New Fierstein/Bucchino Musical Bway Bound; Fierstein Stars

­ Jujamcyn Theaters has announced that A Catered Affair, a new musical with book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, score by acclaimed composer John Bucchino and directed by Tony Award-winner John Doyle, will open on Broadway at a theater to-be-announced in the coming season (Spring 2008). Prior to Broadway, the new musical will inaugurate the 2007-8 season at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre (performances begin September 20th), it was confirmed by Jujamcyn Vice President Jordan Roth.

Mr. Fierstein will also be featured in the cast. Other casting news will be announced shortly.

A Catered Affair is set in the Bronx of 1953. Funny, heartbreaking and oh so human, this musical play reveals relationships strained to their limits when a couple must decide whether to spend their life savings on a family business or to launch their only daughter's marriage with a lavish catered affair. Harvey Fierstein's book and John Bucchino's score seize the opportunity to explore the meaning of family and the need for love, both new and reawakened.

A Catered Affair will be produced on Broadway by Jujamcyn Theaters, Harvey Entertainment/Ron Fierstein and Richie Jackson. The musical is based on the Turner Entertainment motion picture distributed by Warner Brothers and written by Gore Vidal, and the original teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky.

Harvey Fierstein (Book)
Harvey Fierstein is the author of Torch Song Trilogy, for which he received Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actor. He is also the recipient of the Tony Award for his book of the musical La Cage Aux Folles. His other plays include Safe Sex, Spookhouse and Forget Him. Harvey¹s most recent Broadway credits include starring as Tevye in the record-breaking revival of Fiddler on the Roof, and as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray, for which he won his fourth Tony Award (Best Actor in a Musical). Other honors include three Drama Desk Awards, the Drama League Award, the New York Magazine Award, a special Obie, Theater World and L.A. Drama Critics Circle Awards. He has also been nominated for an Emmy ("Cheers" guest star), American Comedy Award (Mrs. Doubtfire) and London¹s Olivier Award (Torch Song Trilogy). Harvey won the Humanitas Award in 2000 for writing the HBO animated special "The Sissy Duckling," which is also published as a children¹s book. Fierstein has also appeared in numerous film and television productions.

John Bucchino (Score)
With A Catered Affair, John Bucchino makes his Broadway debut. He has written scores for the musicals Urban Myths and Lavender Girl, a piece included in 3HREE, an evening of short musicals compiled by Harold Prince. It¹s Only Life, a revue of his songs directed by Daisy Prince, premiered at New York¹s Summer Play Festival and was presented in a concert version at Lincoln Center. His songs have been recorded and performed by Judy Collins, Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein, Art Garfunkel, Patti LuPone, Yo-Yo Ma, Audra MacDonald, Liza Minnelli, Deborah Voight, The Boston Pops, The Los Angeles Philharmonic, and others in venues that include Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, The Hollywood Bowl, The Sydney Opera House, and The White House. Honors include The Johnny Mercer Award, ASCAP¹s Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, The Jonathan Larson Award, The Kleban Award and the first annual Fred Ebb Award. He also wrote the songs for the Dreamworks animated film Joseph, King of Dreams. Some recordings of his work are: "Grateful, the Songs of John Bucchino," "Solitude Lessons," "It¹s Only Life," and "On Richard Rodgers¹ Piano" (solo piano interpretations of Rodgers tunes on the composer¹s Steinway). In their Julie Andrews Collection, Harper Collins published an illustrated children's book based on his song, called "Grateful, A Song of Giving Thanks."

John Doyle (Director)
John Doyle won the Tony Award for Best Director of a Musical for his Broadway debut production of Sweeney Todd, as well as the Outer Critics¹ Circle Award and the Drama Desk Award, and is currently represented on Broadway by Company. He has been Artistic Director of four prestigious UK Regional Theatres, where some 200 productions include musicals, new plays and the classics. His extensive work with actor-musicians includes productions of Candide on a UK Tour, Carmen at the Royal Opera House, Into The Woods at York Theatre Royal and Fiddler On the Roof at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury. He has numerous West End credits, including his own version of The Gondoliers and a critically acclaimed Mack and Mabel. John recently directed The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny for Los Angeles Opera and will be directing Lucia di Lammermoor for Scottish Opera, and Peter Grimes for the Metropolitan Opera.

Jujamcyn Theaters (Producer)
Jujamcyn Theaters, founded in 1956, owns and operates five theaters on Broadway: St. James, Al Hirschfeld, August Wilson, Eugene O'Neill, and Walter Kerr. Rocco Landesman, Paul Libin, Jack Viertel and Jordan Roth are the company's President, Producing Director, Creative Director, and Vice President, respectively. Current shows at Jujamcyn include Curtains, Grey Gardens, Jersey Boys, The Producers and Spring Awakening, as well as the upcoming production of August Wilson¹s Radio Golf. Among the many shows which Jujamcyn has produced or presented are: Angels in America, Big River, Caroline or Change, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, City of Angels, Death of a Salesman, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Gem of the Ocean, Grand Hotel, Grease!, Guys & Dolls, Into the Woods, Jelly¹s Last Jam, Love! Valour! Compassion!, M. Butterfly, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Moon Over Buffalo, The Piano Lesson, Proof, The Secret Garden, Seven Guitars, Smokey Joe¹s Café, Tommy, Two Trains Running and The Weir.