Paper Mill Announces cast for 'Boeing Boeing'

With an opening just a couple of weeks away, Millburn's Paper Mill Playhouse announced that the cast of the comedy Boeing Boeing includes Tony-award winner Beth Leavel.

The cast and creative team for Boeing-Boeing, directed by James Brennan also features Anne Horak (Gretchen), Brynn O'Malley (Gabriella), Heather Parcells (Gloria), John Scherer (Robert), Matt Walton (Bernard) and Tony Award-winner Beth Leavel (Berthe).

The show begins performances on Wednesday, Jan. 18,  and runs at the Millburn theater through Sunday, Feb. 12. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 22. 

According to a press release from the Paper Mill, Boeing-Boeing, written by Marc Camoletti, tells the tale of Bernard, an American playboy in swinging '60s Paris who juggles three flight-attendant fiancées -- an American, a German and an Italian. With the help of airline timetables and a phenomenally efficient housekeeper, he convinces each that she is his only love. But then a fast new Boeing jet puts the flight attendants on a collision course, hurtling Bernard's cunning deception toward disaster, and provides lift-off for laugh after laugh.

Boeing-Boeing will be performed eight times a week, Wednesday through Sunday. Three-show subscription packages are available. Single tickets are on sale from $25. Tickets may be purchased by calling 973-376-4343, at the Paper Mill Playhouse Box Office at 22 Brookside Drive in Millburn, or online at www.papermill.org. Groups of ten or more receive up to a 25 percent discount on tickets and should call 973-315-1680.  

"Boeing-Boeing is the perfect comedy to brighten the winter blues," said Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director. "This is one of the funniest  evenings you will spend in a theatre. Chances are you will be laughing all the way home."

Boeing-Boeing marks director James Brennan's eighth production at Paper Mill Playhouse where his previous credits include: Kiss Me, Kate, Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music. Additionally, Brennan choreographed and directed Broadway productions of Porter's Jubilee and Kern's Sally. His acting credits on Broadway include: 42^nd Street, Singin' in the Rain, and Crazy for You.

Tony® Award-winner Beth Leavel will play the droll housekeeper, Berthe.  Leavel received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle, and Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Other Broadway credits include: Baby It's You! (Florence Greenberg), Elf (Emily), Mamma Mia! (Donna), Young Frankenstein (Frau Blucher), 42^nd Street (Dorothy Brock), Crazy for You (Tess), The Civil War (Mrs. Bixby) and Show Boat (Ellie).

Air hostesses Gloria, Gretchen and Gabriella are played by Heather Parcells, Anne Horak and Brynn O'Malley, respectively. Parcells, making her Paper Mill Playhouse debut was seen on Broadway in A Chorus Line, Wonderland, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Horak was last seen at Paper Mill Playhouse in Curtains (Bambi Bernet) and was featured in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Oklahoma!  Her Broadway and national tour credits include Young Frankenstein (Inga) and White Christmas (Rita). Brynn O'Malley received rave reviews at Paper Mill Playhouse for her portrayal of Esther in Meet Me in St. Louis. O'Malley's Broadway credits include: Hairspray (Amber Von Tussle), Wicked (Nessarose), Sunday in the Park with George and Beauty and the Beast.

John Scherer (Robert) was seen last season at Paper Mill Playhouse as Hysterium in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Scherer appeared on Broadway in Lovemusik, By Jeeves, Sunset Boulevard, The Most Happy Fella (NYC Opera) and the Actors Fund benefit performance of Funny Girl. 

Matt Walton (Bernard) makes his Paper Mill Playhouse debut, fulfilling a life-long dream of performing in the same theater he grew up attending. Walton is a television regular and was recently seen as the host of The Onion SportsDome for Cablevision.  Walton appeared on Blue Bloods, Royal Pains, Rescue Me, and the Law & Order series. Walton originated several roles off-Broadway and regionally at Bay Street Theater, Actors' Playhouse, North Shore Music Theater and American Stage.

The design team includes: set design by Emmy Award-winner Ray Klausen (Burn the Floor, Liza's at the Palace), costumes by Emmy Award-winner Brian Hemesath (The Royal Family), lighting design by F. Mitchell Dana (The Suicide, Freedom of the City), hair and wig design by Emmy Award-winner Bettie O. Rodgers (A View From the Bridge) and sound design by Randy Hansen. The production stage manager is Becky Fleming.

The show is sponsored by American Airlines. Investors Bank sponsors the Paper Mill Playhouse's 2011-2012 season.