UnsungMusicalsCo. is proud to announce the development of a new production of How Now, Dow Jones (www.HowNowDowJones.com) starring Sarah Litzsinger (Beauty and the Beast), Colin Hanlon (Rent) and FrEd Berman (The Normal Heart). With book by Max Shulman, music by Academy Award winner Elmer Bernstein and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Carolyn Leigh, this newly revised version will be presented as part of the 2009 New York International Fringe Festival.
How Now, Dow Jones is a zany 1968 musical comedy that follows Kate, the voice of Dow Jones, whose fiancé won't marry her until the Dow Jones Averages hit 1,000! Bribery, adultery and neurotic Republicans are abound in this madcap and timely tale set in the heart of Wall Street.
As revised and directed by Ben West (Old Acquaintance), this new version will be performed without an intermission by a cast of eight. The Tony-nominated score will feature three new songs: "Don't Let a Good Thing Get Away", "Where You Are" and "Touch and Go"; all cut from the original Broadway production. Additionally, four major roles and The Ensemble have been eliminated while five musical numbers have been cut.
The production also stars Shane Bland (Bombay Dreams), Dennis O'Bannion (White Christmas), Elon Rutberg (The Black Monk) and Cori Silberman (Movie Geek) with choreography by Rommy Sandhu (Applause, Mary Poppins) and music direction and arrangements by Fran Minarik (Sessions, The J.A.P. Show). Chris Aniello (Fela!) is the general manager.
Dates for this developmental Fringe Festival production will be announced shortly. Tickets are available starting July 24 by visiting www.FringeNYC.org or calling 866-468-7619. Visit: www.HowNowDowJones.com. The Fringe Festival runs August 14 - 30.
The original Broadway production of How Now, Dow Jones opened on December 7, 1967 starring Tony Roberts, Marlyn Mason and Brenda Vaccaro. The David Merrick production was directed by George Abbott with choreography by Gillian Lynne (and an uncredited Michael Bennett). It played 220 performances and was nominated for six Tony Awards including Best Musical, winning one for co-star Hiram Sherman. The musical, originally presented with a cast of over 40 actors, has been rarely performed since.
Sarah Litzsinger is Broadway's longest running Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast. Other Broadway credits include Marilyn: An American Fable, Oliver! (Bet), Les Miserables (Eponine/Cosette) and Amour (Madeleine). Sarah also played Eva Peron in the 25th anniversary tour of Evita and starred as the Narrator opposite Donny Osmond in Joseph...Dreamcoat (the Canadian Company). Some of her other favorite roles are: Cathy in The Last 5 Years, Susan in Tick, Tick...Boom!, and Cordelia in Falsettos (George Street Playhouse). Sarah is also the recipient of the 2007 Breakout Award at the HBO Aspen comedy Festival (for her comedy act she wrote and starred in with partner, Kate Reinders). She also performed this act at the TBS Comedy Festival at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas in 2008.
