Cast And Creative Team Announced For The Alliance Theatre’s Upcoming World Premiere Musical MILLIONS
Featuring Steven Pasquale, Ruthie Ann Miles, Shuler Hensley, Keenan Barrett, Yair Keydar, And Leigh Ellen Jones
Book By Bob Martin
Music And Lyrics By Adam Guettel
Based On The Novel And Screenplay By Frank Cottrell Boyce
Direction By Bartlett Sher
Produced By Special Arrangement With
Franco Productions/Jeffrey Richards Associates And Sonia Friedman Productions
The Alliance Theatre is pleased to announce the cast and creative team of its world premiere musical, MILLIONS. Inspired by Frank Cottrell Boyce’s beloved novel and film, directed by Danny Boyle, MILLIONS is a heartwarming new musical about two brothers, their newly widowed father, a train robber, and (possibly) a miracle. Featuring a book by Tony Award winner Bob Martin (The Drowsy Chaperone, The Prom), an original score by Tony Award winner Adam Guettel (Floyd Collins, The Light in the Piazza, Days of Wine and Roses), and direction by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, To Kill a Mockingbird), MILLIONS will run on The Coca-Cola Stage at Alliance Theatre from May 9 – June 15, 2025. Opening night is Thursday, May 22, at 7:30pm.
“At its heart, MILLIONS is about possibility—what we do with the unexpected, how can we choose generosity over greed, and how love finds us when we least expect it,” said Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director. “MILLIONS is a story about faith—not just in the divine, but in each other, in the unknown, in the belief that when the world shifts beneath us, we can still find solid ground.”
“What struck us most about this piece was its unapologetic heart,” said Christopher Moses, Jennings Hertz Artistic Director. “Anchored by the faith of a child wanting nothing more than to be good and to see his mother again, MILLIONS invites us to turn from reckless self-interest to boundless love. To tell such a miraculous story, you need an equally miraculous cast. We’re thrilled for Atlanta to experience such musical theatre royalty on our Coca-Cola Stage.”
The cast of MILLIONS is led by Keenan Barrett as Damian; Tony Award winner Shuler Hensley (Broadway: The Music Man, Oklahoma!) as The Thief; Yair Keydar (Off Broadway: Drag: The Musical) as Anthony; Leigh Ellen Jones (City Springs Theatre Co: Frozen, Fiddler on the Roof) as Maureen; Tony Award winner Ruthie Ann Miles (Broadway: Sweeney Todd, The King and I) as Dorothy; and Steven Pasquale (Broadway: American Son, The Bridges of Madison County) as Ron. The cast also includes Jackson Arthur as Andrew; Jonah Harmon as Mr. Roth; Cameron McCrae (Alliance Theatre: The Preacher’s Wife: A New Musical) as Philip; Adrienne Ocfemia (Alliance Theatre and Atlanta Opera: The Shining) as Madison; Brad Raymond (Alliance Theatre: The Preacher’s Wife: A New Musical, A Tale of Two Cities) as St. Peter; Robert Stanton (Broadway: Uncle Vanya, Ink) as Mr. Miller/St. Francis; Carla R. Stewart (Broadway: Tina) as St. Clare/Guidance Counselor; and Billy Harrigan Tighe (Broadway: The Heart of Rock & Roll) as Carl. The ensemble members include Morgan Crumbly; Claire Davy; Kate Fahrner; Ann Sanders; Wyatt Wilkerson; and Gabriel Zenone. Production Swings include Hunter Brown and Noelle McIntyre.
“Bringing this world premiere musical to Atlanta, with the transcendent music of Adam Guettel, the brilliant storytelling of Bob Martin, and the masterful vision of Bartlett Sher, is an honor,” said Kajese-Bolden. “And this cast—a breathtaking lineup of Tony winners, Broadway luminaries, and extraordinary Atlanta talent, each bringing their singular artistry to this production—will breathe life into a story that speaks to the heart of who we are and will stay with us long after the final bow.”
