Casting Announcement for "Get Happy!"

VIRGINIA THEATRE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM FOR GET HAPPY! A CELEBRATION OF THE WORLD’S GREATEST ENTERTAINER WITH JENNA PASTUSZEK

MUSICAL TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDARY JUDY GARLAND TO END 2025 VTF SEASON ON A HIGH NOTE

Get Happy! A Celebration of the World’s Greatest Entertainer with Jenna Pastuszek will run from July 24-July 27 in the Ruth Caplin Theatre

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – April 29, 2025 – The Virginia Theatre Festival has announced the creative team for its season-ending production of Get Happy! A Celebration of the World’s Greatest Entertainer with Jenna Pastuszek. The show lives up to its name by taking audiences on a joy-filled journey powered by the songs of the legendary Judy Garland.

Get Happy! A Celebration of the World’s Greatest Entertainer with Jenna Pastuszek will run from July 24-July 27 in the Ruth Caplin Theatre. Get Happy! is a dynamic and electric evening of some of the greatest hits and little-known gems from American icon Judy Garland, performed by acclaimed cabaret performer and UVA alumnus Jenna Pastuszek. Eschewing imitation for celebration, Pastuszek weaves her own story amongst the carefully curated tunes, melding her own formidable talents with the unbeatable allure of timeless standards to take audiences over the rainbow and then some.

The team for Get Happy! will include:

Jenna Pastuszek (Performer, Writer, Producer) is a performer, writer, producer, and teaching artist based out of New York City. She has performed from Maine to Florida, from Cape May to LA. Her New York theatre credits include Smile (Musicals Tonight!), Single (NYMF), The Incredible Fox Sisters (New Ohio Theatre), Joey & Ron (The Player’s Theatre), and Days of Rage (GR 42). Regional Theatre credits include Diner (Delaware Theatre Company), Side Show (Media Theatre), Because of Winn Dixie (DTC), The Last Five Years (Eagle Theatre), Winter Wonderettes (Walnut Street Theatre), Catch Me if You Can (Eagle Theatre), South Pacific (DTC), and Evita (Stage Door Theatre). Pastuszek is a proud “Double Hoo,” with UVA degrees from the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Education and Human Development.

Will Stephan Connell (Performer) is overjoyed to return to Jenna’s incredibly talented side in Get Happy! A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Will is a professional singer, actor, and arts administrator based in the Philadelphia area. Most recently seen as Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys at the Walnut Street Theatre, he has performed extensively on stages throughout the Philadelphia area, including the Walnut Street Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, The Fulton, Delaware Theatre Company, Quintessence Theatre Group, The Media Theatre, Montgomery Theatre, and Connecticut ACT. Additionally, he has appeared with the Summer Club, a seventeen-piece big band accompanied by some of Philly’s most beloved singers. When not onstage, Will works as the Camp and Special Projects Director at Wolf Performing Arts Center, designing and managing programming for ages ranging from rising kindergarten through the end of high school. @awillandaway, willsconnell.com

Kyle Branzel (Musical Director) is a highly sought-after New York City-based musical theatre coach whose clients appear on Broadway and on stages worldwide. He uses his vast experience as a director, music director, actor and pianist to empower and propel the artists with whom he works. Branzel is the founder and director of GroovePlayground, New York City’s premiere pop/rock/R&, training hub. He is Head of Music at the New York Film Academy and teaching credits also include Jen Waldman Studio and Steps on Broadway. Branzel is a guest lecturer at Roosevelt University and Western Illinois University.

The Virginia Theatre Festival is a program of the University of Virginia, with support from the Office of the Provost, Vice Provost for the Arts, The Caplin Foundation, The Thomas and Carolyn Witt Foundation, College and Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and Department of Drama.

The 2025 Virginia Theatre Festival is also supported by a generous grant from The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation. Get Happy! is presented by CBS19 News and supported by Mincer’s.

The 51st Virginia Theatre Festival season will open with Stephen Sondheim’s classic musical Into the Woods (June 27-July 6 in the Culbreth Theatre) and will also include the heartwarming and powerful new comedy The Heart Sellers (July 11-20 in the Helms Theatre.) Tickets for the 2025 season are on sale now. Volunteer opportunities are also available this summer, and more information can be found here.

VTF donors provide essential support to the organization, while enjoying exclusive benefits like complimentary tickets, invitations to special events, behind-the-scenes access, and more. For more information on ways to support the upcoming season, visit virginiatheatrefestival.org/support.

For more about the Virginia Theatre Festival and its upcoming 51st season, visit virginiatheatrefestival.org.