Casting Complete for Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeel, Starring Longoria and Ashford

Additional casting has been set for Cirque du Soleil’s forthcoming theatrical production Banana Shpeel, which will star previously announced Broadway vets Michael Longoria (Jersey Boys) and Annaleigh Ashford (Wicked, Legally Blonde). Written and directed by David Shiner, the show will have a limited engagement at the Beacon Theatre from February 4 to April 30, 2010. (For a video preview of the new show, click here.)

Joining Longoria and Ashford will be Remo Airaldi, a resident company member of Boston’s American Repertory Theater, as the villain Schmelky, along with an international group of comedic actors: Claudio Carneiro (Brazil), Daniel Passer (U.S.), Patrick de Valette (France), Gordon White (Canada) and Wayne Wilson (U.S.). The cast will also include Russian hand balancer Dmitry Bulkin, Vietnamese juggler Tuan Le, Spanish foot juggler Vanessa Alvarez and the American sister-brother tap dance duo Joseph and Josette Wiggan. The ensemble will include Robyn Baltzer, Alex Ellis, Adrienne Jean Fisher, DeWitt Fleming Jr., Luke Hawkins, Kathleen Hennessey, Adrienne Reid, Anthony J. Russo, Melissa Schott and Steven T. Williams.

Banana Shpeel is described as a roller-coaster mix of styles that blends comedy with tap, hip hop, eccentric dance and slapstick, all linked by a narrative that ignites a succession of wacky adventures. The show centers on the cruel theater producer Schmelky (Airaldi), who dangles fame and fortune in front of Emmett (Longoria), an innocent young actor who has come to audition for him. Trapped in a flamboyant, anarchic world where Schmelky sows terror and reigns supreme, Emmett falls in love with the beautiful Katie (Ashford) and meets a bunch of absurd characters, including the strange and mysterious Banana Man. How can Emmett escape the clutches of Schmelky and his henchmen?

In addition to Shiner, the creative team for Banana Shpeel includes Artistic Guides Guy Laliberté and Gilles Ste-Croix, Director of Creation Serge Roy, Composer and Musical Director Jean-François Côté, Comic Act Designer Stefan Haves, Choreographer Jared Grimes, Costume Designer Dominique Lemieux, Set Designer and Props Co-Designer Patricia Ruel, Props Co-Designer Jasmine Catudal, Lighting Designer Bruno Rafie, Sound Designer Harvey Robitaille and Make-up Designer Eleni Uranis.

Banana Shpeel is presented by Cirque du Soleil and MSG Entertainment, which oversaw a lavish restoration of the historic Beacon Theatre.