Hoty, Glynn, Kennedy & More Set for Pre-Broadway Workshop of Pure Country

Casting is complete for a pre-Broadway workshop of Pure Country, a new musical aiming for a full production in Spring 2009. Rehearsals for the workshop begin the week of April 28 and will culminate in three private industry presentations to be held May 22 and May 23, directed by the show's co-book writer, Peter Masterson.

The principals will include Michael Park Smokey Joe's Café, Carousel and the recent Applause for Encores! as Rusty, Dee Hoty The Will Rogers Follies, City of Angels, Mamma Mia! as Lula, Tony Award winner Carlin Glynn The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Young Man from Atlanta as Mama Ivy, Lauren Kennedy Spamalot, Side Show, Sunset Boulevard as Harley, Jeb Brown Grease, High Fidelity, Ring of Fire as Earl, Jim Newman Curtains, The Who's Tommy, Almost Heaven as Charlie and Michael McCormick Curtains, Kiss Me Kate as Marty.

The workshop's 12-member ensemble features Eric Anderson, Becca Ayers, Brad Bass, Darrell Blackburn, Bridie Carroll, Anderson Davis, Ryan Dunkin, Sarah Jane Everman, Jared Grimes, Stephanie Kurtzuba, Courtney Laine Mazza and Allie Schulz.

The workshop casting does not reflect final casting for the Broadway production, which has yet to be finalized. As previously announced, Pure Country is a musical based on the 1992 film of the same name. It features an original score by Steve Dorff music, John Bettis lyrics and screenwriter Rex McGee book, collaborating with Masterson. The show centers on Rusty Park, a country music superstar who walks out of an overblown concert tour and begins a search to find himself and the love he left behind.

Ironically, earlier this season, Hoty and Kennedy were part of the cast of another musical with a country score, the ill-fated Lone Star Love, starring Randy Quaid.

Producers for Pure Country are Randall L. Wreghitt, Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi.