Cast
Payson Lewis
PAYSON LEWIS Born and raised just outside Philadelphia, Payson Lewis is a live performance jack-of-all-trades. A solo recording artist with nearly a million streams to his name, he is also no stranger to TV or the theatrical stage. His TV credits include Jane The Virgin (CW), The People vs. OJ Simpson (FX), Revenge (ABC), How I Met Your Mother (CBS), and many more. Theatrically he is best known for his roles in Mamma Mia! (Hollywood Bowl), BAZ: Star Crossed Love (Las Vegas), Dogfight (Los Angeles), BARE (Los Angeles) and his long time in the company of For The Record Live (Los Angeles). Payson is incredibly excited to take on this iconic role with this absolutely incredible cast. To keep up with his music and other performances, you can follow him in all the usual places (@paysonlewis).
Kevin Bailey
KEVIN BAILEY (Claudius), has performed on and off Broadway, toured nationally and internationally, and has appeared at regional theaters throughout the country. A list of his credits include: The Lion King (original Broadway Company and LA Company); Annie Get Your Gun (with Bernadette Peters); The Phantom of the Opera; The Grinch Who Stole Christmas; Jekyll & Hyde; Miss Saigon; The Foreigner; A Midsummer Night’s Dream; and God Looked Away (with Al Pacino). In addition to performing, Kevin is an active Producer. He has represented since its inception, Holland Taylor’s play ANN (Broadway – Lincoln Center and available on Broadway HD); and currently writer/performer Jaston Williams, author of the Greater Tuna plays.
Carly Thomas Smith
CARLY THOMAS SMITH
With a career that reaches from the Broadway Stage to the Hollywood Soundstage, singer/actor Carly Thomas Smith has entertained audiences around the world with her powerhouse vocals and emotionally charged storytelling. Her Theatre credits include RENT on Broadway and Jersey Boys in Las Vegas. Also, she was hand picked by Queen’s Bryan May to play Oz in the first North American Company of We Will Rock You. In concert, Carly has been a featured artist at the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra and more. As a background vocalist, she’s shared the stage with a wide range of recording artists, including Pop Superstar Taylor Swift, R&B Legends Patti Austin and Ali Woodsen (The Temptations), Jazz Greats Lee Ritenour and Dave & Don Grusin, and Rock Royalty’s Joe Walsh & Don Felder of The Eagles. With guest appearances on hit TV shows including Curb your Enthusiasm, Friends, Revenge, Two & A Half Men, Desperate Housewives, and Star Trek: Enterprise, she’s proven she can stand toe to toe with some of the biggest stars. Carly is thrilled that her next theatrical adventure will be reimagining the role of Gertrude in Hamlet: the Rock Musical!
Fatima El-Bashir
FATIMA EL- BASHIR A proud graduate of UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, Fatima is ecstatic to join the cast of Hamlet the Rock Musical. Recent credits include: Marilyn! The New Musical (Caesar’s Palace The Paris), Bronco Billy The Musical (The Skylight Theatre), Disney’s The Little Mermaid (Musical Theatre West), Grumpy Old Men The Musical (McCoy Rigby Entertainment) and Holiday Inn (Musical Theatre West). Fatima is so grateful for her close friends, family, DDO Artists Agency, Michael Donovan Casting and the team at Hamlet The Rock Musical. @fatima.el_bashir
Thomas Hobson
TOMMY HOBSON Theatre: Andre, Ain’t Misbehaving (Ovation Award, Best Actor in a musical, La Mirada Theatre), Curtis, Dreamgirls (TUTS), Sam Cooke, Recorded in Hollywood (Kirk Douglas Theatre), Complete History of America Abridged (Ovation Award, Garry Marshall Theatre), Smokey Joe’s Café and Shout Sister Shout! (Pasadena Playhouse). Film: Leading roles in “Driven,” “Wrapped Up In You,” “Be The Light,” “Stone/Fruit,” “I’ll Be Watching,” “A Brother’s Honor,” “Ghosts of the Ozarks,” and “Squirrel” Television: Series regular on “The Fresh Beat Band” and “The Fresh Beat Band of Spies.” Recurring roles on “Sherman’s Showcase” & “Rachel Dratch’s Late Night Snack,” Guest Roles on “Dynasty,” “Criminal Minds” and “NCIS: LA.” Visit @tommyhobson on all social media platforms.
