Jackson, DeLaria, Strouse, Etc. Set for York's 'Superman'

The York Theatre Company has announced casting for It's a Bird...It's a Plane…It's Superman, the first of the four shows in York's Summer 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series -- the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances. It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's Superman will play June 15, 16 and 17 at the Theatre at Saint Peter's (54th Street, Just East of Lexington Ave).

It's a Bird…It's A Plane…It's Superman will feature: Shoshana Bean (Wicked), Stan Chandler (Forever Plaid), Lea DeLaria (On The Town), Scot Federly, Rachel Jones (Meet Me in St. Louis), Jean Louisa Kelly ("Yes Dear"), Cheyenne Jackson (All Shook Up), Amy Ryder (Damn Yankees), Michael Winther (Mamma Mia!), Katherine Von Till (Sunday in the Park With George, Reprise) and composer Charles Strouse in the role of Perry White. Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid, Radiant Baby) directs.

Shoshana Bean, Stan Chandler, Cheyenne Jackson, Jean Louisa Kelly, Amy Ryder and Katherine Von Till will be coming together again after having recently performed in the It's a Bird..It's a Plane…It's Superman concert on May 14th for Reprise's Marvelous Musical Mondays at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. That production was also directed by Stuart Ross.

It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's Superman has music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, whose collaborations include Bye Bye Birdie and Applause, and a book by David Newman and Robert Benton (who would later collaborate on the scripts for the Christopher Reeve Superman movies). The show is a musical comedy that was conceived after the success of the TV series. The musical's plot has the Man of Steel (Jackson) facing a mad scientist (DeLaria) and an evil newsman while fighting for both the hand of Lois Lane (Kelly) and with his own personal self-esteem demons. It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's Superman opened on Broadway at The Alvin Theatre in March, 1966 and ran for 129 performances. Directed by Harold Prince, the show starred Jack Cassidy, Bob Holiday, Patricia Marand and Linda Lavin.

Following It's a Bird…It's a Plane…It's a Superman, the Musicals in Mufti lineup is as follows: I and Albert will run June 29-July 1 and will be directed by Michael Montel (Take Me Along). Bajour will run July 13-15, also directed by Stuart Ross and The Day Before Spring will run July 27-29 and will be directed by David Glenn Armstrong ((Mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story, Plain and Fancy). All shows will play five performances: Friday at 8 pm, Saturday at 2:30 pm & 8 pm, and Sunday at 2:30 pm & 7:30 pm. Audience discussions will follow both matinees.

For ticket information, visit www.yorktheatre.org or call 212-935-5820.  The York Theatre Company is located in Saint Peter's Theatre, 54th Street Just East of Lexington.

Photo of Cheyenne Jackson by Linda Lenzi