'Sessions' Cast to Present Post-Show Benefit Concert, 8/5

On Sunday, August 5, Algonquin Theater Productions and Ten Grand Productions, Inc. will present a special post-show benefit concert at featuring the cast of the Off-Broadway musical Sessions.  From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the cast will perform a concert set at Therapy (348 W. 52nd St.).  

Camp Happy Times is "a free one week overnight camp experience for children aged 5-21 who have or have had cancer. Nearly 200 children each summer attend Camp Happy Times located on the two hundred acre Tyler Hill Camp in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. Tyler Hill is fully accredited by the American Camping Association and Camp Happy Times is a proud member of the International Children's Oncology Camping Association," state press notes.  

A new musical by Albert Tapper, Sessions is currently enjoying a limited engagement at Off-Broadway's Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 W. 42nd St.) on Theatre Row, through Saturday, August 25.

"Dr. Peter Peterson listens, advises and tests his patients. What good therapist wouldn't? At once a drama and a comedy with poignant and hilarious moments alike, Sessions is a new musical for a modern generation. After all, couldn't we all use a little therapy?," state press materials.

The production features book, music and lyrics by Albert Tapper, best known within the theatre industry as the producer of Rick McKay's acclaimed 2004 documentary Broadway: The Golden Age. Tapper also penned two other Off-Broadway musicals in recent years: Imperfect Chemistry (Minetta Lane Theatre, 2000) and From Where I Stand (Laurie Beechman Theatre, 2003).

Directed by Steven Petrillo, the show stars Bertilla Baker (Titanic) as Mrs. Murphy, Amy Bodnar (Oklahoma!) as Leila, Al Bundonis (Ragtime, Nat'l Tour) as Baxter, David Reiser (Good Vibrations) as Dylan, Scott Richard Foster (Brooklyn the Musical) as Preston, Jim Madden (Hello, Dolly!) as Mr. Murphy, Kelli Maguire (A Wonderful Life) as Sunshine, Trisha Rapier (The Boy from Oz) as Mary, Matthew Shepard (Beauty and the Beast) as Dr. Peter Peterson and Ed Reynolds Young (Chapter Two) as The Voice.

The musical features musical arrangement, orchestrations and musical supervision by Steven Gross (Pirates of Penzance), scenic and costume design by Peter J. Barbieri Jr., lighting design by Deborah E. Constantine and sound design by Wallace J. Flores.

Beginning Wednesday, May 30, Sessions will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

Tickets for Sessions are $50 each and are now available by calling TicketCentral.com at 212-279-4200.  Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater box office (416 W. 42nd St.).  Box office hours are noon to 8 p.m. daily.

Tickets for the benefit concert are $50 each – which includes an open bar, light dinner fare and the performance – and all proceeds benefit Camp Happy Times.  To make a reservation, please call Algonquin Productions at 212-730-4664.  Tickets can be purchased at the door by cash or check.

For more information, visit www.sessionsthemusical.com.