Once Around the Sun to Land at the Zipper this Summer
Broadway.com has learned that Maya Days and Asa Somers will star in the rock musical Once Around the Sun at the Zipper Theatre this summer. Jesse Lenat, Kevin Mambo and Caren Lyn Manuel are also expected to appear in the tuner, which begins off-Broadway performances on July 27.
Once Around the Sun centers on a year in the life of a singer Somers who leaves his family and friends behind for a shot at stardom. The tuner features a book by Kellie Overbey and a score by Robert Morris, Steven Morris and Joe Shane.
Days appeared on Broadway as Mimi in Rent, Mary Magdalene in the Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar and the title character in Aida. Additionally, she starred in the Encores! mounting of No Strings. Days also has a pop career. As an artist on the UK's Jive Records label, she scored three top-10 hits overseas including the chart-topper "Feel It."
Lenat has appeared off-Broadway in Floyd Collins, Tooth of Crime, Hey, Jack Kerouac and Fucking A. His other theatrical credits include Romeo and Juliet, The Odyssey: A Stage Version, The Rover and his own solo show, The Spirit of Woody Guthrie.
Mambo is best known for playing Marcus Williams on Guiding Light. The role earned him two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Younger Actor. His theatrical credits include mountings of Three Sisters, West Side Story, The King and I and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
Manuel is currently a member of the Rent ensemble. She has also appeared on Broadway in Brooklyn. Her musical Womyn in Three, which she wrote and stars in, played at last year's Fringe Festival.
Once Around the Sun, directed by Jace Alexander, is scheduled to officially open on August 11.