New Musical 'Shelter' to Play to Over 100 Homeless Families

Making Books Sing - the New York-based company dedicated to turning books for young readers into musical works for the stage - is making it possible through the generosity of its members for over 100 homeless families across New York City to see their new family musical A Shelter in Our Car, with book and lyrics by Sophie Jaff and music by Robert L. Wilson III, based on the award-winning book by Monica Gunning.

Each homeless family, in addition to seeing the musical will receive autographed photographs from A Shelter in Our Car and a family guide as a gift from Making Books Sing.

The production will be performed throughout New York City as follows: in the Bronx at the Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College January 22 - 26; in Queens at the Queensborough Performing Arts Center January 31 - February 3; in Brooklyn at the Goldstein Theatre at Kingsborough Community College February 5 - 9; and in Manhattan at Symphony Space February 10 - 13.

A Shelter in Our Car- set to an original score filled with reggae, jazz and hip-hop - "tells the story of Zettie and her parents, recent immigrants from Jamaica who move to New York City for a better life, but when Zettie's Papa dies unexpectedly she and her Mama find themselves homeless and living in their car. As Zettie struggles through the taunts of her classmates to find safety and a sense of belonging in the big city she discovers that the most reliable shelter is the love she shares with her Mama," as press materials describe.

The show, directed and choreographed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj with music direction by Victoria Bond, features a cast which includes - Emily Agy (Zettie); Ronny Mercedes (Ricardo); Matthew Morgan (Alex); Robyn Payne (Mama); Tony Perry (Papa); Annette Michelle Sanders (Officer Donnelly); and Ryan Strand (Gareth).

The production's design team includes: John Pollard (Set Designer); Douglas Cox (Lighting Designer); and Leslie Bernstein (Costume Designer).

"Making Books Sing was founded in 1996 by Barbara Zinn Krieger (Artistic Director) and Debra Sue Lorenzen, (Education Director), as a program of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Vineyard Theatre. There it enjoyed phenomenal success as an entertainment program for family audiences, and even greater success in New York City schools, where Making Books Sing sends professional theatre artists each year to teach students and their teachers how to create their own plays and musicals based on books."

Performances will be open to the public throughout the city, as follows:

The Bronx - January 22 - January 26, 2007
Lovinger Theatre at Lehman College - 250 Bedford Park Blvd. West - Bronx, NY
Monday, January 22 - Friday, January 26 at 10:30am
Directions - By Car: From the Deegan Expressway, exit at Van Cortlandt Park South. Follow signs. From the Henry Hudson Parkway, exit at Moshulu Parkway. Follow signs.
By Subway: Take the 4 or the D to Bedford Park Station. Lehman College campus is a 3 to 5 minute, well-lit walk to the west.

Queens - January 31 - February 2, 2007
Queensborough Performing Arts Center - 222-05 56th Avenue - Bayside Queens, NY
Wednesday, January 31 - Friday, February 2 at 10:30am
Saturday, February 3 at 11:00am
Directions - #7 to Main St., Flushing, then take the Q27 bus to Springfield Blvd. and 56th Ave., or the Q12 bus to Cloverdale Blvd. &Northern Blvd. F or R train to 169th St. and Hillside Ave., then take the Q30 bus via Horace Harding Blvd. to Springfield Blvd. Walk three blocks north to 56th Ave. The E or J train to Parsons Blvd. and Archer Ave. then take the Q30 bus.

Brooklyn - February 5 - 9, 2007
Goldstein Theatre at Kingsborough Community College - 2001 Oriental Blvd. - Brooklyn, NY
Monday, February 5 - Friday, February 9 at 10:30am
Directions - By Car: Belt Pkwy east to Exit 8A. Cross Coney Island Ave. along Guider Ave. Turn right onto E. 12th St. Turn left onto Neptune Ave. Turn right onto Cass Pl. Turn right to West End Ave. Turn left to Oriental Blvd.
By Subway - F to Ave. X, transfer to the eastbound B1 to KCC.

Manhattan - February 10 - 13, 2006
Symphony Space - 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street) - New York, NY
Saturday, February 10 at 2pm (Benefit performance with party to follow; for more information about Benefit contact Making Books Sing, 212-573-8791 ext. 246)
Sunday, February 11 at 4pm
Monday, February 12 &Tuesday, February 13 at 10am &12:00pm

Tickets range from $8 - $25 (group rates are available). For reservations, please call 212-573-8791 ext. 246.

For more information about Making Books Sing programs, call 212-573-8791, or go to www.makingbookssing.org.

Photo by Carol Rosegg- Emily Agy and Robyn Payne