Huffman and Glynn to Star in Pure Country Musical Reading

Tony Award-winners Carlin Glynn (The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Trip to Bountiful - film) and Cady Huffman (The Producers, Steel Pier, The Will Rogers Follies) will appear in two readings of Pure Country, a new musical, which will be presented September 25th and 26th at 3pm at Roy Arias Studios in The Times Square Arts Center (300 West 43rd  Street, 5th Floor, NYC).

Pure Country (adapted from the 1992 Warner Brothers movie of the same name starring George Strait and Lesley Ann Warren) "tells the story of country music superstar Del Hubbard (known to his fans simply as 'Rusty') who is cracking from the pressure of the endless show business grind.  Then one day, something snaps, and Rusty 'takes a walk,' ditching his fans, fortune and career – to return to his Texas stompin' grounds, hoping to find the kind of life he'd only sung about," state press notes.

The soundtrack remains George Strait's best-selling recording, which includes two Top Ten Hits, "Heartland" and "I Cross My Heart."  More than 7 million copies of the CD and more than 2 million videos have been sold.

The book of the musical is by Rex McGee (based on his screenplay) and Peter Masterson.  Music is by Steve Dorff, who has been nominated for 3 Grammy Awards and 5 Emmy Awards.  Additionally, Dorff has written nine #1 songs, including Kenny Rogers' "Through the Years" and songs for Celine Dion, Barbra Streisand, George Strait, and Whitney Houston, among others.  Lyrics are by John Bettis, nominated 3 times for a Grammy, 2 times for an Emmy, and once each for a Golden Globe and an Oscar.  Bettis was an original producer and writer for The Carpenters and has written for a wide variety of artists including Madonna, Celine Dion, Conway Twitty, and Michael Jackson.

The reading will be directed by Peter Masterson, writer and director of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, whose directing credits also include the film The Trip to Bountiful. Starring with Glynn and Huffman will be Jay Montgomery (Falsettos), Julie Foldesi (Little Women, The Full Monty), James Moye (Urinetown, The Full Monty), and Danny Rutigliano (The Lion King, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public).  The cast also includes Darrel Blackburn, Heather Hawkins, Nicolette Hart, Ryan Link, Zachary Prince and Hollis Scarborough.

The readings are presented and produced by Chris Presley and Ellen Rusconi.  Casting is by Stephen DeAngelis, and musical direction is by Eugene Gwozdz.

For information, please call Ellen Rusconi or Chris Presley at (646) 205-1618 or email purecountry@stimpson.com