Kevin Kern, Sara Jean Ford & More to Lead Industry Reading of New David Austin Musical FINISHING ARTHUR DANBY, 8/3

David Austin's original new musical, Finishing Arthur Danby, will receive an NYC industry reading Sunday August 3. This is the latest effort from the rising star and composer of the new musical Beaches, which received its world premier in DC earlier this year.

The private reading will star Kevin Kern (Bridges of Madison County, Wicked), Sara Jean Ford (How to Succeed, A Little Night Music), Victoria Huston-Elem (Addams Family), Zachary Prince (On a Clear Day, Baby It's You), Drew Gehling (Jersey Boys, On a Clear Day), Katie Thompson (Giant), Lee Zarrett (Hair, Spelling Bee), Lizzie Klemperer (Christmas Story), Nick Gaswirth (Christmas Story), Jeff Caldwell, Dayna Grayber, Marcus D'Angelo (Matilda) and Angelo McDonough. The music team is helmed by Rachael Ziering and Associate Music Director Joel DeCandio.

With a vibrant and passionate score by 2012 Stephen Sondheim Artist Citation winner Austin, and an original book co-written with newcomer Timothy Wilson, Finishing Arthur Danby tells the contemporary story of Arthur, an odd and mysterious novelist who hasn't walked out the front door of his family bookstore in decades. On the eve of his 40th birthday, we meet Arthur as he desperately tries to finish writing his epic novel about Allana Reilly and the small and strange Irish village of Bell Hollow. In one night, the mystery of Arthur's past is unraveled by both his fictitious creation, Allana, and his neighbor and only friend, Hannah Dupree.

Presented by Louis Hobson (Next to Normal, Bonnie & Clyde) and Jake Groshong, the young producing team was recently profiled in the NYTimes for their work with the award winning Balagan Theatre in Seattle. Most recent credits include the Northwest premier of Carrie (starring Tony Winner Alice Ripley) and the world premiers of Valerie Vigoda/Brendan Millburn/Joe DiPietro's Ernest Shackleton Loves Me and Jeff Thomson/Jordan Mann's Thankskilling, The Musical.