Featured casting is complete for the Broadway revival of Gypsy, starring Audra McDonaldas Momma Rose. Directed by five-time Tony winner George C. Wolfe with choreography by four-time Tony nominee Camille A. Brown, the production will re-open the newly renovated Majestic Theatre, beginning performances November 21 ahead of a December 19 opening.
Kevin Csolak joins the cast as Tulsa, performing the show's stand-out dance number, "All I Need Is the Girl." Csolak's past Broadway credits include Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, Mean Girls and the 2020 revival of West Side Story. He aslo played Diesel in Steven Spielberg's 2021 film version of West Side Story. Newly announced cast members also include Jacob Ming-Trent (Uncle Jocko), Kyleigh Denae Vickers (Baby Louise) and Marley Lianne Gomes & Jade Smith (Baby June).
The ensemble features Shanel Bailey, Jace Bently, Brandon Burks, Hunter Capellán, Tony d’Alelio, Summer Rae Daney, Kellie Jean Hoagland, Aliah James, Brittney Johnson, Zachary Daniel Jones, Ethan Joseph, Andrew Kober, Krystal Mackie, James McMenamin, Cole Newburg, Majo Rivero, Sally Shaw, Brendan Sheehan, Thomas Silcott, Jayden Theophile and Jordan Wynn. Additional standby and understudy casting will be announced at a later date.
Previously announced cast members include Danny Burstein (Herbie), Joy Woods (Louise), Jordan Tyson (June), Lesli Margherita (Tessie Tura), Lili Thomas (Miss Mazeppa) and Mylinda Hull (Miss Electra).
First produced on Broadway in 1959 with Ethel Merman in the lead role, Gypsy features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. The story is loosely based on striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee's 1957 autobiography, focusing on her mother, Rose, whose character has come to define the quintessential stage parent.
The upcoming production will have music direction and supervision by Andy Einhorn, and additional orchestrations and arrangements by Tony Award winner Daryl Waters. The design team includes scenic design by four-time Tony Award winner Santo Loquasto, costume design by four-time Tony Award nominee Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by nine-time Tony Award winner Jules Fisher and three-time Tony Award winner Peggy Eisenhauer, sound design by Tony Award winner Scott Lehrer, hair and wig design by Academy Award winner Mia Neal and makeup design by Michael Clifton.
Six-time Tony Award-winning director George C. Wolfe is prepping to helm a new revival of Gypsy this fall and further casting has been announced.
Joining six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Rose), Tony Award winner Danny Burstein (Herbie), Joy Woods (Louise), Jordan Tyson (Dainty June), Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita (Tessie Tura), Lili Thomas (Miss Mazeppa) and Mylinda Hull (Miss Electra) will be Jacob Ming-Trent (Uncle Jocko), Kyleigh Denae Vickers (Baby Louise), Marley Lianne Gomes & Jade Smith (Baby June), and Kevin Csolak (Tulsa).
The ensemble features Shanel Bailey, Jace Bently, Brandon Burks, Hunter Capellán, Tony d’Alelio, Summer Rae Daney, Kellie Jean Hoagland, Aliah James, Brittney Johnson, Zachary Daniel Jones, Ethan Joseph, Andrew Kober, Krystal Mackie, James McMenamin, Cole Newburg, Majo Rivero, Sally Shaw, Thomas Silcott, Brendan Sheehan, Jayden Theophile, and Jordan Wynn. Additional standby and understudy casting to be announced.
Gypsy Is Coming Back to Broadway With Audra McDonald—Here’s What We Know
Gypsy performances will begin Thursday, November 21, 2024, at Broadway’s newly renovated Majestic Theatre and the show will officially open on Thursday, December 19, 2024.
Additional casting has been announced for the upcoming new Broadway production of “Gypsy.” Kevin Csolak will play Tulsa and Jacob Ming-Trent will take on the role of Uncle Jocko in the previously announced revival, scheduled to begin previews on Nov. 21 and open on Dec. 19 at the Majestic Theatre.
Csolak has been seen on Broadway as Trip in the 2024 Best Musical Tony Award winner “The Outsiders” and A-rab in the 2020 revival of “West Side Story.” He made his Broadway debut in the 2006 staging of “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Additionally, he appeared Off-Broadway in 2023’s “Watch Night.”
Ming-Trent’s Broadway credits include 2008’s “Shrek the Musical” and 2013’s “Hands on a Hardbody.” His extensive Off-Broadway résumé includes a Lucille Lortel Award-winning turn in 2014’s “Father Comes Home from the Wars (Parts 1, 2 & 3)” and Lortel-nominated performances in 2021’s “The Alchemist” and 2023’s “The Harder They Come.”
Also new to the “Gypsy” company are Kyleigh Denae Vickers as Baby Louise, with Marley Lianne Gomes and Jade Smith as Baby June. The musical’s ensemble will include Shanel Bailey, Jace Bently, Brandon Burks, Hunter Capellán, Tony d’Alelio, Summer Rae Daney, Kellie Jean Hoagland, Aliah James, Brittney Johnson, Zachary Daniel Jones, Ethan Joseph, Andrew Kober, Krystal Mackie, James McMenamin, Cole Newburg, Majo Rivero, Sally Shaw, Brendan Sheehan, Thomas Silcott, Jayden Theophile and Jordan Wynn.
They will appear alongside the previously announced Audra McDonald as Rose, Danny Burstein as Herbie, Joy Woods as Louise, Jordan Tyson as June, Lesli Margherita as Tessie Tura, Lili Thomas as Miss Mazeppa and Mylinda Hull as Miss Electra.
2024 Tony Awards: ‘The Outsiders’ Wins Best Musical
About The Outsiders
In Tulsa, Oklahoma, 1967, the hardened hearts and aching souls of Ponyboy Curtis, Johnny Cade and their chosen family of ‘outsiders’ are in a fight for survival and a quest for purpose in a world that may never accept them. A story of the bonds that brothers share and the hopes we all hold on to, this gripping new musical reinvigorates the timeless tale of ‘haves and have nots’, of protecting what’s yours and fighting for what could be.
Adapted from S.E. Hinton’s seminal book and Francis Ford Coppola’s iconic film, THE OUTSIDERS features a book by Adam Rapp with Justin Levine, music and lyrics by Jamestown Revival (Jonathan Clay & Zach Chance) and Justin Levine, music supervision, arrangements & orchestrations by Justin Levine, choreography by Rick Kuperman & Jeff Kuperman and directed by Danya Taymor.
The Outsiders cast is led by Brody Grant as Ponyboy Curtis, Sky Lakota-Lynch as Johnny Cade, Joshua Boone as Dallas Winston, Brent Comer as Darrel Curtis, Jason Schmidt as Sodapop Curtis, Emma Pittman as Cherry Valance, Daryl Tofa as Two-Bit, Kevin William Paul as Bob and Dan Berry as Paul. The company also includes Jordan Chin, Milena J. Comeau, Barton Cowperthwaite, Kevin Csolak, Tilly Evans-Krueger, Henry Julián Gendron, RJ Higton, Wonza Johnson, Sean Harrison Jones, Maggie Kuntz, Renni Anthony Magee, SarahGrace Mariani, Melody Rose, Josh Strobl, Victor Carrillo Tracey, Trevor Wayne.
AN UNNECESSARILY HEAVY NIGHT
COULD HAVE YOU CHECKING YOUR WATCH
“And then there’s The Wolf, a murdering white supremacist played by Kevin Csolak. From his first entrance in a hoody, he slowly turns to both sides of the audience, and, within this silent moment, he personifies enough terror to send chills up your spine. An accomplished triple threat, Csolak is powerful whether he’s slamming a poetic monologue from his jail cell or quietly confessing his belief in white supremacy.”
~ GREGORY FLETCHER on NOVEMBER 8, 2023 in DANCE,THEATER-NEW YORK for STAGE & CINEMA
KEVIN CSOLAK as Andrew (Young Pope) in Season 6 of Animal Kingdom.
Animal Kingdom's Jasper Polish & Kevin Csolak on the Cody Twins' Bond & "Heartwrenching" Series Finale
Jasmine Blu at August 28, 2022 12:00 pm.
Throughout the season, Csolak's sublime performance has impressed viewers. Fans cannot stop raving about his uncanny portrayal of teen Andrew "Pope" Cody and just how much it mirrors that of star Shawn Hatosy.
TV Fanatic had the distinct pleasure of catching up with humble and supremely talented stars Jasper Polish and Kevin Csolak to discuss their incredible work throughout the season and what we can expect from the highly-anticipated series finale of this hit show.
