Hannah Rose Nordberg Joins Stephanie J. Block and Will Chase in Little Miss Sunshine at Second Stage

Nine-year-old California native Hannah Rose Nordberg will star as Olive Hoover in Second Stage Theatre’s new musical comedy Little Miss Sunshine, based on the hit 2006 film. Nordberg joins previously announced cast members Stephanie J. Block and Will Chase, who will play Olive’s put-upon parents, Sheryl and Richard Hoover.

Little Miss Sunshine follows an idealistic young girl (Nordberg) who convinces her family to clamber into an old VW bus to make an 800-mile trek to a pre-teen beauty pageant, while a series of mishaps threaten to derail the group’s entire journey. The musical, which features music and lyrics by William Finn and book/direction by James Lapine, is based on the Oscar-winning film written by Michael Arndt and starring Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Alan Arkin and Abigail Breslin.

Fourth-grader Nordberg lives in Santa Monica, California with her family and began doing musical theater at the age of six with Creative Kids Youth Theater Project in LA. She’s performed in 14 musicals, with roles in Annie (Miss Hannigan), Seussical (Gertrude McFuzz) and Beauty and the Beast (Gaston) among her favorites. Nordberg's favorite school subjects are math and science, and her other interests include gymnastics, tap dancing, ballet, jazz, hula, laser tag, rock climbing, camping, skiing, riding bikes, swimming and bouncing on her trampoline. She also volunteers at a dog rescue center in her spare time.

As previously announced, Little Miss Sunshine kicks off Second Stage’s 35th anniversary season on October 15, with official opening scheduled for mid-November. The creative team consists of scenic designer Beowulf Boritt, costume designer Jennifer Caprio, lighting designer Ken Billington, sound designer Jon Weston, choreographer Michele Lynch and music director Vadim Feichtner.