Author Alan Lightman Set for EINSTEIN'S DREAMS Benefit 2/23

Best-selling author Alan Lightman will be on hand to introduce the cast of Broadway stars -- including John Treacy Egan ("Little Mermaid"), Alison Fraser ("Gypsy"), Kate Shindle ("Legally Blonde"), Amy Justman ("Company"), John Bolton ("Curtains") and Jim Weitzer ("Phantom of the Opera") -- who will perform the new musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS, based on Lightman's best-selling novel, for one performance only on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.) in New York City.

It has also been announced that a limited number of $10 rush tickets will be on sale for all audience members starting at 3 p.m. at the Symphony Space box office on the day of the performance only Monday February 23.

The February 23rd performance of EINSTEIN'S DREAMS will benefit The Harpswell Foundation, an organization created by Lightman in 1999 to provide educational support, housing, and leadership training to young women in the developing world, notably in Cambodia. Harpswell provides a dormitory facility and leadership center for college women in Phnom Penh in an effort to help restore the educational system that was destroyed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. Harpswell has already purchased the land for a second educational facility in Cambodia. (www.harpswellfoundation.org).

Alan Lightman, author of the novel EINSTEIN'S DREAMS will be present at the event to address the audience about The Harpswell Foundation, introduce the musical performance and autograph copies of his book.

EINSTEIN'S DREAMS is a new musical with book by Joanne Sydney Lessner, music by Joshua Rosenblum and lyrics by Joanne Sydney Lessner and Joshua Rosenblum. The February 23rd concert will be directed by Jen Bender. Musical director David Loud leads a six-piece chamber orchestra.

The musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS -- based on Alan Lightman's 1993 best-selling novel which imagines what the physicist may have been dreaming about prior to the publication of his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905 -- finds a young Albert Einstein trapped in an unhappy marriage and an unhappy job well-beneath his intellect. The musical, like the book, places Einstein in a dreamscape that conjures up an array of theoretical realms of time, all of them visions that probe the essence of time, the adventure of creativity, the glory of possibility -- and the siren call of a beautiful, elusive woman named Josette.

Like Mr. Lightman's best-selling novel, the musical EINSTEIN'S DREAMS finds a young Albert Einstein trapped in an unhappy marriage and a job well-beneath his intellect, and imagines what the physicist may have been dreaming about prior to the publication of his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905. The musical places Einstein in a dreamscape that conjures up an array of theoretical realms of time, all of them visions that probe the essence of time, the adventure of creativity, the glory of possibility -- and the siren call of a beautiful, elusive woman named Josette.

This musical adaptation of EINSTEIN'S DREAMS had its world-premiere in 2005 at Lisbon's oldest, most respected theater, Teatro da Trindade.

In her New York Times review of Mr. Lightman's book, "Einstein's Dreams," Michiko Kakutani called the novel, "Whimsical and meditative, playful and provocative, pulling the reader into a dream world like a powerful magnet."

Joshua Rosenblum (Music and Lyrics) is the composer and creator of the smash Off Broadway hit musical revue "Bush is Bad," which spawned two regional companies and was proclaimed "a sensation" by Variety. He is also the composer and co-lyricist of FERMAT'S LAST TANGO and contributed music for THE JOY OF GOING SOMEWHERE DEFINITE (Atlantic Theater Company). He has conducted 13 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows including HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, MISS SAIGON, WONDERFUL TOWN, ANYTHING GOES and FALSETTOS. For the concert Hall he has written pieces for trumpeter Philip Smith of the NY Philharmonic and flutist Kathleen Nnester of the NJ Symphony, among others. Several of his vocal and instrumental works can be heard on the new dc, "Sundry Notes" (Albany Records).

The musical's librettist and co-lyricist Joanne Sydney Lessner is the librettist of the cult hit musical FERMAT's LAST TANGO, which had its Off-Broadway premiere at the York Theatre Company in November 2000 and recently had its European debut in Lisbon. Other projects include: CROSSING LINES, chosen for the O'Neill Playwrights Conference; CHESS SET (Drama Dept.); CRITICAL MASS, a play about music critics; and FIVE STARS, a one-act musical (York Theatre). As an actress she has appeared on Broadway in CYRANO: THE MUSICAL, and Off-Broadway in COMPANY, ROMEO AND JULIET and THAT'S LIFE!

Musical director David Loud was music director on Broadway for CURTAINS, RAGTIME, STEEL PIER, A CLASS ACT, THE LOOK OF LOVE and the revivals of SHE LOVES ME, COMPANY, THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE and SWEENEY TODD. Off-B'way, He created the vocal and dance arrangements for AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND.

Director Jen Bender is currently the Resident Director for THE LION KING on Broadway. She was the Assistant Director on Broadway for AVENUE Q, THE WEDDING SINGER, and STEEL MAGNOLIAS. Other credits include City Center Encores!, Roundabout, Birdland, Carnegie Hall. Jen is a founder of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Kate Shindle was last seen on Broadway as Vivienne in LEGALLY BLONDE. Additional Broadway credits include: CABARET (Sally Bowles) and JEKYLL &HYDE (Lucy). Other NYC credits include: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Helena), THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS and the World AIDS Day Concerts of CHILDREN OF EDEN, PIPPIN and THE SECRET GARDEN. Kate recently wrote her first novel ("Crown Chasers"), and was crowned Miss America in 1998.

Alison Fraser recently ended her role as Tessie Tura in the critically acclaimed revival or GYPSY opposite Patti LuPone. Other Broadway credits include: THE SECRET GARDEN (Tony and Drama Desk nomination), ROMANCE/ROMANCE (Tony nomination), TARTUFFE: BORN AGAIN, and THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD.

John Treacy Egan is currently appearing in the role of "Chef Louis" on Broadway in LITTLE MERMAID and has previously appeared as "Max Bialystock" in THE PRODUCERS on Broadway. Off-Broadway, John created roles in Howard Crabtree's WHEN PIGS FLY!, and was also an original cast member of BATBOY, THE MUSICAL. He can be seen in the upcoming film LAST NIGHT with Keira Knightley and Eva Mendes, and the film version of THE PRODUCERS. 

The Harpswell Foundation is an American-based 501c3 tax-exempt organization. In May of 2007, the Foundation became an officially registered Nongovernmental Organization (NG) in Cambodia.

Tickets to the benefit concert performance of EINSTEIN'S DREAMS range in price from $21-$61-$101 (includes a facility fee) and can be reserved by calling Box Office: 212-864-5400 or going online: http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/2823-einsteins-dreams-the-musical. Rush tickets for EINSTEIN'S DREAMS will be available for $10, on sale only during the day of performance on Feb. 23 starting at 3 p.m.

For more information about the musical, visit www.einsteinsdreamsthemusical.com

EINSTEIN'S DREAMS was originally commissioned by Brian Schwartz and Linda B. Merman on behalf of the Martin E. Segal Theatre Center of The Graduate Center of the City University of New York.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.