Meet the Cast of OHIO STATE MURDERS, Beginning Previews on Broadway Tonight!

Ohio State Murders will be the first show to play at the newly renamed James Earl Jones Theatre.

By: Nov. 11, 2022
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Meet the Cast of OHIO STATE MURDERS, Beginning Previews on Broadway Tonight!
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Ohio State Murders will be the first show to play at the newly renamed James Earl Jones Theatre when it begins previews tonight, Friday, November 11, 2022 ahead of an opening on Thursday, December 8, 2022.

Joining Emmy, Grammy, and Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, Tony Award nominee Bryce Pinkham (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), and Drama Desk nominee Lizan Mitchell (On Sugarland, Trojan Women), the cast also includes: Mister Fitzgerald, Abigail Stephenson, Brett Diggs, Brooke Gardner, Christian Pedersen and Gayle Samuels. Tony Award winner Kenny Leon (A Raisin in the Sun, A Soldier's Play) directs.

The creative team for Ohio State Murders includes set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Allen Lee Hughes, sound design by Justin Ellington, projection design by Jeff Sugg, wig/hair/make-up design by J. Jared Janas, original music by Dwight Andrews and casting by Caparelliotis Casting.

Meet the cast below!


Ohio State MurdersAudra McDonald (Suzanne Alexander)

is unparalleled in the breadth and versatility of her artistry as both a singer and an actor. The winner of a record-breaking six Tony Awards, two Grammy Awards and an Emmy, in 2015 she was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people and received a National Medal of Arts-America's highest honor for achievement in the field-from President Barack Obama. In addition to her Tony-winning performances in Carousel, Master Class, Ragtime, A Raisin in the Sun, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill-the role that also served as the vehicle for her Olivier Award-nominated 2017 debut in London's West End-she has appeared on Broadway in The Secret Garden; Marie Christine (Tony nomination); Henry IV; 110 in the Shade (Tony nomination); Shuffle Along, or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed; and Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (Tony nomination). A Juilliard-trained soprano, her opera credits include La voix humaine and Send at Houston Grand Opera, and Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at Los Angeles Opera, where the resulting recording earned her two Grammy Awards. On television, she was seen by millions as the Mother Abbess in NBC's The Sound of Music Live! and played Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC's Private Practice. She won an Emmy Award for her role as host of PBS's Live From Lincoln Center and has received nominations for Wit, A Raisin in the Sun and Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. Having first appeared as Liz Lawrence on CBS's The Good Wife, she stars in The Good Fight on Paramount+ as well as in Spectrum's pandemic-themed drama, The Bite. On film, she has appeared in Seven Servants, The Object of My Affection, Cradle Will Rock, It Runs in the Family, The Best Thief in the World, She Got Problems, Rampart, Ricki and the Flash, Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast, the movie-musical Hello Again, and MGM's Aretha Franklin biopic, Respect. Her upcoming film projects comprise Higher Ground's Rustin and FilmNation's Down Low. McDonald has issued five solo albums on the Nonesuch label as well as Sing Happy with the New York Philharmonic on Decca Gold. She also maintains a major career as a concert artist, regularly appearing on the great stages of the world and with leading international orchestras. A founding member of Black Theatre United, board member of Covenant House International, and prominent advocate for LGBTQAI+ rights, her favorite roles are those performed offstage, as an activist, wife to actor Will Swenson, and mother.

Ohio State MurdersBryce Pinkham (Robert Hampshire)

An American stage and screen actor, Bryce is most widely known for originating the role of Monty Navarro in the Tony-winning production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, for which he was nominated for Tony, Grammy, and Drama Desk awards. He also notably appeared in the Broadway revival of The Heidi Chronicles as Peter Patrone, for which he was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance. His other Broadway credits include original roles in Holiday Inn, The Great Society, Ghost, and Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson. Bryce's on-screen appearances include as a series regular on the Civil War drama Mercy Street, guest appearances in HBO's Julia, Baz Lurman's Netflix series "The Get Down", and Robert DeNiro's feature film The Comedian, as well as "The Good Wife" (CBS), "Proven Innocent" (FOX), "Person of Interest" (CBS), "Blindspot" (NBC), "The Blacklist" (NBC). As a singer Bryce has performed in concert venues across the country, most notably Carnegie Hall, The Chicago Lyric Opera, Lincoln Center, and The Library of Congress. As a writer, Bryce has published articles in American Theater Magazine and Yale Alumni Magazine. In 2012, Bryce helped found Zara Aina, a not-for-profit that uses the power of theatrical storytelling to empower under-resourced youth. In May 2013, Bryce led a team of American artists on Zara Aina's pilot program to Madagascar. Bryce is also a frequent collaborator with Outside the Wire, a social impact theater company that serves many communities, but particularly focuses on military audiences. His most notable international tours include Guantanamo Bay, Japan, Kuwait, and Qatar. A graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Bryce was awarded the Leonore Annenberg Foundation Early Career Fellowship in 2012. Bryce holds a BA from Boston College and an MFA in Acting and bio-writing from the Yale School of Drama.

