Carmen Cusack and Nik Walker will star in a reworked regional tryout production of Bull Durham, A New Musical later this fall.
Staged at Reynolds Industries Theater at Duke University by Theatre Raleigh from September 10-22, the musical is an adaptation of the 1988 film of the same name. Initially developed in 2014, this is a reworked adaptation with eyes on New York following the southern tryout.
Two-time Tony nominee Cusack will star as Annie Savoy, the confident southern belle who selects a player from the minor league Durham Bulls to mentor. Nik Walker will play Crash Davis, one of Savoy's lovers who removes himself from her mentorship after realizing its competitive aspect.
They will be joined by John Behlmann as Savoy's other lover, Ebby Calvin "Nuke" Laloosh. Behlmann is reprising the role he performed when the film was first adapted into a musical in Atlanta in 2014. The trio will be supported by Ira David Wood III as Uncle Roy Tuck.
"When Kennedy Brady was a Broadway performer, she met composer Susan Werner and the film's director and writer, Ron Shelton," shared Theatre Raleigh. "She came on as an early investor on the musical, which made its world premiere in Atlanta in 2014. That production stalled and when the commercial rights to the musical became available a few years ago, Kennedy Brady acquired them with the intention of taking the reworked musical to Broadway."
Shelton, who wrote and directed the original film, has adapted his screenplay for the musical, while Werner composed the music and lyrics. The production's creative team includes director Broadway director Marc Bruni, choreographer Joshua Bergasse, and music supervisor Vadim Feichtner.
For more information, visit TheatreRaleigh.com.