‘The Queen of Versailles’ Musical Workshop Adds F. Murray Abraham, Melody Butiu & Nina White To Kristin Chenoweth-Led Cast

EXCLUSIVE: F. Murray Abraham, Here Lies Love’s Melody Butiu, and Kimberly Akimbo’s Nina White have joined the cast of workshop presentations of The Queen of Versailles starring Kristin Chenoweth being held in New York next month.

Featuring music by Stephen Schwartz, The Queen of Versailles is a new musical based on the acclaimed 2012 documentary about socialite and TV personality Jacqueline “Jackie” Siegel. The workshops are scheduled for November 2 and 3.

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Also joining the project is theater and film company Seaview, signing onto the producing team. Seaview’s Broadway credits include Just for Us starring Alex Edelman, Parade starring Ben Platt and Micaela Diamond, The Sign in Sidney Brustein’s Window starring Oscar Isaac and Rachel Brosnahan, Mike Birbiglia’s The Old Man & the Pool, Selina Fillinger’s POTUS, and the upcoming productions of Danny and the Deep Blue Sea starring Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott, Enemy of the People starring Jeremy Strong, and Lempicka directed by Rachel Chavkin.

Based on the documentary directed by Lauren Greenfield, The Queen of Versailles musical workshop reunites Chenoweth, who will portray Siegel, with Wicked composer Schwartz. The musical features a book by Lindsey Ferrentino, with Michael Arden (Parade, Once on This Island) directing.

Abraham has appeared in over 90 plays and 80 films including Amadeus, for which he received the Academy Award for Best Actor, and the second season of HBO’s The White Lotus. He can currently be seen in the HBO limited series The White House Plumbers as Judge John Sirica.

Butiu is currently starring as Estrella Cumpas in the David Byrne-Fatboy Slim’s immersive disco musical Here Lies Love on Broadway, a role she originated at The Public Theater. TV and film credits include Easter Sunday, Call Me Kat, Mom, and This is Us, among others. Stage credits include Broadway’s Doctor Zhivago and numerous regional performances.

White is currently appearing on Broadway in Kimberly Akimbo as Teresa, a role she originated Off-Broadway. Regional theater credits include Sister Act and 2AZ, and she’ll be seen in the upcoming Mr. and Mrs. Smith on Amazon Prime and A24’s A Different Man.

The Queen of Versailles tells the true story of Jackie Siegel, a one-time Mrs. Florida who, along with billionaire husband David “The Timeshare King” Siegel set out to build the largest private home in America in Orlando, Florida, a $100 million house inspired by the Palace of Versailles. The couple’s plans and lavish lifestyle were dashed by the Great Recession of 2008.

The Queen of Versailles musical is produced by Bill Damaschke, Seaview and Kristin Chenoweth through her production banner Diva Worldwide Entertainment.

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