The MILLIONS creative team includes Choreographer Dell Howlett (Alliance Theatre: Toni Stone); Tony Award-winning Scenic Designer Michael Yeargan (The King and I; South Pacific); Tony Award-winning Costume Designer Catherine Zuber (Moulin Rouge! The Musical; My Fair Lady); Tony Award-winning Lighting Designer Don Holder (My Fair Lady; South Pacific); Tony-nominated Sound Designer Justin Ellington (Our Town; Jaja’s African Hair Braiding); Projection Designers Ben Pearcy (Camelot; Pictures from Home) and Brad Peterson (Patriots; Pictures from Home); and Fight Choreographer Jake Guinn. Kimberly Grigsby (Days of Wine and Roses; Here Lies Love) serves as the production’s Music Director.
Additional production support is provided by Stage Manager Theresa Flanagan, Associate Director Candace McLellan; Assistant Choreographer Kerrington Griffin; Associate Scenic Designer Miguel Urbino; Associate Lighting Designer Sarah Woods; Associate Sound Designer Tye Hunt Fitzgerald, and Associate Music Director, Greg Matteson.
Performances of MILLIONS run on the Coca-Cola Stage May 9 through June 15, 2025 – learn more.
Playwright Idris Goodwin
Although William Steig’s best-known children’s book is arguably Shrek (an incredibly well-known story that inspired many beloved animated films), many children are, often unknowingly, introduced to him through Doctor De Soto. At least, this was the case with playwright Idris Goodwin.
“The book was published when I was around three years old,” Goodwin says, “and it quickly became a favorite. I loved the humor and the simple yet engaging storyline. It always held a special place in my heart. Now that I’m a parent, I’ve had the joy of sharing it with my own kids, who also love it—and it still holds up today.”
When reading Doctor De Soto to his son, Goodwin became curious about what he calls “the theatrical possibilities inherent in the story – particularly the dynamics between the fox and the mouse dentists.” He approached the Steig estate to see what was possible with a theatrical adaptation, eventually securing the rights because he believed so firmly in the story’s ability to be adapted for the stage. “I believed the simplicity of the narrative,” he says, “paired with its humor and cleverness, would translate beautifully to the stage and resonate deeply with audiences.”
Because Goodwin is so passionate about workshopping a show and building a collaborative process throughout a production’s development, he worked with Seattle Children’s Theatre and Western Washington University to develop the show, along with Olympia’s String and Shadow to experiment with the puppetry aspect. “This exploratory phase was invaluable,” Goodwin explains. “It allowed us to test ideas in real time and make informed creative decisions based on what was most effective and engaging. Theater is inherently collaborative, and it was crucial to explore the physical and visual elements early.”
The process also went through workshops at the Alliance Theatre, with test audiences in the target demographic, all of which helped them develop the project into what it is today. During the process, Goodwin also took the liberty of adding another young child character, Young De Soto. As the play was being developed, it became what Goodwin affectionately calls “a play with occasional rhymes.”
“[This] phrase … is a playful nod to the fact that while I write lyrics and incorporate rhythmic language,” he says, “I’m not a traditional composer in the musical theater tradition. My background is in rhythmic storytelling which of course invites musical accompaniment. Ultimately, I just want to tell a compelling story, and if audiences want to call it a musical, that’s fine by me.”
Although minor changes occurred throughout the development process and the story jumped from page to stage, the main themes remain the same — rules, choices that bend those rules, and the nuance introduced when that happens. “This core dilemma — balancing safety with compassion and confronting the repercussions of our choices — felt essential to convey,” Goodwin says. “It raises important questions about courage, empathy, and the complexities of doing what’s right.”
The story’s main dilemma, Goodwin hopes, opens up audiences to conversation about choices and the consequences of those choices. “I want young audiences to reflect on what they would do in the De Sotos’ situation,” he says. “The narrative presents complex, layered choices — not just right or wrong answers. I hope kids leave considering the consequences of their actions and the nuances of making tough decisions. It’s about understanding that every choice has both benefits and drawbacks.”
Goodwin believes the play raises important questions about trust, compassion, and courage, and encourages families to discuss the idea of “taking risks for the greater good,” even when something seems daunting or even threatening. “Would [you] have made the same choice as the De Sotos? How do we determine who deserves help, and how do we weigh the potential consequences?”
Doctor De Soto will premiere on the Hertz Stage January 18 through March 2, 2025 – learn more.