NYMF 'Mud Donahue & Son' Opens Tonight

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, in association with Melanie Herman, will present the World Premiere of Mud Donahue & Son, a new musical with book by Jeff Hochhauser, based on Jack Donahue's "Letters Of A Hoofer To His Ma," with music by Bob Johnston and lyrics by Johnston & Hochhauser, directed by Tony Award nominated Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Swing!), as part of the 4th Annual NY Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Performances will run today through October 7 only, with two additional performance added to accommodate the demand for tickets.

"Mud Donahue & Son is a new musical based on the letters of a spirited young hoofer who runs away from home and his indomitable mother for the glamour of vaudeville! Jack (played by Shonn Wiley), a passionate kid who would rather dance than breathe, is bursting out of his skin to realize the talent that he knows is inside him. Mud (Karen Murphy), an equally passionate woman, would rather die than have her son go into something as trivial as Vaudeville," explains press notes.

Mud Donahue & Son features choreography created by Lynne Taylor-Corbett inspired by the eccentric tap greats of vaudeville, a tradition carried on by Ray Bolger, Eleanor Powell and James Cagney in movies.

The show is being presented by special arrangement with The York Theatre Company, where Mud Donahue & Son received its first staged reading as part of the York's Developmental Reading Series.  Mud Donahue & Son will have scenic design by James Morgan, costume design by David Toser, and lighting design by Jason Kantrowitz. Douglas Oberhamer will serve as Musical Director.

Performances will be Tuesday, October 2 at 8 PM, Wednesday, October 3 at 1 PM, Thursday, October 4 at 4:30PM & 8 PM, Friday, October 5 at 1PM & 8 PM, Saturday, October 6 at 4:30 PM, and Sunday, October 7 at 1 PM at The 45th Street Theatre (354 West 45th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues). Single tickets to Mud Donahue & Son go on sale to the general public on September 1, through Theatermania.com at 212-352-3101 or (toll free) 866-811-4111. For more information, visit NYMF's web site at www.nymf.org or visit www.muddonahueandson.com

Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre," The New York Musical Theatre Festival is widely regarded as an essential source for new material and talent discovery; NYMF is the largest musical theatre event in America, and has presented over 90 musicals in its first three years – including The Big Voice: God or Merman, Gutenberg! The Musical, [title of show], Captain Louie? The Great American Trailer Park Musical and Shout the Mod Musical.  Two more – Nerds://A Musical Software Satire and Meet John Doe – have enjoyed a successful regional runs. NYMF's 2004 hit Altar Boyz is now enjoying its third year Off-Broadway at New World Stages.