TheatreworksUSA, "the leading not-for-profit professional theatre for family audiences," will continue its 45th Anniversary season with the New York premiere of Henry and Mudge for a limited engagement at Off-Broadway's Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street), December 13, 2006 through January 20, 2007. Opening night is Sunday, December 17 at 4 p.m.
The New York premiere of Henry and Mudge will star Jennifer Cody (The Pajama Game) as Annie, Patrick Boll (Twentieth Century) as Dad, Joseph A. Morales (Bombay Dreams, Nat'l Tour) as Henry, Joan Hess (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Mom and Todd Buonopane (The 25th Annual…Spelling Bee) as Mudge.
Based on Cynthia Rylant's best-selling picture books about a boy and his lovable 182-pound companion, Henry and Mudge features book and lyrics by Kait Kerrigan and music by Brian Lowdermilk (The Woman Upstairs). It is directed by Peter Flynn and choreographed by Devanand Janki, the team behind TheatreworksUSA's 2004 hit, Junie B. Jones.
"Moving from the city to a new house in the country can be tough. Just ask Henry. He misses Annie, his cousin and best friend, and can't find a playmate in his new neighborhood. Luckily Mom and Dad buy him a great, big, slobberly dog – Mudge – with whom he can share all kinds of adventures. It looks like Henry and Mudge will be best friends forever, until Annie arrives for a visit. Will Annie come between a boy and his dog? Can a kid have two best friends?," as press materials describe the show.
The production features scenic design by Paul Weimer, costume design by Rob Bevenger, lighting design by Jeff Croiter and sound design by Eric Shim. Brian Lowdermilk also provides orchestrations.
Kerrigan and Lowdermilk were awarded the 2006 Jonathan Larson Award. Other New York productions include The Woman Upstairs and Wrong Number, both of which were featured in the New York Musical Theatre Festival (2004, 2005 respectively).
Their latest original musical, The Unauthorized Biography of Samantha Brown, has received a reading in the Artist's Showcase Reading Series at the 92nd Street Y, was featured in the 2005 NAMT Songwriters Showcase, and most recently had a workshop at Manhattan Theatre Club directed by Chris Ashley. They were awarded a 2004-2005 Jonathan Larson Fellowship at the Dramatists Guild and are members of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop.
Tickets for Henry and Mudge are only $25 each, and are now available by visiting or calling www.TicketCentral.com at 212-279-4200. Visit www.theatreworksusa.org for more information.