Ian Littleworth
IAN LITTLEWORTH was raised on Shakespeare and Jesus Christ Superstar. Stage credits include: world premieres of Kingdom City and A Lonely Boy’s Guide… (La Jolla Playhouse); The Lion in Winter (Laguna Playhouse); Putnam County Spelling Bee (Palos Verdes Performing Arts); Ah! Wilderness (A Noise Within); The Cripple of Inishmaan, As You Like It, and Macbeth (Antaeus Theater). Film/tv credits include Video Synchronicity (HBO pilot directed by David Fincher), Traitor Knight, and Blood and Glory. Ian studied at the University of Southern California and the British American Drama Academy. He is a member of Antaeus Theater Company. Follow him on social media @ianlittleworth
Larry Cedar
LARRY CEDAR recently portrayed “Duke” in The Rubicon Theatre’s Big River. Theater: Harvey (Laguna Playhouse), The Best of Enemies, Around the World in 80 Days, Billy Bishop Goes to War (Colony Theatre), Discord (Geffen Playhouse), and his own stage adaptations, ORWELLIAN, Dostoevsky’s Notes From the Underground, and Franz Kafka’s Letter to My Father. Television: three seasons on the HBO series Deadwood, and guest star appearances on Trial & Error, Mad Men, Grey’s Anatomy, and Community. Feature films: Hollywoodland, The Crazies, and Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas. Follow Larry on Facebook (facebook.com/larrycedar), Twitter (@larrycedar), Instagram (@larrycedaractor), or visit www.larrycedar.com
Michael Deni
MICHAEL DENI is thrilled to be a part of such an amazing production and to be working with such an amazing team. Past credits include The Merry-Go-Round production of South Pacific (Nominated for best supporting actor), Ragtime at the Pasadena Playhouse, and Mamma Mia at the Hollywood Bowl. Thanks to Bill Castellino, Janet Roston, and Michael Donovan for this amazing opportunity!
Justin Michael Wilcox
JUSTIN MICHAEL WILCOX has just returned from Saudi Arabia where he was performing Kathy Rigby’s, Peter Pan. Some other recent credits include Clopin in Hunchback of Notre Dame and Smee in Peter Pan at 5 Star/Cabrillo. Action in LA Mirada’s West Side Story, A Chorus Line at The Hollywood Bowl as Al and at The Montalban Theater in Hollywood playing Al Jolson in I Only Have Eyes for You (Ovation nominated).
Also at La Mirada in Empire, First Date, (where he received LA Ovation nominations for best ensemble and best-supporting actor in a musical.)
Other credits: National tours of A Chorus Line, A Christmas Carol, Guys and Dolls, and Cameron Mac’s Oliver!
Alli Miller
Alli Miller hails from the corn fields of Indiana and is very thankful for the lack of seasons and for getting to spend most of her time on the freeways! Yay! Recently you may have seen her as Jack in the Nightlesque Before Christmas at The Rockwell, Nimfa in Dr Nympho Vs the Sex Zombies at Celebration, or as the Nurse on the latest season of The Boulet Brothers Dragula on Netflix. Alli runs @cherrypoppinsla with her PIC Sarah Haworth-Hodges at Rockwell, The Globe, Three Clubs and your next corporate event or party! The two ladies were nominated last year for an Ovation for Best Book of a New Musical for Shakeslesque. Alli met Janet Rosten swinging in The Boy From Oz at Celebration Theatre and has been waiting with bated breath to get to work with her again! She thanks the entire production crew for making this process the most fun and exciting ever, the cast and crew for being so solid and fabulous, her family and friends for existing, and her hubby MSF for making sure she’s still standing. As she does with every performance, “This show is dedicated to Cathy Miller, momma to all, forever the only reason I got to follow my dreams.” #fuckcancer
Steve B. Green
STEVEN B. GREEN –Has appeared Off-Broadway, in Regional Theater, Tours, TV, Web series, commercials, and many industrial shows. Most recently Steve appeared in “The Chosen” at the Fountain Theatre (A six month sold out run!), and starred in, “The Genesis Musical Film” soon to be seen on ParablesTV.com. An expert improviser, Steve was a member of Groundlings East and Gotham City Improv in NYC and with the LA Connection Improv Theatre in Los Angeles. Steve also is also a produced playwright, screenwriter and co-author of the best selling comedy book, “Assholeology”. Steve lives in the Santa Monica Mountains with his family and two Great Danes named Zander and Penny Lane.
Deanna Anthony
DEANNA ANTHONY is a Florida native that began her entertainment career at a young age as a singer and model. After studying music, acting and dance, Deanna moved to New York City to pursue Musical Theatre. With a zeal for travel, she worked in numerous regional, national and international productions, concerts and hosting engagements. Following her wedding, and a brief tour with her husband and the Box Office of Cirque Du Soleil’s “Kooza”, Deanna has had the opportunity to sing with the likes of Adam Pascal, Deena Martin, Andrea Bocelli and David Foster. Since setting foot on her first professional stage at age 16, it’s been one heck of a gypsy life and Hamlet the Rock Musical is a perfect addition to the journey! Deanna now lives and works in Los Angeles with her husband, David.
Marie Gutierrez
MARIE GUTIERREZ Marie is excited to join Hamlet The Rock Musical! She was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA with a passion for good coffee and doughnuts. Favorite adventures on stage: Lincoln Center Theatre’s The King and I (1st Nat’l tour), In The Heights, The Producers, H2$, Hello, Dolly!, Miss Saigon, Sweet Charity, The Little Mermaid. Endless gratitude to DDO, Michael Donovan Casting, and the Hamlet team! @gootzarama
Tim McGarrigal
TIM MCGARRIGAL is stoked to join the cast of Hamlet: the rock musical. NYC: Nothing But Trash (Theatre for the New City), School Daze (NYMF), Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular. Vegas/Tours: We Will Rock You (Original U.S. Cast), Hugh Jackman: In Time, Fosse, Joseph…, High School Musical, West Side Story (Action), Saturday Night Fever (Double J). Regional: Sacramento Music Circus, North Shore Music Theatre. Film: Across the Universe. M.F.A. Acting, Shakespeare Theatre Co/GWU
Bruce Merkle
BRUCE MERKLE
TV: How I Met Your Mother, Rules of Engagement, Love Bites, The Goldbergs, Conan, This Is Us with recurring roles on Victorious and The Tonight Show. Upcoming AJ and the Queen on Netflix with RuPaul. He originated Olaf in Liesl Tommy’s Frozen Live at the Hyperion and The Boy in A Tale of Two Cities choreographed by Warren Carlyle. He created The Broadway Cage Match cabaret series with his friend Justin Jones, and is in the advanced sketch comedy writing program at The Groundlings. Bruce is also a world recognized yogi being a five time California state champion and currently ranked seventh in the world for his abilities. He loves monochromatic outfits and is up to date on his oil changes.
Julia Springer
Julia Springer is thrilled to be part of such an innovative project! Graduate of Wellesley College ’16 with BA in Cognitive and Linguistic Sciences and Italian Studies. Recent Credits: Curious George and the Golden Meatball (North Shore Music Theatre), The Polar ExpressTM Train Ride (Rail Events Productions/Warner Bros. Ent.), Billy Elliot (Seacoast Repertory Theatre), A Christmas Carol (Underground Railway Theatre), A Chorus Line (Reagle Music Theatre, dir. Leslie Woodies). Julia would like to thank the entire cast and creative team for the opportunity, her parents for their continued support, and friends/teachers for their ongoing encouragement to pursue joy! Seeking Representation. IG: @juspringer/ FB: Julia Tara Springer