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Barrett Winters will play the role of a “Workhouse Boy” in the N.C. Theatre's production of "Oliver!"

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North Carolina Theatre, the region’s premier producer of professional Broadway musicals, is thrilled to announce casting for “Oliver!,” running Tuesday, July 17 through Sunday, July 22, in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh, presented by Capital Bank.

Barrett Winters of Garner, N.C., will play the role of a “Workhouse Boy” in the production. Last year, Winters performed in Carolina Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at the Progress Energy Center. Winters also is trained in multiple types of dance and has received multiple awards in clogging competitions, including first place in the “Contemporary Solo Boys 10-12” competition this year in Lexington, S.C.

Broadway’s Kevin Gray will star as “Fagin.” Gray was last seen on the N.C. Theatre stage as “The Engineer” in “Miss Saigon.” Gray also was seen on Broadway in “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “The King & I,” “Chu Chem” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

Sam Poon will play the title role of “Oliver.” He is recently off the National Touring production of “Les Misérables,” which sold out its eight show performance run in Raleigh Memorial Auditorium in February.

Stephen Tewksbury will play “Bill Sykes.” He has been on Broadway in “Miss Saigon” and “Phantom of the Opera.”

Local talents Nicholas Kraft of Garner, N.C., has landed the role of the “Artful Dodger,” and Heather Patterson King of Raleigh, N.C., will play “Nancy.” Kraft is a long-time student of the N.C. Theatre Conservatory and has been seen on the N.C. Theatre stage in “Evita” and “A Christmas Story,” to name a few. King is the Director of Acting and Outreach at the N.C. Theatre Conservatory.

All other casting for the production has been announced and is comprised of 31 adorable local children who will sing their hearts out during fan favorites like “Food Glorious Food” on stage.

“Oliver!” vividly brings to life the ever-popular story of the young runaway orphan, colorful Artful Dodger, infamous Fagin and his gang of pickpockets, sinister Bill Sykes, nurturing and lovable Nancy and a host of memorable characters.

With music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, “Oliver!” is a British musical that premiered in the West End in 1960 and enjoyed a long and successful run on Broadway in 1963. A movie musical was made as a follow up in 1968 that received rave reviews. “Oliver!” was the first musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ work to become an international stage hit. The Sunday Times exclaims that “Oliver!” is ‘Lionel Bart’s musical masterpiece’ and The New York Times says, ‘It’s hard to top this extravagant, eye-dazzling “Oliver!”’

Single tickets to “Oliver!” are on sale now and start at $25. To purchase, call the N.C. Theatre Box Office at 919-831-6941 x6944. Tickets are also available through Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. For more information please visit www.nctheatre.com.