13-Year-Old Bethesda Resident Makes Debut in 'The Secret Garden'

From Shakespeare Theatre Company:

Washington, D.C. — 25 years after the Tony Award®-winning Broadway musical production of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic children’s story The Secret Garden, the Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) and The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle will co-present the timeless tale from November 15–December 31 at Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW). The musical is directed by David Armstrong, Artistic Director at The 5th Avenue Theatre, with whom STC is co-producing the production.

The Secret Garden was created by Grammy Award®-winning composer Lucy Simon and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Marsha Norman. The show’s lush, melodic score and moving story of love, loss and renewal earned the 1991 Tony Award® for Best Musical and won the hearts of its audiences. After 25 years, Simon and Norman are returning to their much-beloved musical to refine it for contemporary audiences.

STC Artistic Director Michael Kahn said: “I’m delighted that we’re working with The 5th Avenue Theatre to bring this touching tale of a child’s heartbreak and healing. Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman transformed a charming children’s novel into a complex and dramatic musical that captivates audiences, and I am excited to share it with a new generation of families and theatregoers.”

The Secret Garden tells the story of 10-year-old Mary Lennox, orphaned in the British Raj of India and sent to England to live with her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven, who is tormented by grief and dreams of his late wife. Alone in a house haunted by memories and loss, Mary seeks refuge in her late aunt’s mysterious walled garden. After she meets her frail cousin Colin, together they discover the secrets of the garden and ultimately bring healing and happiness to the house and all in it.

Director David Armstrong Artistic Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre said: “I believe the underlying darkness of this version of the story will strike a chord with contemporary audiences, along with its themes of regeneration and renewal. This musical adaptation tells the story of how all of the major characters eventually discover that place—their personal secret garden, where they can find joy, peace and contentment—both literally and figuratively.”

Daisy Eagan, who became the youngest actress to ever receive a Tony® Award for her performance as Mary Lennox in the original production in 1991, will take on the role of Martha, the young chambermaid who helps to bring Mary back to life. She will be joined by first-class musical theatre performers including: London's West End star Michael Xavier, making his U.S. debut as Archibald Craven; Tony Awards® nominee Josh Young, whose credits include Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar; and Lizzie Klemperer, seen most recently in Bright Star. Making their STC debuts, the young leads will be played by D.C.-area actors Anya Rothman (Mary Lennox) and Henry Baratz (Colin Craven).

Executive Producer and Artistic Director of The 5th Avenue Theatre David Armstrong has helped position The 5th Avenue as one of the nation's leading musical theatre companies. He was integral in both its development and production of new works and its innovative stagings of classic musicals. As a director, he staged 5th Avenue productions of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well & Living in Paris, A Room With a View, Oliver!,Candide, Sweeney Todd, HAIR, A Little Night Music, Company, Hello, Dolly!, Anything Goes, MAME, Pippin,The Secret Garden, Vanities, White Christmas, The Rocky Horror Show, Yankee Doodle Dandy and Saving Aimee. He made his Broadway directing debut in November 2012 with the musical Scandalous. Mr. Armstrong’s work has been seen in New York, Los Angeles and at regional theatres including The Kennedy Center, Ordway Center, Ford's Theatre, Cincinnati Playhouse and New Jersey's Paper Mill Playhouse. From 1990 through 1995, he served as artistic director of Cohoes Music Hall in upstate NY. Armstrong has also written the books for the musicals The Wonder Years (winner of seven Drama-Logue Awards), Gold Rush andYankee Doodle Dandy.

Marsha Norman is an American playwright, screenwriter and novelist. She received the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for her play ’Night, Mother. She wrote the book and lyrics for Broadway musical The Red Shoes, as well as the libretto for The Color Purple and the book for The Bridges of Madison County. Lucy Simon is a Grammy Award®-winning composer. She made her Broadway debut as the composer of The Secret Gardenbut is also well known for the musical production of Doctor Zhivago.

THE CAST

Following lead roles on stage in the United Kingdom for almost 15 years, Michael Xavier will make his U.S. debut in The Secret Garden. He has received Olivier nominations for his performances in Into The Woods at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre and Love Story at The Duchess Theatre. Other notable credits include Miss Saigon, My Fair Lady, The Phantom of the Opera, Oklahoma! Assassins, The Pajama Game, Show Boat and The Sound of Music. Most recently, he played Joe Gillis in the critically acclaimed Sunset Boulevard opposite Glenn Close at the London Coliseum. Josh Young played the role of Judas in the Broadway revival of Jesus Christ Superstar, for which he was nominated for the Tony Award® for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He has performed in several shows in the Stratford Festival and for his role as Che in Evita, he won the Broadway World Toronto Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Lizzie Klemperer joins the cast of The Secret Garden following her role in the hit Broadway musical, Bright Star. On the New York stage she most recently appeared in A Christmas Story and The Most Happy Fella and went on a national tour with a production ofThe Addams Family. Daisy Eagan became the youngest actress to receive a Tony Award, for her performance as Mary Lennox in the original production in 1991. On Broadway, she also appeared in the original production of Les Misérables and James Joyce’s The Dead. 10-year-old Virginian, Anya Rothmanappeared in the national tour of How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Her regional theatre credits include:Because of Winn-Dixie at the Delaware Theatre Company; The Sound of Music at Millbrook Playhouse;Fiddler on the Roof at Ash Lawn Opera. Maryland resident, Henry Baratz makes his debut for STC following stage and screen roles including the Signature Theatre in Elmer Gantry, Olney Theatre in Carousel, Ford’s Theatre: Ragtime (reading). His credits also include Carmen with the Washington National Opera. Charlie Franklin joins the cast following Broadway roles in The Book of Mormon and The Bridges of Madison County. Rounding out the cast are: Alex Alferov (Ensemble/Soldier/Footman), Brittany Baratz (Rose/Ensemble),Jared Michael Brown (Lieutenant Wright/Ensemble), Mary Jo DuGaw (Claire/Mrs. Winthrop/Ensemble),Catherine Flye (Mrs. Medlock), Jason Forbach (Captain Albert Lennox), Seán G. Griffin (Ben Weatherstaff), Maya Maniar (Ayah), Happy McPartlin (Cook/Ensemble), Greg Stone (Major Holmes/Ensemble), Hayley Travers (Housemaid/Ensemble), Vishal Vaidya (Fakir), Ethan Watermeier(Major Shelly/Butler/Ensemble) and Billie Wildrick (Alice/Ensemble).

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