The Little Dancer… a holiday family musical makes a triumphant return to New York City for its second production at Theatre 71 on the Upper West Side, right off Broadway on 71st Street.
Written by Steven Fisher, the one-hour show tells the heart-warming story of how 14-year-old Marie Van Goethem, Edgar Degas’ model for his one and only sculpture, became the most famous ballerina in the world.
Last year’s premier received rave reviews. “Steven Fisher’s The Little Dancer is nothing less than extraordinary,” wrote Kristen Morale of BroadwayWorld. “This production captures the very essence of magic that exists in a child’s heart.” The show was also featured on Good Morning America.
The Little Dancer will once again be directed by Richard Vida and choreographed by Lainie Sakakura.
The cast of The Little Dancer features New York actors Evan Wormald (Degas/Ed), Georgia Monroe (Marie), Heather Cadarette (Mama/Mistress de la Ballet), Beatrice Howell (Charlotte), Avelina Sanchez (Louise), Jordan Stanfield (Georges) and Liz Friedman (Swing/Dance Captain), as well as 29 young people who make up the show’s “Musical Theatre Geek Chorus” (MTGC) – Charley Bazzle, Audim Brokenbough, Cole Bryne, Maya Collins, Silas Costa, Lexi Eichel, Margalit Eisenstein, Logan Ford, Chelsea Gadsden, Tate Hamburg, Rose Jeffres, Jeremy Peyton Jones, Ella Keim, Channa Lewenson, Stephanie Moorhatch, Elizabeth Mun, Sade Mutua, Mekhi Patterson-White, Arabella Pirrone, Sophia Repkoe, Nicolena Rivera, Sophie Santago-Sterling, Emma Shay, Christopher Simcox, Cobrin Stanish, Giuliana Stout, Amalia Matetic Undurraga, Sarah Weil-Jones and Tabitha Wismer.
The production features Music Director Evan Alparone and Josh Suslak on Piano, Set Design and Costume Design by Jeremy Bailey-Smith, Costume Supervisor Rashidah Nelson, Lighting Design by Lighting Designer Ridley Walker, Associate Art Designer Chris Williams, Production Stage Manager Tama-Rose Bazzle and Assistant Stage Manager Moriah Tobin. Casting by Mungioli Theatricals, Inc.
Fisher prides himself on writing elevated theatre for young people. “Children’s Theatre doesn’t have to be dumbed down for kids or boring for adults. Kids today are savvy, and their parents always appreciate not being put to sleep,” says Fisher. “This particular show has it all for young people, offering them the world of theatre, art, dance, and musical theatre all in one.”
The kids who make up the MTGC are members of Commonwealth Youthchoirs (CY), for which Fisher serves as Founder and Artistic Director. CY transforms the lives of over 800 young people through the power of making music together. Like last year, proceeds from the production will benefit Find Your Instrument!, CY’s award-winning outreach program, which offers hundreds of students in under-resourced schools the opportunity to experience the profound joy of singing with others.
Recommended for children ages 6 to 106, The Little Dancer... a holiday family musical will run at Theatre 71 (152 W. 71st Street, 10023, right off Broadway) throughout the month of December. For more information, visit thelittledancermusical.com. For tickets, visit the Box Office.
Evan is delighted to be making his New York City debut in The Little Dancer! A recent graduate of Point Park University’s BFA Acting program, Evan’s latest theatre credits include: Beauty and the Beast (Ensemble) with St. Vincent Summer Theatre, The History Boys (Irwin), Cabaret (Cliff Bradshaw), and You on the Moors Now (Mr. Rochester) with Point Park Conservatory Theatre Company, and the world premiere of The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Brad Hays) with Prime Stage.
Georgia Monroe, a Senior at Pace University in New York City, is pursuing a BFA in Commercial Dance. She is so excited to be a part of The Little Dancer for her second year! Her credits include I’m a Brass Band (Charity, DancesPace) Rock of Ages (PCLO), Dance Dance Dance; Heartbeat (Hershey Park), Evita and Showboat (Interlakes Summer Theater). Much love and thanks to my supportive family, Croix, Steve, Richard and Lainie. Happy Holidays!
Heather Cadarette is thrilled to be reprising her role in this wonderful musical! She has worked as a preschool teacher while pursuing acting here in NYC, with select credits including Off-Broadway: Louise – Beauty and the Beast; NYC: Sister Antonia – If the Saints Arrive in Germany; Regional: Fairy Godmother – Shrek The Musical; Jane – God-Shaped Hole; Ms. Cratchit – Mrs. Scrooge the Musical; Margaret – Much Ado; Mary Jane – Big River; Gertrude McFuzz – Seussical The Musical. Proud graduate of UCSD. Much love to family, friends, fiancé, and this wonderful cast and crew!
Avelina Sanchez is thrilled to be a part of The Little Dancer. NYC Theater credits include: The Perfect Fit (Laura), Teatro Latea Theater, directed by GarthKravits; Two-29 HR AEA Readings of Corner of Bitter and Sweet (Keiko), Theatre 71 directed by Lainie Sakakura and Playroom Theater directed by Darren Lee. NYC Dance credits include: High Above with India Arie, City Center; Gloria, Jazz Lincoln Center; Dance Theatre of Harlem Vision Gala with Patti LaBelle, Cipriani 42; Journey of the Nightingale, Tribeca Performing Arts Center. Cabarets: 54 Below and The Greenroom 42. Thank you Richard Vida, Steven Fisher, Lainie Sakakura, Arnold Mungioli Theatricals, Melanie Lockyer, Lia Chang, and my family.
Beatrice Howell is thrilled to be making her New York City debut in this heartwarming holiday musical. She is originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and currently lives in New York City. She attends The American Musical and Dramatic Academy and is majoring in Dance Theatre. She is ecstatic to be working with such a phenomenal cast, crew, and production team. She wishes to thank her family and all her amazing teachers and mentors!
Liz Friedmann is so excited to share this fantastic show with audiences of all ages! A Saint Louis native, she grew up fostering her love of the arts performing at The Muny. Since then, she has performed regionally at theaters such as Asolo Repertory Theatre, Ogunquit Playhouse, and STAGES St. Louis. She was most recently seen in Man of La Mancha at STAGES St. Louis. She is a proud graduate of Oklahoma City University! Liz sends thanks and love to the production team of The Little Dancer, her family and friends, and to her ultimate support system, Ryan.
Jordan is very excited to be joining The Little Dancer. After high school he trained at the School of Ballet Arizona. While there, Jordan performed with company in many of their works. He would like to thank his Mom, Dad, Sister, and friends for being so supportive.
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
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