Christopher Fitzgerald, Brooks Ashmanskas, and More Join Encores! Dear World

New York City Center has announced principal casting for its upcoming Encores! production of Dear World, running March 15-19.

As previously announced, two-time Tony winner Donna Murphy (Hello, Dolly!) will lead the cast as Countess Aurelia. She will be joined by two-time Tony nominee Brooks Ashmanskas (The Prom) as President, Andréa Burns (On Your Feet!) as Constance, three-time Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (Company) as Sewerman, Ann Harada (Into the Woods) as Gabrielle, Kody Jauron as Artiste, Phillip Johnson Richardson as Julian, and Samantha Williams (Caroline, or Change) as Nina.

Dear World features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, and a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. The musical premiered in 1969, making Jerry Herman the first composer-lyricist in history to have three shows running simultaneously on Broadway. The story follows a motley band of outcasts who must rally together to save their picturesque neighborhood in Paris from a greedy cabal of oil-hungry bankers.

The Encores! production will be directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, who helmed the 2019 Encores! production of Herman's Mack & Mabel. New Encores! music director Mary-Mitchell Campbell will lead the Encores! orchestra.