Kevin Kline Award nomination Best Actor). TV/Film: The Flight Before Christmas (Hallmark) Broadcasting Christmas (Lifetime). 2023 MAC Award nominee (Manhattan Association of Cabarets Best Male Performer). All my love KD3! IG @itsdavidfoleyjr

LINDSEY ROBERTS GREENE (Ensemble Understudy for Eileen Sherwood) Encores!: Titanic; Oliver!; Brigadoon; The New Yorkers; Gentlemen Prefer Blondes; Hey Look Me Over!; The Golden Apple; Lady Be Good; Lost in the Stars. Broadway: The Phantom of the Opera. Tour: The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess Memphis After Midnight. Off-Broadway: Carmen Jones (Cindy Lou - AUDELCO nomination) Radio City. Greene has performed with symphonies nationwide and is featured on multiple cast albums movies TV projects and commercials. Executive Director of Arts Ignite an international arts education nonprofit. AJ's mommy. @lindsayrobertsgreene

MARC HEITZMAN (Ensemble) Broadway: Back to the Future Bandstand Cats (Plato/Macavity). Off-Broadway/Regional: StandardTime When Change Comes High Button Shoes Come Fall in Love Bandstand Carmen. Tours/International: Movin’ Out (Eddie) Man in the Mirror Wexford Opera Broadway Christmas Wonderland (Tokyo). Film/Television: Worth The Tony Awards The Tonight Show SNL The Kelly Clarkson Show GMA. Other: The MET Gala NY Fashion Week Fashionphile Robinhood Foundation Gala. All the love to my wife Robin.

KATE LOUISSAINT (Ensemble) is a native New Yorker and absolutely thrilled to make her Encores! debut in Wonderful Town! OBC: A Wonderful World. Regional: Beautiful (Broadway Sacramento). 2021 YoungArts and 2024 Earl V. Moore Award Winner. University of Michigan BFA MT24. Sending gratitude always to her Mom and Dad community mentors and God. Now let’s groove! Instagram: @katellouissaint

ALICIA LUNDGREN (Ensemble) Broadway: Shuffle Along, Funny Girl revival. New York: Rockette, Met Opera, Crazy For You (Lincoln Center), American Dance Machine, Chita Rivera Awards. Regional: Ain’t Misbehavin’, Will Roger’s Follies, Guys & Dolls. Concert dance: The Chase Brock Experience, Caleb Teicher and Co., Philadanco, Ailey II. Television: The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Z: The Beginning, The Gilded Age, MTV Video Music Awards. Choreographer: Encores! On Disney+. Assoc. Choreographer: Be More Chill (Broadway/London), Hercules at The Public. Lundgren is extremely excited to make her Encores! debut with this fab team and cast!

MORGAN MARCELL (Ensemble) is excited to return to City Center where she was last seen in Ragtime and Oliver! She recently wrapped Kiss of The Spider Woman the movie, performed in Nine at the Kennedy Center, and starred as ‘The Wife’ in Duncan Sheik’s newest musical, Noir! Broadway (OBC): Hamilton, Bandstand, Moulin Rouge! Associate Choreographer/Cast: KOTSW, Annie Live!, Fosse/Verdon. Other Credits: Only Gold, In the Heights (first National Tour), FBI, Law & Order: SVU/CI, Better Nate Than Ever, Up Here, Rent Live! morganmarcell.com

ROBIN MASELLA (Ensemble) Thrilled to be back at City Center! Prior Encores! productions: Love Life, High Button Shoes, Evita, I Married an Angel. Broadway: The Heart of Rock and Roll, Shucked, Bad Cinderella, Frozen, Charlie & the Chocolate Factory, Cats. National Tours: Frozen, Chicago, Evita. Masella is the Associate Choreographer of Shucked and has choreographed for and performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, The Tony Awards, and SNL. Thanks to Hybrid! Love to Mom, Dad, Benji, and Marc. @robinmasella

DARIO NATARELLI (Ensemble) (he/him) is very honored to be a part of this production. Broadway: Illinoise (OBC, ADC, understudy six roles). Off-Broadway: Oliver!, The Tap Dance Kid (Encores!); Tappin’ Thru Life; Artists at the Center (Ayodele Casel/Michelle Dorrance); Illinoise (Park Avenue Armory). Other credits include: Maestro (Netflix), SNL, Postmodern Jukebox (tap soloist), Vail Dance Festival, Newsies, Cabaret, and more. LaGuardia Arts, PSU MT. Thanks to family, friends, mentors, agents. Go In Rhythm. IG: @dario_natarelli | @knitarelli

MICHAEL OLARIBIGBE (Ensemble, Understudy for Wreck) is excited to make his Encores! debut! Some of his credits are Broadway: Once Upon a Mattress (Ensemble/ Jester understudy), The Heart of Rock and Roll (Ensemble/Eli understudy). Regional: West Side Story (Lyric Opera of Chicago), Griswolds Broadway Vacation (5th Ave), Kinky Boots (Muny). Film: A Jazzman’s Blues. Olaribigbe thanks his family and Team TGE & HCKR for their support IG: @Olar.26

PATRICIA PHILLIPS (Ensemble) First woman of color to portray ‘Carlotta’ in The Phantom of The Opera Broadway and worldwide. More Broadway: Sweeney Todd (2023 OBC), Kinky Boots, Baz Luhrman’s La Bohème (OBC), The Secret Garden (OBC), Jerry Springer the Opera (OUS). TV: Live at Lincoln Center: Sweeney Todd, Billy On The Street, The Sopranos, Tony Awards. She has taught at Carnegie Mellon, Penn State, and NYU’s Tisch, New Studio on Broadway. @theofficialpatriciaphillips ♥DIF

RENÉE REID (Ensemble, Understudy for Ruth Sherwood) is excited to be part of Wonderful Town! Broadway: Mrs. Doubtfire (Swing/Wanda Cover). National/International Tours: Frozen (Final Bulda – North American Broadway Tour), Hairspray (Pearl/Dynamite/Motormouth u/s), Dreamgirls (Lorrell u/s). Grateful to God, her family, Brian Herrick, Gregory at Dottridge Talent Management, and Telsey Casting! IG/TikTok: @renee.reid

SAMANTHA SIEGEL (Ensemble) Encores debut! Theatre/Stage: Swing! (The Gateway), A Very SW!NG OUT Holiday (The Joyce), Co-Resident Director of Swing! feat. orig. Broadway choreography (Norwegian Cruise Line). Associate Director/Choreographer: A Charlie Brown Christmas (National Tour). Select TV/Film: The Bride!, Blue’s Big City Adventure, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. Proud San Francisco Bay Area native and NYU Tisch Dance grad. This is for you, Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Love to Mama, Daddy-O, and Anders for their unending support. @samanthalsiegel

PHUMZILE SOJOLA (Ensemble, Understudy for Robert Baker) is happy to return to Encores! following his debut in Dear World. He appeared in Cats: “the Jellicle Ball” at the PAC. Broadway: Porgy and Bess (Peter) and Cinderella (Lord Pinkleton) OBC. National Tour: The Phantom of The Opera (Piangi). Syracuse stage: “Master Harold”...and the Boys (Willie). Regional credits: Boston Pops: Ragtime (Coalhouse Walker). Metropolitan Opera credits: Moby Dick, Aida, Fidelio, Porgy and Bess, and Malcolm X. @phumzile_sojolaat

NICHOLAS WARD (Ensemble) is celebrating his tenth Encores! Broadway: Lempicka, The Music Man, Lion King, Frozen, In Transit, On the Town. Lincoln Center: Anastasia, Camelot, I Am Harvey Milk. Encores!: Love Life, Brigadoon, 1776, The Golden Apple, Cabin In The Sky, Zorba!, Paint Your Wagon, Pipe Dream, Annie Get Your Gun. Tours: Show Boat, Porgy and Bess. Regional: A Little Night Music, Tommy, JCS, Big River, Ragtime, La Mancha, OOTI, Little Shop, Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Soundtracks: Wicked, Frozen 2, Schmigadoon!. Insta & TikTok @NicholasTheWard

JACOB KEITH WATSON (Ensemble) Broadway: Merrily We Roll Along (Mr. Spencer, Joe understudy); Carousel (Enoch Snow); Hello, Dolly!; Violet; The Phantom of the Opera (Joseph Buquet); and Amélie. Encores!/City Center: Ragtime (Willie Conklin), 1776 (Robert Livingston), Mack & Mabel, and Oliver!. National Tour: Chicago (Amos). Regional: Into the Woods (The Baker), Seussical (Horton), Shrek the Musical (Shrek), The Music Man (Marcellus), Swept Away, Benny & Joon (Waldo). TV: Annie Live! (Mr. Bundles), The Gilded Age, Law & Order: SVU.

ANNALIESE WILBUR (Ensemble) (they/them) Encores! debut! Previous credits include Funny Girl (National Tour); Diary of a Tap Dancer (A.R.T.); West Side Story and Pippin (Reagle). Thank you to Marc, Dustin, and Eden at Daniel Hoff. To the queer non-binary kid in the audience: you belong here. Wishing you love and happiness always. @annaliese.wilbur

RICHARD RIAZ YODER (Ensemble, Understudy for Frank Lippencott) is elated to return to City Center Encores! this season last seen in Once Upon a Mattress. An award-winning tap dancer, actor, choreographer, and veteran of seven Broadway shows, they have been seen on Broadway in White Christmas; On the Twentieth Century; Shuffle Along; Hello, Dolly!; My Fair Lady; Some Like It Hot; and Once Upon a Mattress. Love and thanks to my family, friends, and my manager, Steve. Go in Rhythm! @richardriaz

JONATHAN DUVELSON (Swing) is thrilled to make their New York City Center debut in Wonderful Town! A true Renaissance spirit, they are passionate about mastering a wide range of disciplines. Broadway: Some Like It Hot, Tammy Faye. Television: Girls5Eva (Peacock). CESD slay all day! Deepest gratitude to family, both given and chosen. Endless love to the Ozians! Follow
the journey: @johnnnybabyy

SARAH MICHELE LINDSEY (Swing) is excited to be back at City Center!  Previous credits include Broadway's Once Upon a Mattress Encores! Once Upon a Mattress ‘Sandy’ in Grease In the Mood (National & International Tours) Escape to Margaritaville Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Aida The Wizard of Oz (International Tour) The Wedding Singer and AIDA Cruises. Much love to Justin and my entire chosen family.  All the time! @slindsey282