Emily Padgett, Donna Bullock, et al. Set for BEYOND THE MUSIC Reading Today

Beyond the Music, a new musical with book and direction by Tony Award winner Andy Sandberg (Hair; The Last Smoker in America) and music by 13­-time Emmy Award winner Cliff Downs and Katie Kahanovitz,  will  have  an  invitation­-only  reading  in  New  York  today.

The cast will feature Donna Bullock (A Perfect Future; Ragtime; A Class Act), Andy Kelso (Mamma Mia), Emily Padgett (Rock of Ages; Grease), Barry Pearl (Baby It’s You; “Grease”), Saycon Sengbloh  (Fela; Hair), and Nick Spangler (The Book of Mormon), with Eric Anderson (South Pacific), Shelby Bartelstein, Jarid Faubel (Perfect Harmony), David McDonald (Mamma Mia), Kathleen Rooney, Laura L. Thomas,  Barrett  Wilbert  Weed,  and  Alex  Wyse  (Lysistrata  Jones).      

Music direction is by   Fred Lassen (South Pacific; Adrift in Macao).   Casting is by Michael  Cassara, CSA. The  stage  manager  for  the reading  is  Ashley  Rodbro.        

Beyond the Music follows the journey of Casey, a fast­-rising singer/songwriter, as she struggles to make her way in the music business.  

Sacrificing her personal life for her career, Casey is finally making the right connections and paving her way to the top.   She is on the verge of her  first  break  –  or  so  she  thinks.    When  she  is  betrayed  by  those  she  trusts  most  in the music industry,   Casey finds herself on a downward spiral.  

Now, in order to get back  on  track,  she  must  reconnect  with  those  she  left  behind  –  recognizing  the  value of her relationships.   Taking a look at the darker side of the music business by exploring themes of jealously, love, and betrayal, Beyond the Music is an inspiring story  about  finding  oneself  and  overcoming  the  odds  to  achieve  a  dream.