Casting for the Broadway premiere of “Tammy Faye” has been finalized. already announced The musical begins previews on October 19, and opens on November 14 at the Palace Theatre. Rupert Goold will direct the musical, which is based on a book by James Graham, music by Elton John, lyrics by Jake Shears, and additional music by Tom Deering.
Newly announced cast members include Tony Award nominee Charl Brown as Steve Pieters, Nick Bailey as Paul Crouch, Mark Evans as Billy Graham, Allison Guinn as Jan Crouch, Ian Lassiter as Jimmy Swaggart/Ronald Reagan/Archbishop, Raymond J. Lee as John Fletcher, Max Gordon Moore as Thomas S. Monson/Marvin Gorman, Alana Pollard as Jessica Hahn and Andy Taylor as Pat Robertson/Ted Turner. Autumn Hurlbert will play the title role in select performances to be announced.
Brown is nominated for a 2013 Tony Award for his supporting role as Smokey Robinson in “Motown,” while Bailey understudied in the Broadway production of “Casa Valentina.”
Evans appeared as Stuart Dunmire in “Mrs. Doubtfire.” Guinn’s major credits include revivals of “Hair” and “On the Town.”
Tammy Faye is Lassiter and Moore’s first appearance in a Broadway musical. Both have performed in several plays. Lassiter has appeared in King Lear and War Horse, while Moore has appeared in The Nap and Indecent.
“Tammy Faye” will be Lee’s third Broadway musical in 2024, after appearing in both “Sweeney Todd” and “The Heart of Rock and Roll.”
Taylor’s Broadway appearances span three decades, including appearances in Titanic, Once and On the Twentieth Century.
“Tammy Faye” will be Pollard’s Broadway debut.
Hurlbert made her main stem debut in Legally Blonde and played Portia in the national tour of Something Rotten!
The company is rounded out by ensemble members Amanda Clement, Jonathan Duvelson, Lily Kaufmann, Elliott Mattox, Brittany Nicholas, Aveena Sawyer, Allysa Shorte, Daniel Torres and Dana Wilton as well as swings Michael Di Liberto, Denis Lambert, Kevin Quillon and TJ Tapp.
They join the already announced main actors Katie Brayben as Tammy Faye Bakker, Christian Borle as Jim Bakker and Michael Cerveris as Jerry Falwell. Brayben won an Olivier Award for his role as Tammy Faye in the 2022 production of the musical at the Almeida Theatre in London’s West End, while Andrew Rannells was originally announced for the role of Jim Bakker. The cast is C12 Casting/Carrie Gardner and Jillian Cimini.
Tammy Faye tells the story of real-life couple Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, who preached their version of evangelistic Christianity to Americans on television in the 1970s. Tammy simply wants to make faith fun again, but faces increasing pressure from a new wave of clergy who want to impose religion in schools and laws.
“Tammy Faye” is produced by Rocket Stage, Greene Light Stage and James L. Nederlander.
