Leslie Kritzer to Join Harvey Fierstein and Faith Prince in A Catered Affair

Leslie Kritzer, who is currently playing the featured role of Serena in Legally Blonde, has been cast as the young leading lady in A Catered Affair, the new Broadway-bound musical with book by Harvey Fierstein, score by John Bucchino and directed by John Doyle. Starring the previously announced Faith Prince and Fierstein, A Catered Affair will open at an as-yet unspecified Jujamcyn theater in Spring 2008. Prior to Broadway, the new musical will inaugurate the 2007-2008 season at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, with performances beginning September 20.

Kritzer will create the role of Jane Hurley, the bride-to-be in this musical set in 1953 Bronx centered on a family wedding. Prince will play her mother, Aggie, and Fierstein will play her Uncle Winston. A Catered Affair reveals relationships strained to their limits when a couple must decide whether to spend their life savings on a family business or to launch their only daughter's marriage with a lavish catered affair. Fierstein's book and Bucchino's score seize the opportunity to explore the meaning of family and the need for love, both new and reawakened.

Kritzer is this season's female recipient of the Clarence Derwent Award for "the most promising performer on the New York metropolitan scene" for her performance in Legally Blonde. She made her Broadway debut in Hairspray and received a Drama Desk nomination for her performance in off-Broadway's The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Other off-Broadway credits include Bat Boy and Godspell. Most recently, she starred in the hit cabaret show Leslie Kritzer Is Patti LuPone at Les Mouches.

A Catered Affair will be produced on Broadway by Jujamcyn Theaters, Harvey Entertainment/Ron Fierstein, Richie Jackson and Daryl Roth. The musical is based on the 1956 Turner Entertainment movie written by Gore Vidal, with an original teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky. Prince, Fierstein and Kritzer's roles were played by Bette Davis, Barry Fitzgerald and Debbie Reynolds, respectively.

The complete cast and design team for A Catered Affair will be announced shortly.