NYMF's CROSS THAT RIVER Partners With Ted Turner's Ted's Montana Grill

The new musical CROSS THAT RIVER - about a runaway slave named Blue, who escapes to Texas to become one of America's first Black Cowboys - will form an exclusive restaurant partnership with Ted's Montana Grill - the classic American Grill, helmed by media entrepreneur Ted Turner and acclaimed restaurateur George McKerrow Jr. The announcement was made by CROSS THAT RIVER producer Patricia Harris.

As part of the partnership, CROSS THAT RIVER will host its official Opening and Closing Night parties at Ted's Montana Grill in Midtown Manhattan and is featuring Ted's Montana Grill as its "exclusive partner" on all CROSS THAT RIVER promotional materials.

"We couldn't have hoped for a more ideal partner than Ted's Montana Grill," stated Ms. Harris. "Just like with CROSS THAT RIVER, when you're at Ted's it really feels like you're stepping back to the turn of the century Great West. Everything from the craftsman-style architecture to the comfort and charm of the restaurant brings an element of authenticity to the experience."

Gena Weaver, vice president of marketing for Ted's Montana Grill, added, "We're delighted to support the debut of CROSS THAT RIVER, not only because we have great respect for the immense talents of Allan Harris and the entire cast and production crew, but because the story of America's first Black cowboys is an important part of the history of American West."

CROSS THAT RIVER - part of the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival - has music, lyrics and original concept by Allan Harris, book and direction by Andrew Wilk, and choreography by Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie.

Chief among CROSS THAT RIVERS' many ardent fans is Harvard Professor and one of America's pre-eminent African American scholars Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who says, "CROSS THAT RIVER is a tremendous work that reveals a story that hasn't been told nearly enough yet, of blacks in the American West. It captures so much of the male vs. female experience of slavery, and the book does a great job of setting the immense psychological bruising of slavery against the hope for freedom in the West. I love it."

About Ted's Montana Grill
Ted's Montana Grill was co-founded in 2002 by George McKerrow, Jr. and Ted Turner, the media entrepreneur, environmentalist and philanthropist. Authenticity is a way of life at Ted's - from fresh food made from scratch, to a dining ambiance that evokes the feeling of being in a turn-of-the-century Montana grill and bar. There are currently 55 Ted's Montana Grill restaurants in 19 states including a location in Manhattan at 110 West 51st Street at Sixth Avenue in the Time-Life building, Rockefeller Center West. For more information, including a list of locations, visit www.tedsmontanagrill.com.

Performances of CROSS THAT RIVER will run Monday, October 12th at 8:00pm; Tuesday, October 13th at 1:00pm; Wednesday, October 14th at 4:30pm; Friday, October 16th at 8:00pm; Saturday, October 17th at 1:00pm; and Sunday, October 18th at 4:30pm at the TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street - 3rd Floor).

Tickets are currently available for purchase at (212) 352-3101 or www.nymf.org.

For additional information on CROSS THAT RIVER visit www.nymf.org.

For additional information on Ted Montana Grill visit www.tedsmontanagrill.com.