About the Cast

 

 
The Ford's Theatre cast of 19 includes actors with extensive Broadway,
television and film credits

Anne Kanengeiser

The role of Eleanor Roosevelt is played by Anne Kanengeiser, who recently spent two years in the cast of Ragtime in Toronto and on Broadway. Kanengeiser has appeared in many musical roles, including Anna in The King and I, Mama Rose in Gypsy, Guinevere in Camelot. Her performance as Fosca in Stephen Sondheim's Passion at the Signature Theater drew critical acclaim, and she was awarded the 1997 Helen Hayes award for Best Actress.

Anthony Cummings

Anthony Cummings plays the role of Frankln Roosevelt. Cummings' many credits in television and film include roles in "NY Undercover" and "Law and Order." He is now performing on Broadway as Lauran Becall's son in Noel Coward's Waiting in the Wings. Other theatrical credits include the national tour of Laughter on the 23rd Floor and A Little Family Business on Broadway.
Both lead actors have appeared in earlier versions of Eleanor in the title roles: Kanengeiser appeared in the 1995 Chicago production, and Cummings in the 1990 production in Pittsburgh and the 1997 L.A. production at Musical Theatre West.

The Cast Also Includes

Rita Gardner (Sara Delano Roosevelt) who has appeared on-Broadway in On a Clear Day, and Ben Franklin in Paris and off-Broadway in The Fantisticks in which she originated the role of "the girl". Others are: Steve Routman (Louis Howe), who has Broadway credits that include Victor Victoria, The Gig, and Moon Over Buffalo; Tamra Hayden (Alice Roosevelt), who played Cosette in Les Miserables on Broadway and Christine in the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera; and Gary Marachek (Teddy Roosevelt) with New York credits that include La Cage Aux Folles and City of Angels. David Eye, Osborn Focht, Christine Hewitt, Kristin Huxhold, Kate Jetmore, Kate Kiley, Andrew MacPhail, and Andre Montgomery round out the cast for this cd, with three children including Emily Leonard, a sixth-grader from Raleigh, NC, who appears as the 10-year-old Eleanor, Noah Putterman and Courtney Crumpler.

Musical director Albert Ahronheim (Eating Raoul, Pets! and currently The Big Bang) conducts an orchestra of top New York studio musicians. Orchestrations are by David Siegel (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starring Matthew Broderick).