Will Swenson, Wicked Vet Caissie Levy to Headline Hair; Casting Complete

Caissie Levy, who played Elphaba in the Los Angeles production of Wicked, has been cast as Sheila in the forthcoming Broadway revival of Hair. The show’s complete cast will include Will Swenson Berger, Megan Lawrence Mother and Bryce Ryness Woof, all of whom starred in the Central Park production last summer, and pop singer Sasha Allen Dionne, White Boys Trio. Hair will begin previews on March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, opening on March 31, directed by Diane Paulus.

In addition to the L.A. production of Wicked, Levy has performed the role of Elphaba on Broadway. She also played Penny Pingleton in Hairspray on Broadway and in the national tour and played Maureen in the national tour of Rent.

Swenson most recently starred in the off-Broadway productions of Rock of Ages and The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island or the Friends of Dr. Rushower. His Broadway credits include 110 in the Shade, Lestat and Brooklyn. Off-Broadway credits include Adrift in Macao and the Central Park production of Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Lawrence received a Tony nomination for The Pajama Game and appeared on Broadway in Urinetown and Les Miserables. She was featured in the Encores! summer production of Damn Yankees and the Central Park production of Two Gentlemen of Verona.

Allen was featured in the feature film Camp and has sung live and on recordings with pop artists such as Leona Lewis, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Usher, John Legend, and Babyface.

Ryness has appeared on Broadway in Legally Blonde and off-Broadway in Crossing Brooklyn. He toured as Roger in Rent and appeared in the Los Angeles premiere of Floyd Collins.

As previously announced, the cast also includes Gavin Creel Claude, Lauren Elder Tribe, Allison Guinn Tribe, Anthony Hollock Tribe, John Moauro Tribe, Ato Blankson-Wood Tribe, Brandon Pearson Tribe, Paris Remillard Tribe, Maya Sharpe Tribe, Theo Stockman Hubert, Tribe, Tommar Wilson Tribe, Jackie Burns Black Boys Trio, Tribe, Kaitlin Kiyan Black Boys Trio, Tribe, Nicole Lewis White Boys Trio, Tribe, Megan Reinking Black Boys Trio, Tribe, Saycon Sengbloh Abraham Lincoln, White Boys Trio, Tribe, Steel Burkhardt Electric Blues Quartet, Tribe, Allison Case Crissy, Andrew Kober Margaret Mead, Dad, Tribe, Darius Nichols Hud and Kacie Sheik Jeanie, Tribe.

Levy, Allen and Creel are the only new members of the 26-person cast. Sheila was played in Central Park by Caren Lyn Manuel, now on tour in Rent; Eden Espinosa had been announced to play the role on Broadway but withdrew. Allen’s role was played by Patina Miller, who was just announced as the star of the West End production of Sister Act. Claude was played in Central Park by Jonathan Groff and later by Christopher J. Hanke.