Daisy Eagan to Star in Revamped Production of The Secret Garden

Washington, D.C.'s Shakespeare Theatre Company and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre have announced casting for their coproduction of The Secret Garden. The show begins its D.C. run next month, with performances from November 15-December 31, followed by a Seattle mounting from April 14-May 6, 2017.

The cast will feature the original 1991 Broadway production's Tony-winning star Daisy Eagan, who, at 11 years old, became the youngest actress to earn a Tony Award for her performance as Mary Lennox. She now returns to the musical as Martha, originated by Tony nominee Alison Fraser.

Joining her in the cast will be Olivier Award nominee Michael Xavier (Into the Woods) making his American debut as Archibald Craven, Broadway veteran Lizzie Klemperer (Bright Star) as Lily, and Tony nominee Josh Young (Amazing Grace) as Dr. Neville Craven. Young performed the role of Captain Albert Lennox alongside Eagan in the Manhattan Concert Productions mounting of The Secret Garden this past February.

5th Avenue Theatre executive producer and artistic director David Armstrong helms the production, which has re-enlisted its composer Lucy Simon and book writer Marsha Norman to refine it for contemporary audiences.

Based on the children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden tells the story of 10-year-old Mary Lennox, who is orphaned in the British Raj of India and sent to England to live with her reclusive uncle, Archibald Craven. The original Broadway production earned seven Tony nominations including Best Musical and Best Original Score, and won awards for Best Book of a Musical (Norman), Best Scenic Design (Heidi Landesman), and Best Featured Actress (Eagan).

For more information about The Secret Garden at Shakespeare Theatre Company, click here.

For more information about The Secret Garden at 5th Avenue Theatre, click here.