Eye Injury Sidelines Glorious Ones Star Marc Kudisch

An eye injury sustained during the December 16 performance of off-Broadway's The Glorious Ones has forced star Marc Kudisch to take temporary leave from his role. Understudy Neal Benari, who stepped in for Kudisch mid-way through the show when the injury occurred, will play the role of Flaminio Scala until his return. According to a production spokesperson, Kudisch hopes to return to the show in time for this weekend's performances.

The Glorious Ones is a new backstage musical with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty and choreography and direction by Graciela Daniele. It is about the lives, loves, ambitions and art of the performers in a 16th-century commedia dell'arte troupe in Italy of the late Renaissance. Based on the novel by Francine Prose, the musical tells how the troupe came to be and how it captured the public's adoration with its bawdy comedy and raunchiness, before changing artistic fashion altered its way of life.

In addition to Kudisch and Benari, the cast of The Glorious Ones includes Natalie Venetia Belcon, Erin Davie, John Kassir, David Patrick Kelly, Julyana Soelistyo, and Jeremy Webb.

The Glorious Ones runs through Januray 6 at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.