JMU musical theatre professor casts Off-Broadway show

The arrival of Masquerade, an immersive revival of The Phantom of the Opera, marks a transformative moment in New York’s theater landscape, as well as for JMU’s School of Theatre and Dance faculty, Kate Lumpkin, CSA, and assistant professor of musical theatre, who served as casting director.

Under the direction of Tony Award winner Diane Paulus, Masquerade invites audiences into a multi-layered, immersive Parisian experience that breaks down traditional theater barriers. With its recent sell-out runs, the production has established itself as a landmark event redefining what is theatrically possible in the immersive landscape. 

Lumpkin’s leadership in the rigorous casting process was instrumental to this success. With more than 30 in-person casting sessions and over 3,000 self-tapes reviewed, she sought a diverse array of talent, from traditional musical theater performers to acrobats and movement artists.  

The result is a breathtaking ensemble of 50 performers, including six Phantoms, six Christines, and multiple casts for every principal and ensemble role. Lumpkin’s work balanced legacy talent—Broadway veterans who brought history and gravitas—with bold new voices who embodied the show’s innovative spirit. Her collaborative approach with the creative team ensured that each performer was not only vocally and physically exceptional but also capable of maintaining authenticity and spontaneity within the dynamic demands of the production. Simply put, the success of Masquerade is inseparable from Lumpkin’s expansive and visionary casting process—one that raised the bar for immersive performance and redefined what it means to cast for the future of theater. 

To see more of Lumpkin’s work, check out the upcoming musical at The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts – The Light in the Piazza, directed and choreographed by Kate Lumpkin, on November 5-16, 2025. Tickets can be purchased at https://jmuforbescenter.com/events/2025/11/05-piazza.shtml.