Matthew Passion, a new play (with music) by Phil Hall, begins previews this Thursday, March 29th Off Broadway at American Theatre of Actors' Chernuchin Theatre at 314 West 54th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues. Opening night is Monday, April 2, 2007 at 8PM.
Press notes state, "
Matthew Passion tells the story of the passion of Christ; the story of Matthew Shepard being picked up at a bar in Laramie, Wyoming, beaten and left for dead on a hillside; and the story of a middle-aged HIV positive survivor who has outlived his life expectancy. Although the three stories take place in three different locations, and are thousands of years apart, they all reflect one another and converge in the final scene."
Phil Hall composed the score for
Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and vocally arranged
Sophisticated Ellington at Carnegie Hall for Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops. On Broadway, he conducted
Play Me a Country Song and was associate conductor for the Broadway revival of
Mame, starring
Angela Lansbury. He has been a conductor/musical director at The Kennedy Center, St. Louis MUNY, Michigan Opera Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Atlanta's Theater of the Stars, Houston's Theatre Under The Stars, Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre, Kansas City Starlight and Indianapolis' Starlight Theatre. He also appeared in the
Mira Sorvino-produced,
Griffin Dunne-directed film
Lisa Picard Is Famous.
The cast of Matthew Passion includes Jeff Applegate,
James Royce Edwards (
Altar Boyz), Jimmi Kilduff, Timothy John Mandala, Chad McCallon,
Craig Ramsay, Andrew Redeker, Matt Shepard, Jay Sullivan. There will also be 6 musicians. The show is directed by Steve Stringfellow and features choreography by
Jacob Brent. Scenic design is by
Michael Anania; with costume design by Jimmy Johansmeyer; lighting design by Jerome J. Hoppe, Jr.; sound design by David Ferdinand / One Dream Sound Corporation; photography and poster by David Vance with graphic design/poster by James Donegan; production photos by David Morgan.
Matthew Passion will see a limited run through April 8, Wednesday–Saturday at 8PM; Sunday at 3PM; with special performances this Sunday, April 1 at 7:30PM; opening night Monday, April 2 at 8PM and Saturday, April 7 at 2PM. Tickets are $18 and available by calling SmartTix, (212) 868-4444. For more information, visit
www.matthewpassion.com
