Jessica Stone's production of A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum will receive a Friends of Roundabout reading next week.
Jessica Stone, currently performing the role of "Erma" in the Tony Award winning production of Anything Goes, is part of the Roundabout family of artists.
Roundabout's artistic staff saw Jessica's production at Williamstown Theatre Festival and wanted to present her all-male concept to the Friends of Roundabout in this reading setting.
Stone's production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum ran from June 30 - July 11, 2011. The all-male cast was musical directed by Gary Adler (Avenue Q, Altar Boyz), and choreographed by Denis Jones (Legally Blonde, Broadway Bares). The cast was led by Tony nominee Christopher Fitzgerald (Tony nominated for Finian's Rainbow, Wicked) leading the charge as Pseudolus, a slave who must win his freedom by playing matchmaker for his master.
The cast additionally featured Kevin Cahoon (The Who's Tommy, The Lion King), Paul Castree (9 to 5, Young Frankenstein), David Costibile (The Wire, Damages), Zackary Grady (She Stoops to Conquer), Josh Grisetti (Knights of Prosperity, Revolutionary Road), Adam Lerman (She Stoops to Conquer), Chivas Michael (NYU MFA), Bryce Pinkham (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, The Orphan's Home Cycle), Joe Reid (Finian's Rainbow, Curtains), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls, Lovemusik), Jeremy Shamos (Clybourne Park, Reckless), David Turner (Sunday in the Park with George, The Ritz), and John Patrick Walker (Twelfth Night, The Secret Lives of Dentists).
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum features a book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.
No casting has been confirmed for the new Roundabout reading to date.
Roundabout has also had a long relationship with Stephen Sondheim having produced five Tony Award(r) nominated Sondheim revivals including Company (1995), Follies (2001), Tony Award(r) winning Assassins (2004), Pacific Overtures (2004) and Sunday in the Park with George (2008).
Roundabout produces four Friends of Roundabout readings a year. These are private, invitation only events.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos
