Musical of Musicals to Close October 2nd

The Musical of Musicals - The Musical!, The York's Theatre Company's hit musical comedy and longest running show in its 35-year history, ends October 2, 2004, after 14 previews and 194 performances. Running at the Company's home, The York Theatre at Saint Peter's in the Citigroup Center, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street), "Musicals" was nominated for five 2004 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical, Outstanding Direction of a Musical, Outstanding Music, Outstanding Score and Best Featured Actress in a Musical; and the 2004 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Musical. The New York Times wrote, "The Musical of Musicals - The Musical!" has real wit, real charm. It's great fun!"

"Let me just say that this show has legs. I would urge all its many fans to watch for an exciting announcement very shortly about where these legs take it to," James Morgan, the York's Producing Artistic Director, said.

"We are very sad to see it go; the critics praised, the audiences raved, and in short it's been very good for us. We managed to prosper through the traditionally slow summer months, the convention, even the Orange Terror Alert," Morgan said.

"The issue is one of space. We must close to start our 36th season with our Fall "Musicals in Mufti" series of concert musicals, including Henry, Sweet Henry and Frank Loesser's Greenwillow. The Muftis are followed by the first mainstage production of our 36th season, Souvenir, a play with music by Stephen Temperley starring Tony Award-winner Judy Kaye and directed by Tony Award-winner Vivian Matalon."

The Musical of Musicals - The Musical! is a musical about ... musicals. In a comic satire of musical theatre genres, one story becomes five musicals, each in the distinctive style of a different master of the form, from Rodgers and Hammerstein to Stephen Sondheim. It has music by Eric Rockwell, lyrics by Joanne Bogart, and book by Rockwell and Bogart. The cast of The Musical of Musicals - The Musical! is Craig Fols, Lovette George, and the authors, Rockwell and Bogart. Pamela Hunt directs. It was recently released on CD by London's Jay Records, LTD, and is available at the York Theatre and stores across the country.

The Associated Press called the show, "A delightful, fizzy concoction." The review continued, "Has the York Theatre Company got a show for you!" The Village Voice called it, "Witty, refreshing and shameless."

The York Theatre Company is the only theatre 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 three 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. More than 17 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York productions as Jolson & Company, Sweeney Todd, and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs. The Musical of Musicals – The Musical! was developed in the York Theatre Company's Developmental Reading Series, where the Tony Award-winning Avenue Q also started.

The Musical of Musicals- The Musical! performs Monday - Saturdays at 8:00pm, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2:30pm, through October 2. Tickets are $55. Student tickets are available on the day of the performance for $20, subject to availability. Tickets are available by calling Smarttix at (212) 868-4444, at smarttix.com, or in person at the box office on the lower level at Saint Peter's Theatre, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th).