Henry, Sweet Henry set for "Musicals in Mufti" Presentation

The York Theatre Company presents five staged concert performances of Henry , Sweet Henry by Bob Merrill and Nunnally Johnson on October 8 – 10, as the opening presentation of its Fall 2004 Musicals in Mufti series, at the company's home at Saint Peter's, Citigroup Center, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54^th Street. Henry, Sweet Henry features Matthew Arkin, Kaitlin Hopkins, Mark Nelson and Miriam Shor, and will be presented on Friday, October 8 at 8:00 pm, Saturday, April 3 at 2:30 pm and 8:00 pm and Sunday, April 4 at 2:30 and 7:30pm.

Henry, Sweet Henry opened in 1967, following such hit Bob Merrill musicals as Carnival! and Funny Girl. The sprightly, pop-influenced score musicalizes Nora Johnson's The World of Henry Orient, a novel about two teenage girls and their obsession with an avant-garde composer. Starring Don Ameche, the original production featured choreography by a young Michael Bennett, dance arrangements by Marvin Hamlisch and Billy Goldenberg, and direction by George Roy Hill. The cast featured Alice Playten and Neva Small; Louise Lasser and Pia Zadora were cast in small roles. Henry, Sweet Henry will be directed by Gordon Greenberg with musical direction by David Kirshenbaum. Performances are Friday, October 8 at 8 pm., Saturday, October 9 at 2:30 and 8 pm., and Sunday, October 10 at 2:30 and 7:30 pm. Audience discussions follow each matinee.

The cast of Henry, Sweet Henry is: Mark Nelson (Henry Orient), Kaitlin Hopkins (Mrs. Boyd), Matthew Arkin (Mr. Boyd), Anne Letscher (Valerie), Katie Adams (Gil), Sara Inbar (Kafritz), Miriam Shor (Stella/Mrs.Cooney/Mrs. Gilbert), and in the ensemble: Cathryn Basile, Alexis Grausz, Lexy Fridell, Gwen Hollander, Lauren Molina, Roland Rusinek.

Now beginning its 36^th season, The York Theatre Company is the only theatre 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. For over three 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. More than 20 cast recordings from York Theatre productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York productions as Jolson & Company, Sweeney Todd, and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs. Its recent hit, The Musical of Musicals – The Musical!, was developed in the York Theatre Company's Developmental Reading Series, where the current Tony Award-winning hit Avenue Q, also started.

Tickets for all shows are available at SmartTix.com, (212) 868-4444. All tickets are $35; a 3-show Mufti subscription is available for $90 (use code "3 Mufti"). Tickets are also available in person at the York box office on the lower level of Saint Peter's at 54^th and Lexington. For more information, visit www.yorktheatre.org.