Rachel York to Play Cruella de Vil in The 101 Dalmatians Musical

Broadway vet Rachel York has signed on to play Cruella de Vil in The 101 Dalmatians Musical, which will kick off a North American tour on October 13 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis. The new show will feature music by Dennis DeYoung, founding member of the rock band STYX, lyrics by DeYoung and BT McNicholl and a book by McNicholl. Four-time Tony Award winner Jerry Zaks is set to direct.

Based on the 1956 classic story written by Dodie Smith, The 101 Dalmatians Musical follows canine spouses Pongo and Missis Pongo who are living the good life in London with their “pets” Charles and Catherine Dearly. When their 10 puppies are suddenly “dognapped” by the villainous Cruella de Vil, the Dalmatian parents summon the help of a vast network of dogs and set off to rescue their pups.

A previous announcement explained that the musical, which has no relationship with the Disney movie, will be told from a dog’s point of view, with humans “presented in a heightened form of dress and scale so as to appear larger than life.” The grand finale will feature 15 live Dalmatians.

A Drama Desk Award winner for Victor/Victoria, York has appeared on Broadway in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Sly Fox, The Scarlet Pimpernel, City of Angels and Les Miserables and off-Broadway in Dessa Rose and Putting It Together. Last season, she co-starred with Jeff Daniels in Tommy Tune’s production of Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. On the small screen, York played Lucille Ball in the CBS-TV movie Lucy.

The 101 Dalmatians Musical is being produced by Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions, Troika General Management and Luis Alvarez.