Michele Lee is Mame at Pittsburgh CLO

The Pittsburgh CLO is proud to announce the casting of Tony®- and Emmy®-nominated star Michele Lee in the title role of its production of MAME July 8 through 13 at the Benedum Center.

Ms. Lee is known worldwide for her Emmy®-nominated role as Karen Mackenzie in the landmark CBS series "Knots Landing." She was discovered at age of 17 by Broadway producer David Merrick, and achieved national recognition in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Ms. Lee repeated this star-making turn as Rosemary in the subsequent United Artists film. In 1970, she played opposite Dean Jones in the Disney classic "The Love Bug." Michele has starred in and produced numerous films for television, including CBS's Emmy®-nominated "Big Dreams and Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story," "When No One Would Listen," and "Scandalous Me: The Jacqueline Susann Story."

In 1996, Ms. Lee became the first woman to produce, direct, write, and star in a film for television with "Color Me Perfect" for the Lifetime Network. She was last seen in "Along Came Polly," opposite Ben Stiller and Jennifer Aniston. According to The New York Times, ". . . Once (Ms. Lee is) on the stage, it isn't enough to seduce or enlighten; the only goal worth pursuing is total conquest." Additionally, Ms. Lee received Tony® nominations for her performances in the Broadway musicals Seesaw and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife.

First brought to the stage in 1956 by legendary playwrights Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, Mame long has captivated audiences with its story of an eccentric aunt raising her orphaned nephew Patrick through the good, bad and bizarre. The comedy, based on Patrick Dennis' 1954 novel of the same name, features the memorable Jerry Herman score laced with such classics as "Open a New Window," "If He Walked into My Life," "We Need a Little Christmas" and "Mame."

The Pittsburgh CLO production of Mame, sponsored by American Airlines, debuts at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, at the Benedum Center. Mame's Tickets start at just $18.50 and are available online at pittsburghCLO.org, by calling 412-456-6666 or at the Box Office at Theater Square. Groups or 10 or more may call 412-325-1582.