George Street Playhouse is presenting Larry Shue’s The Nerd starring Jonathan Kite (TV’s “2 Broke Girls”), Ann Harada (TV’s “Smash”), Colin Hanlon (TV’s “Modern Family,” Broadway’s Falsettos), Kate Reinders (Broadway’s Wicked and Something Rotten), Zach Shaffer (TV’s “Six Feet Under,” Broadway’s A View From the Bridge) and Stephen Wallem (Showtime’s “Nurse Jackie”), April 24 – May 20, 2018. Hayden Bercy (National Tour, A Christmas Story, The Musical) rounds out the cast as 8-year-old Thor Waldgrave.
Kevin Cahoon, who has appeared in many Broadway productions, including The Wedding Singer and The Lion King, will direct the popular comedy, which closes out GSP’s mainstage season.
The Nerd takes place during Willum’s (Hanlon) birthday party, which gets a jolt of hilarious excitement when Rick Steadman (Kite), a fellow ex-soldier who saved Willum’s life, stops by for a visit. Upon realizing that Rick will overstay his welcome with a vengeance, Willum puts together an outrageous plan to rid himself of this wacky GI who came to dinner. It’s a rollicking farce from the author of the award-winning comedy The Foreigner.
Ann Harada (Clelia) played Christmas Eve in the Broadway and West End productions of Avenue Q and stepsister Charlotte in Rodgers+Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Other Broadway: Madame Thenardier in Les Miserables (Revival), 9 to 5, Seussical the Musical, and M. Butterfly. Film credits include Sisters, Trouble, Youth in Oregon, Admission, Hope Springs, Feel, and Happiness. She has appeared in the television series “Smash” (as Linda, the Stage Manager), “Lipstick Jungle,” “30 Rock,” “Doubt,” “The Good Wife,” “House of Cards,” “Master of None,” “The Jim Gaffigan Show” and “Search Party.”
Colin Hanlon (Willum) returns to George Street Playhouse, where he played Jon in 2004’s Tick, Tick…Boom! He has also appeared in the Falsettos revival, In Transit, and Rent on Broadway. Hanlon also played Fiyero in the first national tour of Wicked. He played Adam in the New York premiere of Dot by Colman Domingo, directed by Susan Stroman (Vineyard Theatre). Hanlon was in the original casts of I Love You Because and Edges. He played Pete in the world premiere of The 12 by Robert Schenkkan and Neil Berg (Denver Center for the Performing Arts Theatre Company) and Luke in the regional premiere of Next Fall at The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. Hanlon’s television credits include Steven on the Emmy Award-winning “Modern Family” on ABC, “Difficult People” on Hulu, and “The Sinner” on USA Network. He also starred in and produced “Submissions Only.”
Jonathan Kite (Rick) is best known as Oleg, the hilarious, sex-crazed Ukrainian cook opposite Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs in the CBS comedy hit “2 Broke Girls.” Kite appeared in more than 100 episodes of the Emmy Award-nominated comedy. Kite also does voice work for animated series, such as Adult Swim’s “Black Dynamite,” and FOX’s “Family Guy” and “American Dad.” He is an expert impressionist, boasting over 100 celebrity impressions.
Kate Reinders (Tansy) has appeared on Broadway in Something Rotten!, Wicked, Gypsy (with Bernadette Peters, directed by Sam Mendes), Good Vibrations, Into the Woods (2002 revival), and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Her regional theatre credits include Party Come Here (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Nerds (New York Stage & Film), Hair (Bay Street). Reinders was a series regular on “Work It” (ABC) and “Sherri” (Lifetime), and a guest star on “Anger Management,” “Modern Family,” and “Ugly Betty.” She has appeared in the films Russell Madness, Grudge Match, Such Good People, Certainty, and Kinsey. Reinders is also part of the singing/songwriting duo TASTiSKANK (with Sarah Litzsinger), recipient of the 2007 Breakout Award at the HBO Comedy Arts Festival).
Zach Shaffer (Axel) has appeared in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (u/s Nick), A View From The Bridge, The Man Who Came to Dinner on Broadway. Other New York credits include Taking Care of Baby (MTC) The Wii Plays, Playlist (Ars Nova) Mine, Brown, Love is Deaf (EST), Down the Drain, Til the Rapture Comes. Regional theater includes shows at Guthrie Theater, Hartford Stage, Portland Center Stage, etc. His film and television credits include “Smash,” “Chicago Justice” (NBC) Salt (Columbia Pictures), “Black Box,” “Strangers With Candy, ” “The Black Donnellys,” “Six Feet Under,” “XX/XY,” “Law & Order,” “Gayby.” Shaffer also co-directed and produced the documentary Squeezebox!, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival before going on to tour film festivals around the world.
Backstage Pass with Lia Chang 