Birch and Simon Set for Final 'LoveMusik' After Words

Manhattan Theatre Club will host the season's final edition of their successful new discussion series "After Words: LoveMusik" on Saturday, June 23 at the Biltmore Theatre (261 West 47th Street). The featured guests will be choreographer Patricia Birch who provided the musical staging for LoveMusik, and Bloomberg chief theatre critic John Simon. The discussion will be moderated by David Shookhoff, MTC's Director of Education.

After Words launched earlier this year during the Tony-nominated run of Brian Friel's Translations. The discussion series will resume this fall at the Biltmore Theatre when MTC presents its next production, the New York premiere of Theresa Rebeck's Mauritius.

"After Words is part of MTC's continuing effort to deepen and enrich the theatre-going experience for its audiences. This exciting series of talks with writers, cultural critics, journalists, and MTC artists provides provocative and illuminating insights into the political, cultural, and artistic contexts of the work MTC produces at the Biltmore Theatre," state press notes.

After Words guests have included award winning Irish writer Nuala O'Faolain; author, actor, columnist, and politician Malachy McCourt; New Yorker music critic Alex Ross; and The Village Voice's chief theatre critic Michael Feingold. These experts have engaged in enlightening and energetic discussions with MTC artists such as Translations director, and Tony Award winner Garry Hynes; David Pittu, a Tony nominee for LoveMusik; and LoveMusik set designer Beowulf Boritt.

"The series has proven popular with theatergoers and participating artists alike. Since the launch of the series in January, organizers have reported a sizable increase in audience members remaining after the performance to attend 'After Words' when compared to the traditional talkbacks. Audience members have reacted enthusiastically to the new discussion series.

In addition to being successful with theatergoers, the discussion series has proven popular with MTC artists. The artists participating in the event have reported the discussions to be intellectually gratifying, delving into many topics not typically addressed in a traditional post-show talkback. In addition, MTC artists have attended 'After Words' for their own enrichment. Several times throughout the run of LoveMusik, Tony winner Michael Cerveris has joined the audience at the Biltmore Theatre to listen to the post-show discussion.

There are two remaining opportunities to attend "After Words: LoveMusik" at the Biltmore Theatre:

June 16 Post-Matinee – Michael Barrett, co-founder and co-artistic director of the acclaimed New York Festival of Song, and Herndon Lackey, LoveMusik cast member.

June 23 Post-Matinee – Patricia Birch, Tony-nominated choreographer who provided the musical staging for LoveMusik and Bloomberg chief theatre critic John Simon.

In addition, podcasts of "After Words" are available free of charge. To hear samples or to subscribe to the podcast, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.

Tickets to LoveMusik are available by calling Telecharge.com at (212) 239-6200, (800) 432-7250 outside the NY metro area, online at www.Telecharge.com, and at the Biltmore Theatre box office (261 West 47th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue). Tickets range in price from $76.25 - $101.25.