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Anne of Green Gables - The Musical™ announces cast selectionJune 11, 2012Tess Benger returns as Anne; Tim Koetting, Marlane O'Brien debut as Matthew and Marilla (Charlottetown) - A world-class cast has been assembled at Confederation Centre of the Arts for the 48th season of Canada's longest running musical. The Avonlea magic returns July 3 when audiences welcome one of the world's most beloved casts of characters back to The Charlottetown Festival. The irrepressible orphan, Anne Shirley, will once again delight hearts in The Homburg Theatre alongside Matthew, Marilla, Gilbert, and the rest of the Avonlea villagers of Anne of Green Gables - The MusicalTM. Crowd favourite Tess Benger (Hairspray, The Full Monty) will return to the role she embodied so cheerfully in 2011 as ‘Anne with an e'. Justin Stadnyk (The Full Monty) will return for a second year as well as Anne's beau, Gilbert Blythe. The Charlottetown Festival welcomes new faces to the iconic roles of Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert. Tim Koetting (The Music Man, King Lear at the Stratford Festival) will play the beloved Matthew and festival favourite Marlane O'Brien (The Full Monty, A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline) will tackle the role of Marilla, the definitive spinster. This is a first for O'Brien, a twenty-year veteran of The Charlottetown Festival, who has played Rachel Lynde and other villagers in recent years. "This means a tremendous amount to me l as I am an Islander by choice," says O'Brien, from her home in Crapaud, P.E.I. "I live year-round in a small rural community and I know the excitement that my playing Marilla has generated there. The community knows the significance of both this character and of this timeless story." Koetting brings with him an impressive body of work having performed from coast to coast in TV, film and theatre and spent three seasons at the Stratford Festival. "To get to play Matthew here, where it all started for AnneTM, and to step into a role that has been played by so many great Canadian actors is an honour and a privilege," he says. "To be a part of something so important to Canadian theatre is just amazing." Last summer Islanders delighted in rediscovering Anne Shirley during the successfully re-imagined staging of the production. With new sets, projections, choreography and an incredible cast, AnneTM wowed audiences from all corners and this theming will be continued in 2012. The Grand Opening of Anne of Green Gables-The MusicalTM is Wednesday, July 4 in the Homburg Theatre with a preview show on July 3. Make this must-see musical a summer tradition for you and your family now. Tickets for all performances start as low as $20. Purchase them by calling toll-free 1-800-565-0278 or online at www.charlottetownfestival.com. Warm thanks are extended to The Charlottetown Festival's major sponsor, APM, and Anne of Green Gables-The MusicalTM production sponsor, MacLean Construction. The Province of Prince Edward Island, through the Department of Tourism and Culture, is pleased to be a funding partner for The Charlottetown Festival. Media sponsors are The Guardian, CTV, Hot 105.5 and Ocean 100. -30- Photo credits: Tim Koetting, Marlane O'Brien (submitted photos). Media contact: Fraser McCallum, Communications Manager, Confederation Centre of the Arts T: 902.628.6135 (office) E: fmccallum@confederationcentre.com www.facebook.com/charlottetownfestival | Twitter: @confedboxoffice |