New Therapy Musical 'Sessions' Begins May 30

Algonquin Theater Productions and Ten Grand Productions, Inc. will present the world-premiere production of Sessions, a new musical by Albert Tapper, for a 12-week limited engagement at Off-Broadway's Peter Jay Sharp Theater (416 W. 42nd St.) on Theatre Row, Wednesday, May 30 through Saturday, August 18, 2007. The production officially opens on Sunday, June 10, 2007 at 3 p.m. Steven Petrillo (Route 66) directs.

"Dr. Peter Peterson listens, advises and tests his patients. What good therapist wouldn't? At once a drama and a comedy with poignant and hilarious moments alike, Sessions is a new musical for a modern generation. After all, couldn't we all use a little therapy?," state press materials.  "With songs such as 'I'm Only Human,' 'The Sun Shines In,' 'I've Become My Father,' 'Feels Like Home' and 'You Should Dance,' Sessions offers a humorous, poignant and relatable look into the familiar worlds of self-help, personal growth and those long hours that many have spent on a therapist's couch.

The production features book, music and lyrics by Albert Tapper, best known within the theatre industry as the producer of Rick McKay's acclaimed 2004 documentary Broadway: The Golden Age. Tapper also penned two other Off-Broadway musicals in recent years: Imperfect Chemistry (Minetta Lane Theatre, 2000) and From Where I Stand (Laurie Beechman Theatre, 2003).

The musical stars Bertilla Baker (Titanic) as Mrs. Murphy, Amy Bodnar (Oklahoma!) as Leila, Al Bundonis (Ragtime, Nat'l Tour) as Baxter, David Patrick Ford (The Full Monty, Nat'l Tour) as Dylan, Scott Richard Foster (Brooklyn the Musical) as Preston, Jim Madden (Hello, Dolly!) as Mr. Murphy, Kelli Maguire (A Wonderful Life) as Sunshine, Trisha Rapier (The Boy from Oz) as Mary, Matthew Shepard (Beauty and the Beast) as Dr. Peter Peterson and Ed Reynolds Young (Chapter Two) as The Voice.

The show features musical arrangement, orchestrations and musical supervision by Steven Gross (Pirates of Penzance), scenic and costume design by Peter J. Barbieri Jr., lighting design by Deborah E. Constantine and sound design by Wallace J. Flores.

Beginning Wednesday, May 30, Sessions will play Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8 p.m., with Saturday matinees at 2 p.m. and Sunday matinees at 3 p.m.

Tickets are $50 each and are now available by calling TicketCentral.com at 212-279-4200.  Tickets may also be purchased in-person at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater box office (416 W. 42nd St.).  Box office hours are noon to 8 p.m. daily.  For more information, visit www.sessionsthemusical.com.

Photo by Joan Marcus - Matthew Shepard and Amy Bodnar