MUSIC CITY Cast Performs JT Harding's 'Smile' Before Off-Broadway Premiere

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The musical also features a book by Peter Zinn and direction by Eric Tucker.

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Take an exclusive first look at the cast of Music City performing "Smile" by Billboard-charting songwriter JT Harding. With a book by Peter Zinn and direction by Eric Tucker , performances begin June 15 at St. Luke’s Theatre.

Set in an East Nashville bar called the Wicked Tickle, the musical follows two young singer-songwriters chasing love and dreams.

The heralded original cast will return to their roles: Drew Bastian (Off-Broadway: Measure for Measure; National Tour: Hair) as Newt, Jonathan Judge-Russo (Off-Broadway: Falling, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me) as Drew, Julianne B. Merrill (Broadway: music teams for Chess, Real Women Have Curves, SMASH!, among others) as Wyn, Leenya Rideout (Broadway: War Horse; Company; Cabaret) as Tammy/Leeanne, Andrew Rothenberg (Off-Broadway: BEDLAM’s The Assassination of Julius Caesar..., Signature Theater’s Curse of the Starving Class) as Bakerman/Stucky Stiles, Casey Shuler (Regional: Hair, Titanic, Legally Blonde) as “23,” and Stephen Michael Spencer (Broadway: Clyde’s; Off-Broadway: Medea: Re-Versed) as T.J. Understudies are Grace Bernardo , Danny Hayward and Megan Loomis .

Band members include Ann Klein (Lead Guitar, Mandolin, Lap Steel), Julianne B. Merrill (Keys) and Tony Tino (Bass).

Music City was originally slated to open this spring at 512 West 42nd Street, but due to unforeseen issues with that venue, had to be put on hiatus. St. Luke’s Theatre, operated by Out of the Box Theatrics, was able to offer Music City a full-time home.

For the production, St. Luke’s Theatre will be transformed into The Wicked Tickle, an East Nashville barroom. The immersive space will fully embody the world of Music City, inviting audiences to step inside a country bar where music, storytelling, and nightlife collide.

Schmigadoon!

After delaying performances due to issues with its previous venue, Music City will now open at St. Luke’s Theatre this summer. Learn more about the show here!

Music City, which was set to be presented Off-Broadway, has had to be put on hiatus due to unforeseen issues with the show’s venue at 512 West 42nd Street.

Music City, which opened to rave reviews last year and was extended three times by popular demand in its award-winning run at BEDLAM, will reopen at 512 West 42nd Street near 10th Avenue just west of Times Square in a new venue that is being refashioned into a fully functioning Nashville bar, expressly for the production. Check out photos of the cast in rehearsal!

Music City has gone back into rehearsal as the production prepares for its return to its new venue in midtown. Check out photos from the first rehearsal here.

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Exclusive-MUSIC-CITY-Cast-Performs-Smile-By-JT-Harding-Ahead-of-Off-Broadway-Run-20260521)._