NYU Steinhardt's Program in Vocal Performance presents A Man of No Importance, the award-winning musical, this weekend, February 5-9, 2015. The show features book by Terrence McNally, music by Stephen Flaherty and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens. John Simpkins directs.
A Man of No Importance was developed from the 1994 film of the same name and tells the story of Alfie Byrne, a bus driver in 1964 Dublin who recites poetry to his passengers. He is also the director of the community theatre, which rehearses and performs in the neighborhood church social hall. Alfie's passengers are also his actors: amateurs who come to see the magic and power of theatre. Alfie's heart, however, holds secrets he can't share with anyone but an imagined
Oscar Wilde. When he attempts to put on a production of Salome in the social hall, he is forced to deal with bigotry and shame over a love "that dare not speak its name." The musical originally premiered at Lincoln Center's Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater in 2002, with a cast that featured
Roger Rees as Alfie Byrne and included
Faith Prince and
Steven Pasquale.
NYU's production of A Man of No Importance runs February 5-7 at 8 p.m., February 7-8 at 3 p.m., and February 9 at 8 p.m. at the
Frederick Loewe Theatre (35 West 4th Street). Tickets are $20 general admission and $5 for students and seniors. The performance on Monday, February 9, is a special "Industry" performance, where attendees presenting a union card (AEA, SDC, USA, SAG) will be admitted free. The Industry performance will also include a pre-show audience discussion with special guests from the Broadway community. For tickets, contact NYU Box Office at
tickets.nyu.edu, call the box office at 212.998.4941, or visit in person at 566 LaGuardia Place (at Washington Square South).
A Man of No Importance features music direction by
James Cunningham, choreography by
Jennifer Werner, scenic design by
Josh Smith, lighting design by
Chris Dallos, costume design by Michelle Eden Humphrey, and sound design by Craig Kaufman. The production stage manager is E
Sara Barnes and dialect coach is Evan Mueller. The cast features NYU Steinhardt students Steph Bacon, Ben Bartels,
Ross Brown, Nick Case,
Donald Coggin, Dan Corica,
John Fitzpatrick, Dylan Landau, Alyssa LeClair, Delaney Parker, Ann
Marie Powers, Maureen Regan,
Matt Ross, Wayne Shuker, and Kaylee Verble.
About NYU Steinhardt Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions - Steinhardt's Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions, established in 1925, instructes over 1,600 students majoring in music and performing arts programs. Music and Performing Arts Professions serves as NYU's "school" of music and is a major research and practice center in music technology, music business, music composition, film scoring, songwriting, music performance practices, performing arts therapies, and the performing arts-in-education (music, dance, and drama).
