The Cradle Will Rock announces initial cast

Danny Burstein, Eisa Davis, Raúl Esparza, Peter Friedman, Judy Kuhn, Martin Moran, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Anika Noni Rose and Henry Stram will star in Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, the inaugural show of New York City Center's new Encores! Off-Center series, playing for five performances from 10 - 13 Jul 2013 at City Center.

The Cradle Will Rock, with music, lyrics and book by Marc Blitzstein, is a Brechtian allegory of corruption and corporate greed that pits exploited workers against greedy, union-busting businessmen.

The musical will be directed by Sam Gold and choreographed by Chase Brock. Four additional cast members are still to be announced.

The show was developed in 1937 with funds from the Federal Theater Project, a branch of the WPA. The original production, directed by Orson Welles, was shut down four days before opening. Officially, it was shut down due to WPA budget cuts, but many cited the show's pro-union themes as the government's impetus for its closing. The show finally opened Off-Broadway at the Venice Theatre in 1937 with private funding. Financial and union issues precluded an orchestra, so Blitzstein himself played the piano at the first preview, with the actors singing from the audience.

When the show moved to Broadway, union rules dictated a 10-person orchestra. But Blitzstein insisted on keeping the solo piano and paid nine musicians not to play each night. The story is that Blitzstein chose 10 of his neediest friends for the job. The show opened at the Windsor Theater on January 03 Jan 1938 and ran 108 performances, directed by Howard Da Silva.

Bios:

Danny Burstein (Mr. Mister) was nominated for Tony Awards for his performances in Clifford Odets' 'Golden Boy,' 'Follies,' 'South Pacific' and 'The Drowsy Chaperone.' His Broadway credits also include 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,' 'Company,' 'A Class Act' and 'Titanic.' He appeared in the Encores! productions of 'DuBarry Was a Lady,' 'Li'l Abner' and 'The Boys from Syracuse.'

Eisa Davis (Reporter/Prof Scoot/Clerk/Dr. Specialist) is an actor, playwright and singer-songwriter who made her Broadway debut in 'Passing Strange.' Her plays include 'Bulrusher,' a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, 'Warriors Don't Cry,' 'Hip Hop Anansi' and' The History of Light.'

Raúl Esparza (Larry Foreman) was nominated for Tony Awards for his performances in 'Speed-the-Plow,' 'The Homecoming,' 'Company' and 'Taboo.' His other Broadway credits include 'Leap of Faith,' 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,' 'Arcadia,' 'Chess,' 'The Rocky Horror Show' and 'Cabaret.' He starred in the Encores! production of 'Anyone Can Whistle.'

Peter Friedman (Harry Druggist) made his Broadway debut in 'The Great God Brown' in 1972 and has appeared in 'The Visit,' 'Piaf,' 'A Soldier's Play,' 'The Heidi Chronicles,' 'The Tenth Man,' 'Ragtime' (Tony nomination) and 'Twelve Angry Men.' On television, Friedman starred as patriarch "George Silver" in "Brooklyn Bridge." His many film credits include "Prince of the City" and "Daniel."

Judy Kuhn (Sadie/Editor Daily) has been nominated for three Tony Awards for her work in 'She Loves Me,' 'Chess' and 'Les Miserables.' Her other Broadway credits include 'Two Shakespearean Actors,' 'King David,' 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood' and 'Rags.' Her latest solo recording, "Judy Kuhn: All This Happiness," was recently released on the PS Classics label. She appeared in the Encores! production of 'Strike Up the Band.'

Martin Moran (Yasha/Sister Mister) is an actor and writer. He has appeared in many Broadway and Off-Broadway plays, including 'Titanic,' 'Cabaret,' 'Bells Are Ringing,' and 'Floyd Collins. 'He has written two plays: 'All the Rage' and the 2004 Obie Award-winning one-man play, 'The Tricky Part.'

Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Ella Hammer) has been nominated for a Tony Award for her performance as 'Oda Mae Brown' in 'Ghost the Musical, 'which marked her West End and Broadway debuts. Her opera credits include 'Madame Butterfly' and 'Hansel and Gretel.' She recently appeared in the independent film "Ma'George."

Anika Noni Rose (Moll/Mrs. Mister) won the Tony Award for her performance in 'Caroline or Change' and starred as 'Maggie' in 'Cat on a Hot Tin Roof' on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in 'Footloose,' was the voice of the princess in Disney's "The Princess and the Frog," and starred in the film "Dream Girls."

Henry Stram (Dauber/Junior Mister) has appeared on Broadway in 'Inherit the Wind,' 'The Crucible' and 'Titanic.' His Off-Broadway credits include 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter,' 'Rag and Bone,' 'See What I Wanna See,' 'A Bright Room Called Day,' 'The Mind King' and 'Eddie Goes to Poetry City.' He appeared in the Tim Robbin's film "Cradle Will Rock" as well as the films "The Grey Zone" and "Illuminata." He is the recipient of a 1996 OBIE Award for Sustained Excellence.

Sam Gold (Director) directed the Broadway productions of 'Picnic' and 'Seminar,' and the Off-Broadway productions of 'The Flick,' 'Look Back in Anger,' 'Uncle Vanya,' 'Kin,' 'The Aliens' and 'Circle Mirror Transformation.' He is a recipient of the Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director and the OBIE Award for Outstanding Direction, among others.