Joe Iconis, Jenny Ashman & More Lead York's Developmental Reading of New Musical FALLING FOR MAKE BELIEVE Today

The York Theatre Company, and its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, will present the New York premiere of the new musical, Falling for Make Believe, written by Mark Saltzman with music arrangements by Keith Harrison. Directed by Kent Nicholson and with music direction by Ian Weinberger, the six-member cast features Jenny Ashman, Joe Iconis, Rebecca Ann Johnson, Ryan Reilly, Alan Schmuckler and Michael Winther. The single performance is set for TODAY, Thursday, July 10, 2014 beginning at 3:00 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). The reading is open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00.

The Developmental Reading Series presents some 40 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors throughout the year, a vital part of the writing process. The series often serves as an incubator for shows to be considered for Mainstage productions, thus serving the York's unique mission of taking new musicals through the complete development process to full production.

For the first time, the story of the troubled relationship of the legendary Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart songwriting team is dramatized on stage in the new musical, Falling for Make Believe, featuring 22 of their most memorable, most iconic masterpieces of music and rhyme. Falling for Make Believe was a runaway hit last year at Los Angeles' Colony Theater, where the critic from The Los Angeles Times simply stated, "Grand...affecting...audiences should be bewitched."

Reservations can be made by visiting the website at www.yorktheatre.org, or by calling the York Theatre Company Box Office at (212) 935-5820 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).

For additional information, visit the website at www.yorktheatre.org.

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. 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 Closer Than Ever (2013 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Revival), Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs.