Broadway director Philip William McKinley will guest direct Studio Tenn’s production of Lerner & Loewe’s Camelot, the company has announced. The regional theater company’s Camelot runs May 5 – 15 in the Jamison Theater in Franklin. McKinley is looking forward to it.
“Directing Camelot for Studio Tenn has given me the wonderful opportunity to return to the theater after two years of Covid exile,” he says. “This reimagined and reinvented production will give audiences the opportunity to rediscover the classic musical from the golden age of Broadway.”
McKinley is most widely known for directing Hugh Jackman in the critically acclaimed 2003 Broadway production of The Boy From Oz. He also directed actor Paul Sorvino in the 2006 New York City Opera revival of The Most Happy Fella. McKinley replaced director Julie Taymor when the Broadway production of Spiderman: Turn Off the Dark ran amok with production woes. McKinley’s resume also includes many other theater credits.
Artistic Director Patrick Cassidy says having McKinley on board is a wish granted.
“These are the opportunities we dream about,” Cassidy says. “His [McKinley’s] interest in Studio Tenn demonstrates how fortunate we are to have arts of this quality in our community.”
Camelot tells the story of King Arthur who rules his kingdom with new ideals. But when his queen, Guenevere, falls for Sir Lancelot — his most trusted knight — a love triangle ensues.
The cast for Camelot includes Steffanie Leigh (Guenevere). Leigh has numerous Broadway credits including Mary Poppins (Mary Poppins) and War Paint. Brian Gligor (Arthur) toured both nationally and in Japan as Mark in Rent. Both actors have numerous additional acting credits between them.
Performances of Camelot run May 5 – 15. Learn more and get tickets at studiotenn.org.