Broadway's Karen Ziemba and Elizabeth Franz Set for Sharon Playhouse Season

Sharon Playhouse has announced casting and creative teams for its 2016 summer season of musicals and plays, including Gypsy; Big River; Quartet; I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change; and the new musical, Judge Jackie: Disorder in the Court.

Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Curtains) will star in Gypsy from June 16-July 3, directed and choreographed by Richard Stafford and music directed by Joshua Zecher-Ross. Ziemba will be joined by Rufus Collins (Herbie) and Kyra Kennedy (Louise). Gypsy was created by the legendary musical-theater team of Jule Styne (music), Stephen Sondheim (lyrics), and Arthur Laurents (book).

John Simpkins will direct Big River: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn from July 21-31. Featuring Broadway’s Nicholas Ward (On the Town) as Jim, Joseph Allen (Huck), and Thomas Cannizzaro (Spamalot) as Duke. Based on Mark Twain’s classic novel, Big River features a score by country music artist Roger Miller and book by William Hauptman. Jennifer Werner (The Book of Mormon) choreographs and James Cunningham is music director.

Quartet, a play by Academy Award winner Ronald Harwood (The Pianist), will run August 18-28 and features Tony Award winner Elizabeth Franz (Death of a Salesman). The play is adapted as a 2013 film that starred Maggie Smith. John Simpkins directs.

Klea Blackhurst (Hazel) will star in the new musical Judge Jackie: Disorder in the Court from July 7-17. With music by Michael Kooman and book & lyrics by Christopher Dimond, Judge Jackie is based on a concept by Van Kaplan. John Simpkins directs, with music direction by Joshua Zecher-Ross.

The musical I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change will play from August 4-14, with Jennifer Werner (The Book of Mormon) directing and choreographing. The show features music direction by Joshua Zecher-Ross, book and lyrics by Joe DiPietro and music by Jimmy Roberts.

Additional Sharon Playhouse artists-in-residence for 2016 include scenic designers Michael Schweikardt, Jack Mehler, Josh Smith, and Lauren Mills; lighting designers Chris Dallos, Jack Mehler, Jamie Roderick, and Ken Wills; and costume designer Michelle Humphrey. Geoff Josselson serves as casting director.

For tickets and more information about the Sharon Playhouse season, click here.