Gina Rattan Helms Reading of David Reiser's New Musical JONI, Starring Christy Altomare, Today

A developmental reading of JONI, a new musical by David Reiser (writer of Any Other Way, Walker in Babylon), will be presented at 4:30PM today, August 25, and tomorrow, August 26, at 1PM at Shetler Studios in Manhattan.

Gina Rattan (Matilda, NBC's Peter Pan) will direct a cast lead by Christy Altomare (Mamma Mia!), who plays the title role of JONI, an eighteen year old idealistic freshman in college still living at home with her widowed father.

Ever since her mother died in a drunk driving accident twelve years ago, JONI has spent her life in the shadow of Dad's overcompensating over-protection and is desperately searching to find her own identity and independence. When the anniversary of her mother's death conflicts with JONI's only chance to get into a sorority, Dad forbids JONI from leaving the house, but JONI steals Dad's car and runs away. Over the course of a wild weekend, JONI must learn the value of home before she finds herself in much deeper trouble on campus than she ever found with her father; and Dad must learn to see relationships in a new way before he loses the only person he has left to love.

The company also includes Kathryn Boswell (Gigi), Preston Truman Boyd (On The Twentieth Century, Bullets Over Broadway), Stephanie Gibson (Cinderella), Isabel Keating (It's Only A Play, Spider-Man), Emily Kron, Michael McCormick (Chaplin, Elf, Curtains), Asa Somers (Next To Normal), Theo Stockman (American Idiot, Hair) and Josh Tolle. Casting by Lindsay Levine/Tara Rubin Casting.

The reading is directed by Gina Rattan (Matilda, NBC's Peter Pan), music directed by Dana Haynes (A Night Like This, Wyatt), produced by Emily Hammond Cook (The Public Theater) with Tony LaPlaca (Disgraced, Beaches) as a Producing Consultant.

A concert of songs from the show will also take place the following evening, Thursday August 27 at 9:30PM at 54 Below. Tickets for the concert available at www.54below.com/artist/the-songs-of-david-reiser.

Request invite for the reading at JONIReadingRSVP@gmail.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride