Candy Buckley Completes Cast of Broadway’s Scandalous, Starring Carolee Carmello

Candy Buckley completes the cast of the new Broadway musical Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson. Buckley will play Minnie Kennedy, the headstrong mother of the show’s title character, to be played by two-time Tony nominee Carolee Carmello. Featuring a book and lyrics by Today co-host Kathie Lee Gifford and music by David Pomeranz and David Friedman, the new musical will begin performances October 13 at the Neil Simon Theatre and open on November 15, directed by David Armstrong.

Set in 1920s Los Angeles, Scandalous is based on the life of the first superstar evangelist, Aimee Semple McPherson (Carmello)—a woman whose passion for saving souls equaled her passion for making headlines and attracting crowds. McPherson rose to fame amid scandalous love affairs and controversy, which ended in a publicized fall from grace.

Buckley’s previous Broadway credits include Cabaret, After the Fall, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Ring Round the Moon. Her other stage credits include Shockheaded Peter, The Petrified Prince, Next Fall, A Delicate Balance, The Little Dog Laughed and Knives and Other Sharp Objects. Buckley also plays a recurring character on HBO’s Treme.