Announcing the cast of Glimpses of the Moon

Matthew A. Anderson (Winthrop “Streffy” Strefford) is excited to be back at MetroStage after taking part in their raucous revival of The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!). Mr. Anderson has also worked locally with the Kennedy Center (Youth and Family Programs as well as Shear Madness), Theater J, Signature Theatre, Imagination Stage, and Ford’s Theatre. This summer, he looks forward to taking part in the exciting new musical Super Claudio Bros: A Video Game Musical for the 2010 Capital Fringe Festival with fellow Glimpses of the Moon castmates Lauren, Gia and Sam.

Natascia Diaz (Ursula Gillow/ Coral Hicks/ Maid) is delighted to return to MetroStage where she won the 2009 Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Musical in the world premiere of ROOMS, a rock romance. Natascia has been recognized by Chicago’s Joseph Jefferson Award and St. Louis’ Kevin Klein Award for her performance as Anita in West Side Story. Natascia’s Broadway credits and original cast albums include The Capeman, Seussical, and the 2002 revival of Man of La Mancha. Off-Broadway, she performed in Jonathan Larson’s tick, tick…BOOM! (receiving an LA Ovation Award nomination), in Stephen Sondheim's first musical, Saturday Night, and in the 2006 revival and recording of Jacques Brel Is Alive And Well And Living In Paris. In August 2010, Ms. Diaz will perform the lead role of Esmeralda Agron in the concert performance of Paul Simon's The Capeman, produced by The Public Theatre at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park.

Sam Ludwig (Nick Lansing) SIGNATURE: [title of show] (Jeff), Sweeney Todd (Tobias), Show Boat, The Hollow (21/24 Workshop) (Ichabod), A Fox on the Fairway Workshop (Justin), Partial Eclipse, Curveball Workshop (Ludwig), Les Misérables. RED BRANCH THEATRE: Urinetown (Bobby). OLNEY THEATRE CENTER: Big River (Huck), 1776 (Courier). THEATRE J: The Playdoh Golem Workshop (Sam). TOBY'S DINNER THEATER: La Cage Aux Folles (Jean-Michele), Titanic the Musical (Barrett).

Gia Mora (Ellie Vanderlyn) METROSTAGE: Cool Papa’s Party--Helen Hayes Nomination, Ensemble; REP STAGE: God’s Ear; SHAKESPEARE THEATRE: The Imaginary Invalid; ARENA STAGE: Christmas Carol 1941, She Loves Me; WOOLLY MAMMOTH: She Stoops to Comedy--Helen Hayes Nomination, Ensemble; ROUND HOUSE: A Prayer for Owen Meany--Helen Hayes Nomination, Supporting Actress. JAZZ/ CABARET VOCALS: Blues Alley, Bethesda Theatre, Lannie’s Clocktower Cabaret. UPCOMING: Sunset Boulevard (Signature Theatre), Liberty Smith (Ford’s Theatre).

Stephen F. Schmidt (Nelson Vanderlyn) most recently appeared as Hermocrates in Triumph of Love at the Olney Theatre Center where he also performed in Call of the Wild, Stuff Happens, Saint Joan, Crave, and She Loves Me. He also recently appeared in Ford’s Theatre’s A Christmas Carol and One Destiny. Last year, he played Harold Hill in Music Man with The Washington Savoyards. At Arena Stage: Death of a Salesman, Noises Off, Damn Yankees, and Guys and Dolls. At Center Stage in Baltimore: Arsenic and Old Lace, Sweeney Todd, The Winter’s Tale, The Investigation, As You Like It, H.M.S. Pinafore and Midsummer Night’s Dream. He received the Helen Hayes Award for his performance of Lockstock in Urinetown at Signature Theatre. Other Helen Hayes Nominations-- Kennedy Center: Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka (Wonka); Toby’s: Wonderful Life (George Bailey); Woolly Mammoth: Rocky Horror (Brad).

Lauren Williams (Susy Branch) SIGNATURE THEATRE: Into the Woods (Little Red, Helen Hayes nomination), My Fair Lady, The Happy Time, Nevermore, Allegro, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Philia, Helen Hayes nomination). THE KENNEDY CENTER: For the Love of Goldfish, The Phantom Tollbooth. STUDIO THEATRE 2nd STAGE: Reefer Madness, Dog Sees God (Ensemble, Helen Hayes nomination). REP STAGE: God's Ear, Butterfinger's Angel. ADVENTURE THEATRE: You're a Good Man Charlie Brown. DC FRINGE FESTIVAL: Super Claudio Bros. UPCOMING: Snow White, Rose Red and Fred at the Kennedy Center and Liberty Smith at Fords Theatre.