And not even a shoddy connection kept us from getting all the details and teases that we could from the two about the complicated relationship between the twins, Julia's tragic descent, and whether or not viewers are on the right path regarding the wild theories pertaining to the twins' bond.
March/April Issue 2022
Our March/April issue of Inside Dance features social media sensation Merrick Hanna!
Plus! We go in-depth with West Side Story's Kevin Csolak,
behind the scenes with Matt McCall and Ricky Martin's new tour,
and hear how three NFL rookie dancers navigated their first year on the field!
BY KEVIN FEBRUARY 5, 2022
Falling in love with the process has been the guiding principle for Kevin Csolak as he’s pursued a career in the arts. For the multi-talented creative, it’s not about the results; it’s about the opportunity to develop and shape his craft. That mentality has seen him land coveted roles in Broadway productions, hit television programs, and blockbuster films including Mean Girls, Broadway Empire, and Jessica Jones.
Later this year, the rising star can be seen as young Pope in the final season of TNT’s acclaimed series Animal Kingdom.
Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin about bringing West Side Story to life on the stage and screen, sharing this moment with his friends and family, and joining the cast of Animal Kingdom. Plus, he shares how daring to fail and embracing the fall has led him to where he is today.
ABOUT THE JOURNALIST
“There’s a stigma that you have to choose, but I’ve recently come into the feeling of wanting to consider myself just an artist.”
You know you’re in good hands with Steven Spielberg. Widely considered one of the great filmmakers of our time, he is also a sentimental favorite. His vision, and his knack for transferring it to the screen, has proven tireless time and time over. There is perhaps no one better at working out the technical angles of creating an illusion where the boundaries of cinema are concerned.
His West Side Story is a dazzling, exuberant revival. Knowingly a new interpretation of the 1957 play, rather than a remake of Robert Wise’s 1961 film, Spielberg and screenwriter Tony Kushner give the venerable property a new paint job, secure a few walls and build their own edifice. Yet the broad strokes remain comfortingly familiar: A reconfigured take on Romeo and Juliet, which recasts the Montagues and Capulets as two warring gangs in New York City, the Italian-American Jets and Puerto Rican Sharks fight for supremacy over the Upper West Side as two star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, are torn apart by the climate of hate and intolerance that surrounds them.
Purists will no doubt continue to interrogate Spielberg about tackling such an ageless classic, not to mention his first foray into the genre. (Hasn’t there always been something rather musical about his camera?) Nevertheless, the reboot has resplendent life all its own, largely thanks to the slide and swing of a gifted ensemble of highly expressive professionals. Among them is Kevin Csolak.
Anthem recently sat down with the rising star to discuss his lifelong dedication to performance, Spielberg, and joining the cast of Animal Kingdom for its sixth and final season, set to air in 2022.
West Side Story is now in theaters. Read the full article here.
Listen to Kevin discuss all things Animal Kingdom and West Side Story, the movie with Starry Magazine.
Starry Magazine Interview with Kevin Csolak
“Animal Kingdom” is adding four recurring stars to its cast for the TNTdrama’s sixth and final season.
Jasper Polish, Kevin Csolak, Darren Mann, and Stevie Lynn Jones will all join the show alongside stars Shawn Hatosy, Ben Robson, Jake Weary, Finn Cole, Leila George, Rigo Sanchez, and Jon Beavers.
Polish (“Forces of Nature,” “Locked In”) plays young Julia, described as beautiful, intelligent, and edgy. Although she’s an excellent student, she’s also the type of chick who sells tabs of LSD because she thinks it’s cool. She’s torn between loving and hating her mother, Smurf.
Polish is repped by Buchwald and Management 360.
Csolak (“West Side Story,” “Boardwalk Empire”) plays Andrew, a young version of Shawn Hatosy’s character. Andrew is intense and struggling with an undiagnosed mental illness. He possesses a simmering rage but also instinctively searches for redemption as he struggles with his darkest impulses. He is completely devoted to Smurf, to his best friend Baz and his twin sister Julia.
Csolak is repped by Buchwald.
Mann (“Embattled,” Giant Little Ones”) plays young Baz, a charismatic opportunist who will do whatever is necessary to ensure his own safety. He’s not above pitting the other kids against each other in his effort to ingratiate himself with Smurf, who sees him more as a partner (both personally and professionally) than as her adopted son.
Man is repped by Coronel Group, Paradigm, and Webster Talent.
