Creative Team Announced for Manhattan Concert Productions' TITANIC THE MUSICAL at Avery Fisher Hall - Don Stephenson, Kevin Stites & More

Manhattan Concert Productions presents the second installment of its Broadway Series in 2014 with a concert performance of the Tony Award winning musical, Titanic The Musical, from a Book by Peter Stone and Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston, at renowned Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center on Monday, February 17, 2014.

Manhattan Concert Productions has announced the following additions to the staff for this one-off concert performance in New York City:

Don Stephenson, Stage Director
Don Stephenson directed TITANIC at The Muny Opera in St. Louis, OF MICE AND MANHATTAN at the Millenium Stage at the Kennedy Center,LEND ME A TENOR at the Paper Mill Playhouse, DEATHTRAP, NOISES OFF and THE 39 STEPS at the Flat Rock Playhouse, THE MYSTERY OF KING TUT and SKIPPYJON JONES for Theatreworks/USA, LEND ME A TENOR at Bay Street Theatre, THE WORLD GOES ROUND at Bucks County Playhouse, and TITANIC at The Hangar Theatre. He directed the critically acclaimed productions of OLEANNA, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF, THREE TO GET READY, and the hit musical comedy DOCTORS AND DISEASES at the historic Barter Theatre. His production of DOCTORS AND DISEASESsubsequently moved Off-Broadway to The Players Theatre. Other New York directing credits include BUCK SIMPLE (Garrick Gaities), WHEN PIGS FLY(Kaufman Theatre), GOLDEN VOICES (Symphony Space), OLD FLAMES (Theatre Studio Inc.) and a workshop production of MY TIME OF DAY: THE LETTERS, LYRICS, AND MUSIC OF Frank Loesser. Regionally, Don has directed productions of THE DESPERATE HOURS and THROUGH ALL KINDS OF WEATHER, both at the Clarence Brown Theatre and SLEEPING BEAUTY at American Stage Festival.

Kevin Stites, Music Director
Stites has conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra with Kristin Chenoweth (Hollywood Bowl), LES MISERABLES 25th Anniversary National Tour, and the world premiere of DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY (Yeston, Stone & Meehan). Broadway: SOUTH PACIFIC, TALE OF TWO CITIES, COLOR PURPLE, TITANIC, SUNSET BOULEVARD, CHILDREN AND ART, LES MISERABLES, THREE PENNY OPERA, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, NINE, OKLAHOMA!, ON THE TOWN. National tours: LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, COLOR PURPLE, MARTIN GUERRE, MISS SAIGON, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, LES MISERABLES, TITANIC. Film/Television: ROSIE LIVE!, REEFER MADNESS, LETTERMAN, ROSIE, MACY'S FOURTH OF JULY SPECTACULAR, NBC'S CHRISTMAS AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER, and others. Future projects - BEHIND THE PAINTING (Maltby & Shire), DR. ZHIVAGO (Simon, Korie, Powers & Weller).

Liza Gennaro, choreographer

Shawn Sagady, Projection Designer

Stephen Terry, Lighting Designer

KIMBERLEE E. WINTERS, Assistant Lighting Designer

Narelle Sissons, Set designer

Gary Mickelson, Principal Stage Manager

Lori Amondson, Assistant Stage Manager

Tesley & Company, Casting

The TITANIC chorus will feature almost 250 singers from across the country, accompanied by the professional New York City Chamber Orchestra. The guest musicians will spend four days in New York City rehearsing and working side-by-side with the professional principal cast, as part of Manhattan Concert Productions' continued work bringing professionals and students together. Full cast will be announced soon.

The discovery of the wreckage of the RMS Titanic in 1985 piqued playwright, Maury Yeston's interest in writing a musical about the famous disaster.

"What drew me to the project was the positive aspects of what the ship represented - 1) humankind's striving after great artistic works and similar technological feats, despite the possibility of tragic failure, and 2) the dreams of the passengers on board: 3rd Class, to immigrate to America for a better life; 2nd Class, to live a leisured lifestyle in imitation of the upper classes; 1st Class, to maintain their privileged positions forever. The collision with the iceberg dashed all of these dreams simultaneously, and the subsequent transformation of character of the passengers and crew had, it seemed to me, the potential for great emotional and musical expression onstage".

The sold out performance of Ragtime in February 2013 at Avery Fisher Hall, saw some of Broadway's biggest stars take to the stage. The cast included;

Michael Arden, Phillip Boykin, Kerry Butler, Matt Cavenaugh, Tyne Daly, Jarrod Emick, Manoel Felciano, Dick Latessa, Norm Lewis, Jose Llana, Michael McCormick, Howard McGillin, Patina Miller, Lea Salonga, NaTasha Yvette Williams.

Manhattan Concert Productions will also produce Broadway Classics at Carnegie Hall on Friday, November 29 at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall. Featuring Phillip Boykin, Julia Bullock, Carolee Carmello, and Cheyenne Jackson.

Tickets from just $50 are on sale now.