Mesa Encore Theatre (MET) announced a list of special guest soloists for their upcoming season opener. The show, The Best of Broadway, plays September 3 – 19, 2021, at the Mesa Arts Center. MET has assembled a cast of over 50 performers who perform Broadway hits over the 3-week run. With a core cast of 24 performers, The Best of Broadway features a rotating roster of 5 special guest soloists at each of its 13 performances. Special guest soloists include alumni who have starred in numerous MET shows in the past.
This list also includes some MET stage debuts, including Broadway veteran performer GINA VICTOR (who starred on Broadway in the original production of Singin’ in the Rain) and the newly crowned Miss Arizona USA – CASSIDY JACKS.
Former MET Alumni appearing include HEIDI-LIZ JOHNSON (Mary Poppins/Rock of Ages), KATHLEEN RICHARDS (Hello Dolly/Annie), DAMON J. BOLLING (In the Heights/Sweeney Todd), KATHI OSBORNE (Pirates of Penzance), TAYLOR HUDSON (Shrek), NICHOLAS HAMBRUCH (Beauty and the Beast), SAVANNAH ALFRED (Chicago), FRENKI HYKOLLARI (In the Heights), LAUREN BERMAN (Hello Dolly), LINDSAY DECOSTE (Into the Woods), DANIELLE HALE (Mary Poppins) DAWN RENDELL (Legally Blonde), KORI STEARNS (Hello Dolly), ALEXANDRA PALMATIER (Pirates of Penzance), KARA E.HOUSER (Billy Elliott), and DAN MARBURGER (Fiddler on the Roof).
MET Stage debut guest soloists include BRITT POWELL, HARLEY BARTON, ADAM GUINN,
LEAH KLEIN, ANGELIQUE BODINE, MARLENE GERSTMAN, NIKKI REEVES, KARL HAAS,
and youth performers, ANIELA TITONE and ANNA SCALES. They join the previously
announced core cast of Tristan Acevedo, Amanda Bagley, Vanessa Benjamin, Sara Bruton,
James Brown, Jeremy Cruz, Hector Coris, Cameron Eggers, Jared Ferolino, Chris Fidler, Kelly
Fulcher, Juli Gore, Jari Haile, Elise Hurst, Katie Jurich, Katie L. Lambert, Zack Pepe, Drew
Raitch, Ashley Ann Rhoades, Caitlen Richison, Roy Thielen, Dani Topel, and Kieara Kurtz-
Williams. Broadway veteran Michael Wallot, MET’s new Producing Artistic Director, is slated to host, direct and choreograph the show. The show is musically directed by Jennifer Adams, with Wendy Thompson as Stage Manager.
The Best of Broadway will play September 3-19, 2021. Performances are Thursdays, Fridays,
and Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:30 PM. Individual tickets are $37.00
for Adults and $32.00 for Students and Seniors. Group rate discounts are available. All
performances occur at The Mesa Arts Center’s Nesbitt/Elliott Playhouse at 1 E.
Main Street in Downtown Mesa. Tickets are available through the Mesa Arts Center Box Office
at (480) 644-6500 or by visiting Mesa Encore Theatre. Box Office Hours are Tue. – Fri.,
12 PM – 5 PM; Sat. – Mon. – CLOSED. The box office opens 1 hour before each performance.
