Foster, Opel et al. Lead York Theatre Co. Developmental Readings in Dec.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces casting for four new musicals (The Green Heart, Mr. & Mrs. Broadway, 9 Day Wonder and Amazing Sex), the next offerings in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series. The Green Heart is a special closed reading.

For more information on the Developmental Reading Series, visit: www.yorktheatre.org.

The Green Heart
Book by Charles Busch
Music and Lyrics by Rusty Magee
Based on the Short Story by Jack Ritchie
Thursday, December 2, 2010 • 3 PM

The cast of The Green Heart features Ken Barnett (Wonderful Town), Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show]), Wade Elkins (Follow Me), Tony winner Sutton Foster (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Shrek), Daniel Marcus (Pal Joey), Peter Marinos (The Producers), Marcy McGuigan (Shanghai Moon), Beth Johnson Nicely (Spamalot), Tony nominee Nancy Opel (Urinetown, The Toxic Avenger), Tony nominee Christopher Sieber (Shrek, Spamalot) and Steven Strafford (Spamalot). The reading is directed by Carl Andress (The Divine Sister), with music direction by John McDaniel (Annie Get Your Gun, "The Rosie O'Donnell Show")

In The Green Heart, William Graham, a selfish, egotistical millionaire, discovers that he has run through his entire inheritance. After learning this, he decides to marry an older, wealthy woman who will unwittingly support both himself and his glamorous mistress. Bill subsequently latches onto Henrietta, a hopelessly eccentric professor of botany (and heiress to a large fortune) who he marries, and to his amazement, actually falls in love with.

Mr. & Mrs. Broadway
By Michael E. Dansicker
Tuesday, December 7, 2010 • 3 PM

The cast of Mr. & Mrs. Broadway features Tony nominee Nancy Opel (Urinetown, The Toxic Avenger), Mark Price (Mary Poppins) and Tom Alan Robbins (Is He Dead?). The reading is directed by Tony winner David Zippel (City of Angels), with music direction by Henry Aronson (Rock of Ages).

In October, 2000, a pair of award winning lyricists (now in their eighties) dream of one more "day in the sun" and a final validation of their work - winning one more Tony! However, all of their collaborators are gone; so they decide to team up with a brilliant, young composer (a graduate of NYU's Musical Theatre writing program.) It's a 70-minute send-up of "The Broadway Scene." Old vs. New, Young vs. Old, and Musical Comedy vs. Musical Theatre!

9 Day Wonder
By Stephen Temperley
A new comedy by the creative team responsible for Souvenir.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010 • 3 & 7 PM

9 Day Wonder will be directed by Vivian Metalon, who also directed Souvenir. Cast and the remaining creative team will be announced at a later date.

9 Day Wonder begins in modern day New York City, where William, an academic specializing in Shakespeare's clowns, finds himself lying face down on the carpet, overwhelmed by a massive stroke. In his last moments of consciousness, he seems to become the famous clown, Will Kemp, who danced from Norwich to London in a final act of defiance when Shakespeare dropped him from his company in 1600. Their two lives comes together as Kemp tries to dance his way into immortality and William tries to come to terms with the end of his life.

Amazing Sex
Lyrics by Barry Harman
Music by Keith Herrmann
Thursday, December 16, 2010 • 7 PM

The cast of Amazing Sex features Danette Holden (Shrek), Howard Kaye (Miss Saigon), Michael Marcotte (Encores! Bells are Ringing) and Laiona Michelle (Whatever Man). The reading is directed by Tony nominee Barry Harman (Romance/Romance), with music direction and arrangements by Tony nominee Keith Herrmann (Romance/Romance) and Matt Castle (Company).

A new, sensuous musical revue comprised of 23 original songs and vignettes, Amazing Sex explores adult human sexuality in a manner that viewers have called "witty," "human," "compassionate," "intelligent" and "incredibly funny." Whether it is a suburban housewife timidly considering her first "Threesome," a married couple peeking at their daughter's private "E-Mail," or a full-throated jazz-filled celebration of "Raunchy Music," the score for Amazing Sex tickles the funny bone, caresses the ear and touches the heart.

The York Theatre Company is the only theater in New York City - and one of very few in the world - dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals and preserving neglected, notable shows from the past. Over the past two seasons, York productions and artists have been nominated for a combined 31 Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, AUDELCO and Callaway Awards (and its productions of Yank! A WWII Love Story and Enter Laughing, The Musical have both been announced for Broadway transfers). For over four decades, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and neglected classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on new musicals in its Mainstage Series-most of them world, American, or New York premieres-by some of the field's most esteemed creators, and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers. Over 30 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York premieres as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, and its acclaimed revivals of Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs.

Each year, York's Developmental Reading Series presents between 30 to 40 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors. Reading Series Coordinator Jeff Landsman says, "These readings give writers a unique opportunity to get audience feedback while a show is still in progress." York's Mainstage production, Yank!, as well as past Mainstage productions Souvenir and The Musical of Musicals, The Musical! were first developed in the Developmental Reading Series, where the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Avenue Q also made its first appearances. The Developmental Reading Series is made possible in part by The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

For more information, visit www.yorktheatre.org.

 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos