Home Broadway legends Michael Park, Shannon Lewis lead creative team of ‘Tuck Everlasting’
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Broadway legends Michael Park, Shannon Lewis lead creative team of ‘Tuck Everlasting’

Crystal Graham

broadway shenandoah conservatoryBroadway legends Michael Park and Shannon Lewis are leading the creative team for Shenandoah Conservatory’s upcoming production of “Tuck Everlasting.”

The conservatory’s production of “Tuck Everlasting” runs Thursday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, Feb. 26, in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre in Winchester.

Park, who serves as the guest director, originated the role of Angus Tuck in “Tuck Everlasting” on Broadway; and Lewis, the guest choreographer, is a 25-year Broadway veteran who appeared in the original Broadway cast of “Fosse.”

“The last two weeks (of directing) have probably been as fulfilling as it was opening ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ on Broadway,” said Park, who has been working with the cast in rehearsals approximately 20 hours per week since Jan. 23.

Lewis had five intensive, eight-hour days in January to choreograph the dance numbers, and she will return for the final week of rehearsals.

“I first met both Michael Park and Shannon Lewis when the three of us worked together on the Broadway revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,” said Kevin Covert, director of musical theatre and associate professor of theatre. “When the show closed, I embarked upon a career in education while Shannon went on to pursue her ambitions as a choreographer and Michael concentrated on stage and film.”

In 2021, Covert mentioned during a casual conversation with Park that he was thinking of producing “Tuck Everlasting” at Shenandoah. Park immediately responded that he would love to direct it.

“I thought – what a win for our students and community and I immediately took him up on the offer,” said Covert. “Michael suggested that if we could snag Shannon to choreograph it would be ideal, even though her dance card fills up rather quickly. I reached out to Shannon, and she enthusiastically accepted.

“Michael and Shannon are both Broadway veterans with a wealth of knowledge to share with our students. The fact that our musical theatre students get to make these valuable industry connections is priceless.

About Michael Park

Park made his Broadway debut in the Lincoln Center production of “Carousel.” He then went on to the original cast of the hit Broadway musical “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” followed by “Little Me,” starring Martin Short.

Park then spent more than 15 years playing Jack on CBS’s “As the World Turns,” winning two Daytime Emmy Awards, before returning to Broadway as Mr. Bratt in “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.” Next up was “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” starring Scarlett Johansson.

He then originated the role of Angus Tuck in “Tuck Everlasting,” a show that is very dear to him, before originating the role of Larry Murphy in “Dear Evan Hansen.” He also starred in “Next to Normal” at the Kennedy Center with his Tony Award-winning “Dear Evan Hansen” co-star Rachel Bay Jones.

Park most recently returned from the Dominican Republic, where shooting the Hulu limited series “Saint X,” which premieres April 26.

About Shannon Lewis

Lewis is a creative force who is passionate about her unique vision of telling stories through the collaborative process of theatre, television and film.

As a performer, she has a 25-year Broadway legacy. Her blazing performance of “I Gotcha” in the Tony Award-winning original Broadway cast of “Fosse” solidified her iconic status in the dance and theatre worlds. She is proud to have performed in 10 Broadway blockbusters – favorites include co-starring alongside Christina Applegate as Ursula in “Sweet Charity” and playing Miss Krumholtz to Daniel Radcliffe, Darrien Criss and Nick Jonas in the revival of “How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.”

Now creating as a director and choreographer, Lewis recently choreographed digital and live performances for “The Tonight Show” Jimmy Fallon and “Saturday Night Live” on NBC.

She is the choreographer of the groundbreaking, world-premiere new musical “The Secret Silk” by Stephen Schwartz, John Tartaglia and Jim Henson Creature Shop, now playing around the world. Other director/choreographer favorites include “An American in Paris,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Mamma Mia!,” “The Prompter,” DreamWorks’ “Shrek the Halls” and the award-winning “Claudio Quest.”

Through her new production company Firestart Creative, she recently released the original dance short film sensations, “My Discarded Men Suite,” “Don’t Go” and “Sway,” which she conceived, produced, directed and choreographed.

Concert dance premiere commissions include Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Dance Out Loud, BC Beat, Bay Street Theatre Gala and I Heart Dance in NYC. Lewis is a reconstructeur and master educator for the Verdon/Fosse Legacy, an adjunct professor in the commercial dance B.F.A. program at Pace University in New York City and guest faculty/choreographer for CLI Conservatory. She is on faculty at world renowned studios STEPS on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in New York City, where she teaches popular professional classes.

Born in Toronto, Lewis is now a dual citizen of the United States and Canada and is based in New York City.

Tickets and information

Shenandoah Conservatory’s production of “Tuck Everlasting” runs Thursday, Feb. 23, through Sunday, Feb. 26, in Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre on the main campus of Shenandoah University.

Tickets are $28 for general admission; $25 for senior citizens, Shenandoah University alumni and civil servants/veterans and $5 for students and youth.

Tickets and information are available at the Shenandoah Conservatory Box Office at (540) 665-4569, located in the lobby of Ohrstrom-Bryant Theatre and online at conservatoryperforms.org.

Crystal Graham

Crystal Graham

Crystal Abbe Graham is the regional editor of Augusta Free Press. A 1999 graduate of Virginia Tech, she has worked for nearly 25 years as a reporter and editor for several Virginia publications, written a book, and garnered more than a dozen Virginia Press Association awards for writing and graphic design. She was the co-host of "Viewpoints," a weekly TV news show, and co-host of Virginia Tonight, a nightly TV news show. Her work on "Virginia Tonight" earned her a national Telly award for excellence in television.