Marla Schaffel Replaces Emily Skinner in Fanny Hill Starting March 8

Tony Award nominee Marla Schaffel (Jane Eyre) will join the cast of Fanny Hill, a new musical by Ed Dixon, currently playing at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's. Ms. Schaffel will replace Emily Skinner in the role of Martha beginning Wednesday. March 8. Ms. Skinner, who is leaving to recover from a recent injury, will play her final performance on Sunday, March 5.

Fanny Hill, presented by the York Theatre Company, (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), Dennis Grimaldi Productions & Nick Cavarra, began previews on Wednesday February 1, 2006 and opened on Tuesday, February 14. Fanny Hill is directed by James Brennan and has musical direction by Stan Tucker,

Based on John Cleland's infamous eighteenth century novel, Fanny Hill is the story of a beautiful but poor country girl who travels to London to make her fortune and ends up making a great deal more… the army, the navy and most of Parliament! In the face of big city trials and tribulations, our indefatigable heroine ends up giving new meaning to the expression "making it" when she becomes the foremost practitioner of the world's oldest profession.

Marla Schaffel starred on Broadway in the Tony-nominated musical Jane Eyre, a role which earned her a Tony nomination, the Drama Desk Award, a Drama League Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award, all for Best Actress in Musical. Her other Broadway credits included Titanic and Les Miserables, as well as starring in the national tours of Evita, My Fair Lady, and The Sound of Music. Marla created the leading roles off-Broadway in Christina Alberta's Father by Polly Pen and Enter the Guardsman. Her regional credits include leading roles in world premiere musicals Jane Eyre, Let Me Sing, They All Laughed, Lucky In The Rain, Glimmerglass, as well as in the classics like, West Side Story, A Little Night Music, and great plays like Fool For Love and Top Girls among others. Ms. Schaffel also starred in the critically acclaimed independent feature I Love You! Don't Touch Me and was last seen in the Tim Robbins film Cradle Will Rock. TV: a recurring role as the star's rocker ex-girlfriend on "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues," "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" and "Criminal Intent." Her voice can be heard on several recordings including Jane Eyre (original Broadway Cast Recording and World Premiere Toronto Cast recording), The Prince of Egypt (soundtrack) and A Prairie Home Companion Christmas, as well as on several Saturday morning cartoons. Marla is a graduate of The Juilliard School Drama Division and studied at the Moscow Art Theatre School.

The cast of Fanny Hill also features Patti Allison (Orpheus Descending, Angel); Drama Desk nominee Nancy Anderson (Wonderful Town; A Class Act; Jolson & Co.; Kiss Me, Kate in London and for PBS) as Fanny; David Cromwell (Julius Caesar, The Scarlet Pimpernel); Michael J. Farina (In My Life, Seussical); Gina Ferrall (Big River, Jane Eyre); Adam Monley (Mamma Mia!); Christianne Tisdale (Triumph of Love, Beauty and the Beast) and Tony Yazbeck (Oklahoma!, Gypsy).

Fanny Hill has scenic and costume design by Michael Bottari and Ronald Case, wig and hair design by Gerard Kelly, and lighting design by Phil Monat.

Fanny Hill plays Monday through Saturday at 8 PM; Wednesday & Saturday at 2:30 PM; and Sunday at 3 PM (Dark Tuesdays).

*The week of March 6, there will be no Monday night performance, with an additional performance at 7 PM on Sunday, March 12.

The York Theatre Company is in residence at St. Peter's Theatre, located in Saint Peter's Church, just east of Lexington Avenue on East 54th Street (BY SUBWAY - E train to Lexington Avenue or 6 train to 51st Street.)

Tickets to Fanny Hill are $55 and can be purchased at www.SmartTix.com or by calling (212) 868-4444.

STUDENT RUSH (WITHOUT THE RUSH!) - $20 (in advance with valid student ID). SENIOR RUSH TICKETS - $20 (available ? hour before curtain, subject to availability)

For more information, please visit www.fannyhillmusical.com or www.yorktheatre.org.