'Beautiful' Play, with Rubin-Vega, Starts Off-Bway July 17

The New Group will present the final production of its 2005-2006 mainstage season, Everythings Turning Into Beautiful, from Monday, July 17 – Saturday , September 2 at The New Group at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).  Opening night is set for Thursday, August 3rd at 7 PM.

Everythings Turning Into Beautiful, a new play with music written by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld with songs by Jimmie James, will star Tony Award-nominee Daphne Rubin-Vega (Bernarda Alba, Anna in the Tropics, Rent) and Malik Yoba (founder of Malik Yoba National Theatre Company, films such as Cool Runnings).  Carl Forsman, the Artistic Director of the Keen Company, directs. 

"Everythings Turning Into Beautiful takes place late one Christmas Eve in lonely New York City, when a couple of down-on-their-luck songwriting partners, hitless, loveless and facing their forties, come together for a night of composing and soul searching," state press notes.

Rosenfeld's plays include The Writing on the Wall, The Blackeyed Brothers, A Brother's Kiss, After the Marching Stopped and The Flatted Fifth, while films include Sunset Park and King of the Jungle. 

Over the past fifteen years, New York-based singer/songwriter James has played gigs at venues including Siné, CBGB's 313 Gallery, Fez, The Knitting Factory, The Mercury Lounge and most recently the Living Room.  His self-titled debut CD was released in 1999.  He has also performed in theatre.
  
Everythings Turning Into Beautiful features set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Theresa Squire, lighting design by Josh Bradford and sound design by Daniel Baker.

The New Group previously announced that the first show of its 2006-2007 season will be The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Jay Presson Allen, starring Cynthia Nixon and directed by Scott Elliott (performances begin in September).
 
Everythings Turning Into Beautiful will play as follows: Monday–Friday @ 8:00 PM, Saturday at 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM (no performances on July 20, July 21 & July 22).  Tickets are $51.25 and can be arranged through Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com.  For more info, visit www.TheNewGroup.org.