Stage and screen star Steven Pasquale, whose credits include the recent Stephen Sondheim musical Here We Are and The Bridges of Madison County, will play Guido Contini in the Kennedy Center's upcoming production of the Tony-winning musical Nine.
Three-time Tony winner Andy Blankenbuehler (Hamilton, Bandstand, In the Heights) will direct and choreograph the Broadway Center Stage production, which will play the Eisenhower Theater August 2–11.
Pasquale will be joined by Shereen Ahmed (My Fair Lady) as Claudia, Tony nominee Carolee Carmello (1776, Parade) as Liliane La Fleur, Sasha Hutchings (Oklahoma!, Hamilton) as Our Lady of the Spa, Lesli Margherita (Matilda, Dames at Sea) as Saraghina, Oscar and Tony nominee Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (Man of La Mancha, Scarface) as Guido’s Mother, Jen Sese (Hamilton, Hair) as Stephanie Necrophorus, Tony nominee Elizabeth Stanley (Jagged Little Pill, On The Town) as Luisa Contini, and Michelle Veintimilla (The Visit, Gotham) as Carla Albanese. Additional casting will be announced.
Based on the Oscar–winning Federico Fellini film 8 ½, Nine features a score by Maury Yeston and a book by Arthur Kopit. Tommy Tune directed the original production, which opened in 1982, subsequently winning five Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score.
In the musical, director Guido Contini (Pasquale), suffering from “director’s block” on his latest film and from a strained marriage to the neglected Luisa (Stanley), retreats into his mind, where a parade of women—lovers past and present—bombard his senses and throw reality into question.
“I’m thrilled to be returning to the Kennedy Center, where I’ve been blessed to have made so many amazing creative memories,” said Blankenbuehler in a statement. “Working on Nine has long been a dream of mine. Theatre lovers all know how glorious these songs will sound with this unbelievable cast of actors, but I’m also very excited to bring this deeply complicated and rich story of love, creativity, and acceptance to life through dance. With Maury Yeston’s unbelievable score, anything is possible.”
“Andy has a unique gift to integrate a vision of song, dance, story, and character. I am elated to have him back at the Kennedy Center and work together on this glorious, moving, one-of-a-kind musical. With this incredible cast, this new production of Nine is a not-to-be-missed event,” added Broadway Center Stage Artistic Director and Kennedy Center Vice President and Executive Producer of Theater Jeffrey Finn.
The upcoming production will also have musical direction by Lily Ling, scenic design by Tony winner Derek McLane, lighting design by Cory Pattak, costume design by Alejo Vietti, sound design by Haley Parcher, and wig design by Tom Watson. The production stage manager is Matthew Lacey. Casting is by Geoff Josselson.
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