Graham Rowat Joins York Theatre Company's THE SHOW GOES ON, 3/16-18

York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), celebrating the legendary librettist and lyricist Tom Jones with Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival, has announced that Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls) will join previously announced Tom Jones (The Fantasticks), Stephanie Umoh (Ragtime, York's Falling for Eve) and Susan Watson (Follies) in the series opener, The Show Goes On, a portfolio of theater songs by Mr. Jones and his longtime collaborator Harvey Schmidt directed by Pamela Hunt.

The limited engagement will play 5 performances March 16-18. at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's on 54th St, just east of Lexington Avenue. Musicals in Mufti will continue with Roadside (March 30 – April 1), Harold and Maude (April 13-15), Colette Collage (April 27-29), and The Game of Love (May 11-13).

York's acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances has presented over 80 shows from the past in simply-staged concert format. Mufti means: "in street clothes," without the trappings associated with the original productions.

"We are thrilled and excited to showcase the works of our dear friend, Tom Jones, who has given us so many significant musical theater gems," said York Theatre's James Morgan. "This year we thought we would once again present a series honoring a single writer, but present more shows than we ever have before because Tom's body of work is so rich. It's a celebration I think everyone will enjoy. It's also noteworthy that three of these shows had their premieres at York."

The performance schedule for each presentation is: Fridays at 8:00 p.m., *Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and *Sundays at 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. (*Talkbacks follow all matinee performances).

Tickets are priced at $39.50 and are available online at www.yorktheatre.org, by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's (enter on 54th Street, just East of Lexington), Monday through Friday (12-6 PM). A special 5-show package is available at $150 and includes an invitation to Story by Story: A Conversation with Tom Jones on Wednesday, April 4th (normally $24.50).

Spring 2012 Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Series schedule is as follows:

The Show Goes On
A Portfolio of Theater Songs by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt
Directed by Pamela Hunt
Music Direction by Michael Rice
Featuring Tom Jones, Graham Rowat, Stephanie Umoh and Susan Watson
March 16-18

The Show Goes On is a portfolio of theatre songs from Tom Jones and longtime collaborator Harvey Schmidt, featuring music from timeless classics such as The Fantasticks, 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Celebration, and many more. In a rare treat, Tom Jones himself will guide us through the onstage revels, along with Broadway's Susan Watson, fresh from the hit revival of Follies. You can "try to remember" a more robust and entertaining evening of song... but this is the real thing.

Roadside
Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones
Music by Harvey Schmidt
Directed by David Glenn Armstrong
March 30 - April 1

Roadside is a melodic, rip-roaring musical based on a play by Lynn Riggs, whose Green Grow the Lilacs became Oklahoma! Roadside is a Southwestern love story of mythic proportions about two kissin', punchin', cussin', larger-than-life characters who refuse to settle down and be "house-broke" by the arrival of fences and laws. Premiered at the York in 2001.

ONE-NIGHT ONLY SPECIAL EVENT
Story by Story: A Conversation with Tom Jones
Wednesday, April 4 at 7:00 p.m.

Harold and Maude
Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones
Music by Joseph Thalken (Songs from an Unmade Bed)
Based on the screenplay by Colin Higgins
Directed by Carl Andress (The Divine Sister)
April 13-15

The musical adaptation of the 1971 cult-classic film Harold and Maude comes to life on the York stage in a new version by Jones and Thalken. In what some call the quintessential May-December romance, death-obsessed teenager, Harold, meets Maude, 79, at a funeral and thus begins one of the most unusual, yet truly touching romantic sagas in American pop-culture history.

The joys, fears and loves of the celebrated French writer Colette are at the center of the poignant and insightful Colette Collage. Sensual, witty and entirely unconventional, this intimate, highly theatrical musical captures the essence of one of the most liberated women of all time. The life of the legendary author unfolds over a period of sixty years in this classic bio-musical from Jones and Schmidt, which premiered Off-Broadway at the York in 1983.

The Game of Love
Book and Lyrics by Tom Jones
Music by Jacques Offenbach
With Arrangements and Additional Music by Nancy Ford
Based on The Anatol Plays by Arthur Schnitzler
Directed by West Hyler
Music Direction by Nancy Ford
May 11-13

With book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by classical composer Jacques Offenbach, and arrangements and additional music by Nancy Ford (I'm Getting My Act Together…), The Game of Love is based The Anatol Plays by Arthur Schnitzler. This deliciously romantic musical about the frivolities and foibles of love takes place in 19th-century Vienna. At the center of the piece is Anatol, a playful Lothario, whose rendezvous with five unique women unfold over the course of this sensuous, melodic romp. New York premiere!

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 19 Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Off Broadway Alliance, AUDELCO and Callaway Awards (and its productions of Yank! A WWII Love Story and Enter Laughing, The Musical have both been announced for Broadway). 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 Producing 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 35 cast recordings from The 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.

For more information, please visit www.yorktheatre.org.