(Photo : Rob Kim/Getty Images)
Veteran stage actress Chilina Kennedy will play the role of Myrtle starting on Monday, July 15, in the popular Broadway musical adaptation of F. Fitzgerald's novel, 'The Great Gatsby.'
Kennedy will take over the role of Sara Chase while she takes a medical leave of absence through the summer. As previously reported, Chase was diagnosed with tubal cancer shortly before the Broadway premiere of the show this past spring.
'The Great Gatsby' opened on Thursday, Apr. 25 at the Broadway Theatre following preview performances on Friday, Mar. 29.
The production revolves around the mysterious millionaire Jay Gatsby and the lost love of his youth, Daisy Buchanan.
Kennedy played the role of Carole King in 'Beautiful' on Broadway for over 1,200 performances. She also originated the roles of Dina in the first Broadway National Tour of 'The Band's Visit' and Annie O'Brien in 'Paradise Square.'
She made her Broadway debut in 2012 playing Mary Magdalene in 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and appeared off-Broadway in the world premiere of 'This Ain't No Disco' and in 'A Sign of the Times,' which ran at New World Stages earlier this year.
The cast, which also stars Noah J. Ricketts (Frozen) as Nick Carraway, Samantha Pauly (Six) as Jordan Baker, John Zdrojeski (Good Night Oscar) as Tom Buchanan, Paul Whitty (Once) as George Wilson, and Eric Anderson (Waitress) as Wolfsheim, is led by Tony Award nominees Jeremy Jordan (Newsies) and Eva Noblezada (Hadestown). Raymond Edward Baynard, Curtis Holland, Jeff Kready, Kayla Pecchioni, Mariah Reives, Dan Rosales, Dave Schoonover, Derek Jordan Taylor, Tanairi Sade Vazquez, Dariana Mullen, Ryah Nixon, and Katie Webber complete the cast. The remaining swings are Kurt Csolak, Jake Trammel, Carissa Gaughran, Samantha Pollino, Alex Prakken, and Jasmine Pearl Villaroel.
The musical features music and lyrics by Tony Award nominees Jason Howland (Little Women) and Nathan Tysen (Paradise Square), a book by Jonathan Larson Grant winner Kait Kerrigan (The Mad Ones), direction by Marc Bruni (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical), and choreography by Dominique Kelley.
