McGee Maddox  (Jerry Mulligan)

Trained at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, joining Houston Ballet as an Apprentice in 2005. He joined The National Ballet of Canada in 2009 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2014. Maddox debuted as Leontes in The Winter’s Tale, Albrecht in Giselle, and L’Aviateur in the world premiere of Le Petit Prince. He has danced principal roles in numerous ballets including Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Onegin, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and Hamlet among many others. He has performed contemporary works by John Neumeier, Alexei Ratmansky, James Kudelka, Wayne McGregor and Jorma Elo.

Sara Esty  (Lise Dassin)

Broadway: An American in Paris (OBC ensemble, Lise alternate). Théâtre du Châtelet: An American in Paris (Lise standby). Former soloist with the Miami City Ballet. Training: Maine State Ballet, School of American Ballet, and Miami City Ballet School. Sara received a Princess Grace Fellowship Award for excellence in dance, and has performed various works by Balanchine, Robbins, Tharp, Taylor, Scarlett, Ratmansky, Wheeldon, and Peck. Special thanks to the ever growing AAIP team and family, and BRS/Gage. For M, D, L, my family, and the man I love. Vive la France! @sesty5

Etai Benson  (Adam Hochberg)

Thrilled to be bringing Paris to North America! Broadway/National Tour: Boq in Wicked. Regional: Fortress of Solitude (Premiere, Dallas Theatre Center), My Name is Asher Lev (GableStage), A Room With a View (Premiere, Old Globe). Workshops: The Band’s Visit, Little Miss Sunshine. Training: University of Michigan and Moscow Art Theatre. Thanks to The Talent House, Christopher and Rachel. For my family – Je t’aime. www.etaibenson.com @etaibenson

Emily Ferranti  (Milo Davenport)

Thrilled to be a part of the original touring company of such a beautiful production! Broadway: Wicked. National Tour: Wicked (Nessarose), Dreamgirls (Sweetheart). Radio City Spring Spectacular. Regional: Annie (Grace) at Maltz Jupiter Theatre. TV: “Forever.” Graduate of The Boston Conservatory. Thank you to Christopher and Rachel, CGF, and John for always supporting me even if it means leaving town again! Twitter-@emfernful

Gayton Scott  (Madame Baurel)

Broadway: Gypsy starring Bernadette Peters directed by Sam Mendes, The Women starring Cynthia Nixon, Present Laughter starring Frank Langella.  Other NY theater includes The New Group, The Culture Project, Here among others. TV/Film: “Law&Order: CI,” “Guiding Light,” “As the World Turns,” “Great Performances PBS,” Forbidden Love, PS I Love You. Gayton studied acting with William Esper.

Nick Spangler  (Henri Baurel)

Original Broadway casts of The Book of Mormon, Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, and It Shoulda Been You, in which he created the role of the best man, Greg Madison. His Off-Broadway performance as Matt in The Fantasticks garnered him the Theater Hall of Fame Elaine and Jerry Orbach Fellowship Award. In 2008 Nick was the winner of the reality series “The Amazing Race” on CBS.

Leigh-Ann Esty  (Lise Alternate/Ensemble)

Leigh-Ann is thrilled to be joining the tour of AAIP! After 12 years dancing with Miami City Ballet, she is excited to take on a new adventure. Huge thanks to M, D, and S for their unconditional love and support. Let’s do this!

Polly Baird  (Ensemble)

has appeared in the Broadway and Touring companies of The Phantom of the Opera, and a Kennedy Center production of Little Dancer. Much love to her incredible parents for their unending support. Thanks to Renee and the team at About Artists, Denny, Seth, Stro, and especially Laird. @pollyebaird

Ryan Steele  (Jerry Alternate/Ensemble)

Broadway: Newsies (Astaire Award nom), Matilda, West Side Story, Billy Elliot. Film/TV: Ted 2, Five Dances, NBC’s Peter Pan Live, Smash. Big thanks to Laurie, Dustin and the AAIP team. All the love to family, DDPC and Char.

Karolina Blonski  (Ensemble)

Broadway: West Side Story. National Tours: West Side Story, Movin’ Out, and Joseph…Dreamcoat. NYC/Vegas:  Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The New York Spectacular, and Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers! Thanks to Dustin, the AAIP team, Rachel, Matthew Powell, Dr. Geiger,  and love to my Drew, Glen and family

Brittany Bohn  (Ensemble)

National tour debut! Regional: Anything Goes, Mame (Goodspeed), Kiss Me Kate (Barrington), Peter Pan with Cathy Rigby (PCLO). Point Park alumna & ATL native. Love to the creative team, Clear Talent Group, and my family! This is for Mom & Dad.

Stephen Brower  (Ensemble, u/s Adam, u/s Henri)

Overjoyed to hit the road with this beautiful show! Tour: Pippin (Swing, u/s Pippin/Lewis). Regional: MUNY, Connecticut Rep, Lyric Theatre, Cortland Rep. Grosses bises to Mama, Papa, Berta, Telsey, BRS/Gage, and TSU. For pics of food and boys in tights: @stephenbrower

George Gershwin (Composer)

was born in Brooklyn in 1898 and began his musical training at 13. At 16 he quit high school to work for a music publisher, and soon was writing songs himself. The Gershwins’ shows include the Pulitzer Prize-winning Of Thee I Sing and the folk opera Porgy and Bess. George’s classical masterpieces include “Rhapsody in Blue,” “Concerto in F,” and “An American in Paris.” In 1937 George was at the height of his career. While working on the score of The Goldwyn Follies in Hollywood, he collapsed and died of a brain tumor. He was not quite 39 years old.

Ira Gershwin(Lyricist)

In 1918 Ira began a remarkable collaboration with his younger brother George which lasted until George’s early death in 1937. Their show, Lady, Be Good!, in 1924, became the first of more than 20 scores for stage and screen. In 1935, with DuBose Heyward, they wrote the opera Porgy and Bess. Ira’s collaboration with George, as well as with Vincent Youmans, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Kurt Weill, Jerry Kern, Aaron Copland, Harry Warren, Arthur Schwartz and Burton Lane, set new standards for American stage and film musicals. Ira was nominated for three Academy Awards and died in 1983.

Craig Lucas (Book)

Plays: Missing Persons, Reckless, Blue Window, Prelude to a Kiss (Obie, Pulitzer finalist, Tony nom.), God’s Heart, The Dying Gaul, Stranger, Small Tragedy (Obie), Prayer for My Enemy, The Singing Forest (Steinberg), Ode to Joy, I Was Alive With You. Movies: Longtime Companion (Sundance Audience Award), The Secret Lives of Dentists (NY Film Critics Award), The Dying Gaul. Operas: Orpheus in Love (composer Gerald Busby), Two Boys (composer Nico Muhly). Musicals: An American in Paris (Tony nom), Three Postcards, The Light in the Piazza (Tony nom), Amélie, Sousatzka. Direction: The Dying Gaul (film), Birds of America (film), Saved or Destroyed (Obie), Play Yourself, world premieres of The Light in the Piazza, Ode to Joy, This Thing of Darkness, I Was Most Alive With You.

Christopher Wheeldon (Director/Choreographer)

received a Tony Award nomination for Best Director and won the Tony Award for Best Choreography for this production. Born in England, Christopher danced for the Royal Ballet and New York City Ballet. He has choreographed for ballet companies worldwide and for television, film and Broadway. Awards: Astaire, Drama Desk, two Oliviers, two OCCs. Honorary member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and awarded an OBE in the Queen’s 2016 Honours. Current Artistic Associate of the Royal Ballet, where he most recently created the full-length story ballet The Winter’s Tale. In December 2016, Joffrey Ballet will premiere Christopher’s re-imagined production of The Nutcracker.