Final casting has been announced for the upcoming Broadway production of “Days of Wine and Roses.” Directed by Michael Greif, the production played Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company earlier this year. Previews for the previously announced transfer start on Jan. 6, 2024, with opening night set for Jan. 28 at Broadway’s Studio 54. The new musical will play a limited run through April 28.
Reprising their roles from the Off-Broadway mounting are Byron Jennings as Arnesen, Sharon Catherine Brown as Mrs. Nolan and others, Bill English as Mr. Shaw and others, Olivia Hernandez as Betty and others, David Jennings as Jim Hungerford and others. Steven Booth, Nicole Ferguson and Kelcey Watson resume their understudy assignments. Joining them for the Main Stem are Tabitha Lawing as Lila, Tony Carlin as Rad and others, David Manis as Delaney and others and understudy Addie Manthey. Casting is by the Telsey Office/Craig Burns.
The cast includes several long-time Broadway veterans. “Days” is Carlin’s 31st Broadway credit; most recently he was part of the cast of “The Lehman Trilogy.” Byron Jennings will be making his 22nd Broadway bow, most recently appearing in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.” Manis makes his 13th Broadway appearance, having most recently been a part of “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
Having most recently appeared as the standby to the titular role in the 2021 revival of “Caroline, or Change,” Brown made her Broadway debut in 1968’s “Maggie Flynn.” English returns to Broadway, having played several tenures as Billy Crocker in the 2011 revival of “Anything Goes.” Hernandez made her Broadway debut in the 2022 revival of “Plaza Suite.” David Jennings’ Broadway credits include “Tina” and “Once on This Island.” Booth most recently appeared in Broadway’s “Tina,” having previously performed in “School of Rock.”
The production also has its share of Broadway debuts: Ferguson, Watson, Lawing and Manthey will all appear on the Rialto for the first time.
The cast joins previously announced Kelli O’Hara as Kirsten Arnesen and Brian d’Arcy James as Joe Clay. While both have been Main Stem staples for over two decades, “Days” will be the first time they have reunited on the Broadway stage since 2002’s “Sweet Smell of Success.”
“Days of Wine and Roses” features music and lyrics by Adam Guettel and a book by Craig Lucas. This production marks the second Guettel-Lucas Broadway collaboration, following their work on 2005’s “The Light in the Piazza.”
Lucas’ book is an adaptation of JP Miller’s 1962 film and original 1958 teleplay, which follows the turbulent relationship of married couple Kirsten Arnesen and Joe Clay and their descent into alcoholism.
“Days of Wine and Roses” is being produced by Kevin McCollum, Mark Cortale, Lorenzo Thione and Joey Monda.