Jones (“Nancy Drew,” “Shameless”) plays Penny, described as an intelligent, beautiful young woman in her early 20s. A rule breaker in her youth, she’s trying to stay on the straight and narrow. She’s stuck in a loveless marriage to a Marine. She and J become close, dangerously close.
Jones is repped by Buchwald and Brave Artists Management.
(Pictured, from left to right: Darren Mann, Jasper Polish, Kevin Csolak, Stevie Lynn Jones)
The Power of the Performing Arts
Uniting Artists While Apart
Check Out New Photos of Steven Spielberg’s Upcoming Film Adaptation of West Side Story
BY MARC J. FRANKLIN
APR 17, 2020
Meet the 6 Dancers Appearing in the New Film AND Broadway Productions of “West Side Story”
Could it be? Yes it could. Something's coming, something good…
Well, two somethings, to be precise. Next February, a West Side Story revival, directed by Ivo van Hove and choreographed by Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker, is coming to Broadway. And next December, a new West Side Story film, directed by Steven Spielberg and choreographed by Justin Peck, is coming to movie theaters.
The two productions promise radically different takes on the iconic musical, originally directed and choreographed (for both stage and film) by Jerome Robbins. But—as we discovered yesterday, when casting for the Broadway revival was announced—six remarkable dancers will be part of BOTH projects.
Meet, or re-meet, the West Side Story multitaskers: Yesenia Ayala, Ben Cook, Kevin Csolak, Carlos E. Gonzalez, Jacob Guzman, and Ricky Ubeda.
April 22, 2019 Article Written by Nathaniel Rogers
Check out the interview where Kevin ‘spills the tea’ and shares the inside scoop on Mean Girls, performing with Justin Timberlake in the 2018 Super Bowl Halftime Show, the 2018 VMA’s onstage with Hayley Kiyoko and more!
TONY'S TEA CORNER PODCAST Season 1 Episode 13!
Broadway's Kevin Csolak spills the tea!
Released Feb 12, 2019
Kevin Csolak is talented AF - We get our catharsis through all things Mean Girls, Grammy's, Rent LIVE, and, of course, Housewives! PS Intern Katie makes her first appearance ;)
“Being in a Broadway ensemble requires long, hard and consistent dedication. It is truly a challenging task that requires a physique much like an athlete. It takes hours of rehearsal, working out our bodies to then perform at a highly intense level for a period of time over and over again.”
For a young performer, Kevin Csolak’s resume is long and impressive. He has worked with Justin Timberlake in the Super Bowl 52 Halftime Show and has had guest starring roles on Jessica Jones, The Mysteries of Laura and many more.
This month, The Ensemblist named Csolak on their “Ones to Watch” list for 2018. “Earlier this month, we celebrated some of Broadway’s most venerated ensemble actors with the 5th Annual Ensemblist Awards,” says The Ensemblist creator Mo Brady. “However, we wanted to find a way to celebrate and champion the exciting new talent hitting Broadway stages this year as well. That’s how our new ‘Ones to Watch’ list was born.”
Csolak has been performing on screen and stage since he was ten years old. He is currently in the stage version of the hit movie Mean Girls as an ensemble member and understudy for Aaron Samuels. READ FULL ARTICLE.
From an early age, Kevin Csolak found himself surrounded by the arts. He quickly fell in love with the craft and it became more than just a passion for him; it became a way of life. So, you could say that his journey to the industry seemed destined from the start. This year alone, he’s performed at the Super Bowl, the Today Show, SNL, and the VMAs, and is currently starring in Mean Girls on Broadway. With all of his success, Kevin hasn’t taken a single moment for granted. He approaches every new project as an opportunity to learn and grow. Pop-Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Kevin about Mean Girls, his career aspirations, and his love for the creative process. Read Full Article.
MEAN GIRLS WINS BEST ENSEMBLE on BROADWAY!
Shares the win with CAROUSEL!
Put on your dancing shoes! Nominations have been announced for the 2018 Chita Rivera Awards, honoring the best in dance during the 2017-2018 theater and film seasons. Nominees include the companies of Once On This Island, SpongeBob SquarePants, Mean Girls, Carousel and Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.
Adam Feldman
The 10 hottest chorus boys on Broadway in 2018
These 10 sexy chorus guys will set hearts pumping in this spring’s Broadway musicals
KEVIN CSOLAK
Spring show: MEAN GIRLS
Previous Broadway shows: HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS
Instagram: @kevinkcso
