Write Act Repertory's Producing Artistic Director John Lant will present the East Coast premiere of PILLARS OF NEW YORK, a new musical with book, lyrics and music by Michael Antin, and directed by Jim Blanchette.
The production will preview on Wednesday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m. and open on Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. Performances then run Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. from July 13 through September 7 at
St. Luke's Theatre, located at 308 West 46th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues). Tickets cost between $39 and $99 and can be purchased through Telecharge.com or by calling
(212) 239-6200.
PILLARS OF NEW YORK is the story of four couples' struggles in and around the events surrounding the 9-11 tragedy. As the recovery happens, mentally and physically for the couples, therapist and author Jake Kelly evaluates his own personal loss and mortality as he explores other sides to their stories. These stories being the fabric of the true Pillars of New York that make up the tapestry of unwavering human condition through tragedy and triumph.
The critically acclaimed Los Angeles production of the musical was nominated for three Valley Awards (Best Play or Musical; Best Director: Play or Musical; and Best Lead Actor: Play or Musical). PILLARS OF NEW YORK has been praised as being "a fascinating often riveting musical" (The Examiner - Los Angeles), "smart, witty, bold and relatable" (
Diane Williams - Noho Arts), and "a gem" (Rich Borowy), with a cast who are "excellent in their vocal presentations" (Tolucan Times).
Michael Antin's (Book, Music and Lyrics) previous works includes Answer the Call (Co-Book, Music, Lyrics), a musical comedy about a young boy discovering his family's history through music and the storytelling of his grandfather previously produced at Hollywood Court Theatre, Butterfly (Book, Music & Lyrics), a musical about overcoming tragedy and Sophia (Music and Lyrics), A musical comedy about the Beautiful Woman Syndrome and the Inviable Man and Renewal (Book, Music and Lyrics), a musical comedy about finding the strength and perseverance over tragedy to start anew. Michael returned to his first love of music after a 45 year career as a tax lawyer. He has also spent time as Visiting Professor of law, at Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California Berkeley, and in numerous countries of central Europe.
Director
Jim Blanchette recently helmed productions of Renewal and the critically acclaimed world-premiere and the subsequent remount of
The Devil's Bride for Write Act Repertory Theatre. He has directed Power in the Blood, the critically acclaimed hit for the award winning Alliance Repertory Company, The Table of the Heart by Joan Kessler, Andrew Moore's Three Small People in Very Big Shoes at Theatre Unleashed in Los Angeles, Martini Shots at the Matrix Theatre,
Paul Casey's An Evening for the Dear Departed at the Jewel Box Theatre Center and he was the co-director of The Last Laugh, the story of the infamous trial of Fatty Arbuckle. Other directing credits include GBLT: Gays, Bacon, Lettuce and Tomatoes and Patriotism Unleashed and an original version of "Peter Pan and The Magic". Jim also directed the entire first season of the web series "Misadventures in Matchmaking" starring Bodhi Elfman. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University.
Featured in the cast are Nikki Casseri,
Audrey Federici,
Laura Kaldis, Tyler Knauf, Alex Lamb, April Leonhard,
Max Meyers, Georgia Sackler, Cruz Santiago,
Brandon Schraml, and Jack Utrata.
The creative team includes Rocco Vitacco (Musical Direction and Arrangements), SKS Theatrical (Marketing and Promotions), John B. Forbes (Lighting Design), and Tim Secrest (AV & Visual Design), Hunter Dowell (Costume Design), Jessica and
Jennifer Davison (Sound Design),
Megan Parker (Set Design), Casting by Tamra Pica Casting.
John Lant (Executive Producer) is a 35-year veteran in the entertainment industry and has been involved in over five hundred television, film, music touring artists, theatrical productions and currently works at
Carnegie Hall. He is award-winning producer, director, writer, lighting and set designer, whose works have garnering DramaLogue Awards, Diamond Awards, a ADA Award as well as LA Weekly, Garland, ADA, NAACP, Ethel Casey nominations and LA Weekly and Backstage Picks of the Week. He recently finished producing Renewal and Pillars of New York in LA, garnering 1 win and 7 nominations for the 2016 Valley
Theatre League Awards. His 30 week off-Broadway production of FABULOUS! The Queen of Musicals! is licensed and his next feature film project "ZOMBIES vs. CANNIBALS" is now being written with
Jim Blanchette. John has also worked with
Jonathan Sanger at Chanticleer Films, on two shorts that won an Emmy and an Oscar, Filmmaker Casey Lynn De Stefano, and mentor
Howard Storm at CBS Radford 2-Year Directing Program.
Jessimeg Productions -
Edmund Gaynes (General Management) in association with Christine Evans, serves as the general manager of the current and recent Off-Broadway hits Ruthless! Cougar the Musical, Black Angels Over Tuskegee, Mighty Real: A Fabulous Sylvester Musical, Fried Chicken and Latkes, The Wonderful Wizard of Song,
The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of
Bessie Smith, Zero Hour, Danny and Sylvia: The
Danny Kaye Musical and Dietrich and Chevalier. Other Off-Broadway productions include Lansky, The Rise of
Dorothy Hale, One Night with
Fanny Brice, Don't Leave it All to Your Children, The Big Voice: God or Merman?,
Emily Mann's Annulla, A Brush with Georgia O'Keeffe, The Man in Room 306, Not Quite an Ingenue, Fabulous Divas of Broadway, Panache, Chaim's Love Song, Matty: An Evening with
Christy Mathewson, Einstein: A Stage Portrait and Bein' With Behan.
Jessimeg Productions also is general manager of
St. Luke's Theatre and Actors Temple Theatre in the Midtown Theatre District. ;
St. Luke's Theatre is home to many long-running hits, dating back to Late Night Catechism and Tony n' Tina's Wedding, both of which ran here for five years, up to the current Black Angels Over Tuskegee, now in its seventh year, Sistas: The Musical and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, both of which have been running for over four years. Other notable productions include, Ruthless! The Musical (one year and counting), Danny and Sylvia: The
Danny Kaye Musical (3 year run), Dietrich and Chevalier: A Musical Love Story, The Rise of
Dorothy Hale, ABrush With Georgia O'Keeffe, Lansky, 25 Questions for a Jewish Mother and Disaster!, prior to its transfer to Broadway. ;
St. Luke's Theatre and Actors Temple Theatre are both operated by
Edmund Gaynes.
www.stlukestheatre.com