Ohio State MurdersMister Fitzgerald (David/Val)

Hailing from Baltimore, MD, Mister is excited to be making his Broadway debut! He is also currently playing George Murchison in Raisin In The Sun at The Public Theatre, directed by Robert O'Hara. He was recently seen in Exception to the Rule at Roundabout Theatre as Abdul and will be starring in the upcoming film The Last Deal as Bobby. Off-Broadway: Blue Man Group, Rio Uphill (York), On Sugarland (NYTW). Regional: Of Mice and Men (Serenbe Playhouse), The Wiz (Shenandoah). Film: Boogie, 30 Weeks. TV: "Power: Book ll," "FBI," "The Blacklist," "Godfather of Harlem." Awards: Best Duo Performance, DTLA Film Festival. BFA, Florida Southern College.

Ohio State MurdersLizan Mitchell (Mrs. Tyler, Miss Dawson, Aunt Lou)

Broadway: Electra, Having Our Say, So Long on Lonely Street. Off-Broadway: Bodies They Ritual, On Sugarland, Cullud Wattah, Trojan Women, The Visitor, Passage, First Noel, Brownsville Song, Cell, Rosmersholm, for colored girls..., Gum, Ma Rose and Salt. Regional: STC, CATF, Rep Theater of St. Louis, The Old Globe, Trinity Rep, Arena Stage, Cleveland Play House, Yale Rep, Berkeley Rep, Victory Gardens, NBT U.K., Cincinnati Playhouse, Roundhouse Theater. Film/TV: Detroit, We'll Never Have Paris, The Human Stain, The Preacher's Wife, "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," "Deadbeat," "Golden Boy," "John Adams," "The Good Wife," "Sesame Street," "The Wire."

Ohio State MurdersAbigail Stephenson (Iris Ann)

Broadway debut. Theater: World Premiere and Original Cast Album Knoxville (Asolo Rep), Hi, My Name is Ben (Goodspeed Musicals), and others. TV/Film: "The Good Fight." Thank you, WTG, friends, Mom, Dad, Al, and Forrest McClendon for all the love and support. I could not do this without you all. Beyond grateful. MA: Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Ohio State MurdersBrett Diggs (U/S David/Val)

Broadway Debut! A Baltimore, MD native and SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Theatre Arts & Film grad. THEATRE: Buzzer (The Public Theater); FILM: The Post (20th Century Fox/Disney); TV: "Godfather of Harlem" (EPIX), "The Equalizer" (CBS), "Blue Bloods" (CBS), "Chicago P.D." (NBC), "The Punisher" (Netflix), "That Damn Michael Che" (HBO MAX). Excited to be a part of this Broadway production and thanks all his family and loved ones. A special THANK YOU goes out to his Mom.

Ohio State MurdersBrooke Gardner (U/S Iris Ann)

Broadway Debut! Brooke Gardner is a 2019 Pace University graduate with a BFA in Acting. Film/TV credits include Soul Santa (BET+), Sour Honey (Short Film, Post-Prod), and "Ways and Means" (CBS Pilot). Commercial credits include NY Lottery and McDonald's. Brooke's Theater background includes performing in The Mad Dog Blues (The Hive, NYC) and in the original musical We Didn't Have Time to be Scared at the 2011 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Repped by Realm Talent and managed by Michal Zecher at MZ.MGMT.NY

Ohio State MurdersChristian Pedersen (U/S Robert Hampshire)

most recently appeared in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at the Curran Theatre in San Francisco. Off-Broadway: Cherry Lane, 59E59, 3LD, The Pearl, Abingdon, Barrow Street. Regional: Once (South Coast Rep), reasons to be pretty (Geffen Playhouse), The Mousetrap (Rep St. Louis), Clybourne Park (Cleveland Play House, Geva, Laguna Playhouse), The 39 Steps (Maltz Jupiter Theatre), Cloud Nine (Studio Theatre DC), Dead Ringer (NJ Rep) and others. TV credits include The Offer, Seal Team, This Is Us, Superstore, The Good Wife. Graduate of the University of Richmond and the NY Conservatory for Dramatic Arts.

Ohio State MurdersGayle Samuels (U/S Mrs. Tyler, Miss Dawson, Aunt Lou)

recently portrayed Lena Younger in A Raisin In the Sun at the Sydney Theatre Company. She received a Best Supporting Actress Award for the independent film American Wisper and a Best Actress nomination from the Connecticut Critics Circle for her portrayal of Billie Holiday in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill. She recently worked with Emmy Award winner Peter Dinklage in Cyrano, originating the role of the Chaperone at the Goodspeed Opera House, and just directed a production of The Mountaintop at the Music Theatre of Connecticut. Gayle has appeared on Broadway in Children of a Lesser God, Sunset Boulevard, Grind, and Dancin'. Her Off- Broadway credits include Barbara in MsTrial, Gloria in Sistas, Ronnette in Little Shop of Horrors and Josephine Baker in The Dark Star from Harlem. She toured internationally as a featured vocalist with Harry Belafonte, played the Phyllis Hyman role in the Russian tour of Sophisticated Ladies and played Mrs. Loftus in the national tour of Little House on the Prairie starring Melissa Gilbert. Regionally, Gayle has worked at The Artist Repertory Theatre (Seven Guitars), John W. Engeman Theatre (The Sunshine Boys), The Florida Repertory Theatre (Fences), The Guthrie (Little House on the Prairie), Cincinnati Playhouse (Crowns, Beehive), The Florida Studio Theatre (The World Goes Round), and Georgia Shakespeare (Shrew). Gayle's television and film credits include Bull, The Equalizer, Queens, The Flight Attendant, Girls5eva, Blue Bloods, Madam Secretary, The Americans, The Class and Black Nativity.


Photo Credit: Ohio State Murders, https://ohiostatemurdersbroadway.com/



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