Barbara Walsh, Adriane Lenox and Karen Ziemba to Headline The First Wives Club

Barbara Walsh and Tony Award winners Karen Ziemba and Adriane Lenox will headline the pre-Broadway production of The First Wives Club, which will be presented at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego July 15-August 23, directed by Francesco Zambello. Opening night has been set for July 31.

Completing the cast will be John Dossett Gypsy as Aaron, Kevyn Morrow Dreamgirls as Bill, Brad Oscar The Producers as Morty, Sara Chase as Trophy Wife, Sam Harris The Life as Duane, Ari Lerner and Austyn Myers alternating as Jason, with ensemble members Michelle Aravena, Mark Campbell, Thursday Farrar, Jenifer Foote, Bob Gaynor, Matthew Labanca, Victoria Matlock, Hayley Podschun, Martin Samuel and Richard Waits.

Based on the best-selling novel and film of the same name, The First Wives Club features a book by Tony Award-winner Rupert Holmes Curtains!, The Mystery of Edwin Drood and a score by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, the threesome who created hits for a variety of Motown artists.

The First Wives Club centers on college friends who reunite at middle age and discover they share the same unhappy story—their ungrateful husbands careened into midlife by dumping them for younger women. After drowning their sorrows, they decide to put their long dormant talents to use, band together, and stylishly, systematically and hilariously get even with their exes! Ziemba will play Annie, the role created on film by Diane Keaton. Lenox has been cast as Elyse, the role created by Goldie Hawn. Walsh will play Brenda, the role created by Bette Midler.

Ziemba received a Tony Award for Contact and was nominated for Tonys for Curtains, Never Gonna Dance and Steel Pier. Her other Broadway credits include Chicago, Crazy for You, Teddy & Alice, 42nd Street and A Chorus Line.

Lenox won her Tony for Doubt and has appeared on Broadway in Chicago, Caroline or Change, Kiss Me Kate, Fascinating Rhythm, How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Dreamgirls and Ain’t Misbehavin’.

Walsh received a Tony Award nomination for Falsettos and has appeared on Broadway in Company, Hairspray, Big, Blood Brothers, Rock n Roll! The First 5,000 Years and Nine.

The First Wives Club will feature choreography by Lisa Stevens. The design team includes scenic designer Peter J. Davison, costume designer Paul Tazewell, lighting designer Mark McCullough and sound designer Jon Weston. Ron Melrose will serve as music supervisor, and orchestrations will be by Harold Wheeler.

Following its run at the Old Globe, The First Wives Club is aiming for a Broadway production to be presented by Paul Lambert and Jonas Neilson, with a theater and dates to be announced.