Photo Flash: Avenue X First Performance

The sounds of doo-wop, rhythm and blues, soul, and gospel ring out as Off-Broadway's Dreamlight Theatre Company presents the first NYC revival of Avenue X, an a capella musical by John Jiler and Ray Leslee. Directed by Chip Klose, Avenue X plays a limited engagement of 16 performances from March 1 through 17 at the 45th Street Theatre (354 West 45th Street).  A celebration of its first performance was held at Angus McIndoe.
 
Avenue X stars Cheryl Alexander (Dreamgirls), JD Goldblatt (Les Mis), Mitchell Jarvis (Fiddler On The Roof), Keifer Mansfield, Megan McGettigan, Jonathan Stewart, Jeffery V. Thompson (It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues) and Anthony Wills, Jr.  "Set in a racially divided Brooklyn neighborhood in 1963, Avenue X captures both the nostalgic harmonies of an innocent age and the rumblings of future discord. As in New York and other American cities in the late 1950s and early 1960s, teenagers gather on stoops and sidewalks to pass the time singing together -- the best groups win contests and dream of record deals. In Avenue X, the Italian-American and African-American groups wouldn't think of singing together -- until Pasquale (Jonathan Stewart) and Milton (JD Goldblatt) find that their shared love for the music transcends the escalating racial tension," according to notes. 
 
Avenue X premiered at Playwrights Horizons in February 1994, winning the Richard Rodgers Award in 1992 and 1993, and has been produced to great acclaim around the country at theaters like Barrington Stage Company, The Wilma Theater, Dallas Theater Center, A Contemporary Theater in Seattle, Odyssey Theater Ensemble in L.A., and Pittsburgh City Theatre Company. 
 
Tickets are $18 by calling Tix.com at 1-800-595-4849 or online at the website www.Tix.com. For more info log onto www.dreamlighttheatre.org.

Photos by Jason Woodruff

 
Avenue X librettist John Jiler, Chad Hudson (Producer) and Chip Klose (Avenue X director) and Avenue X composer Ray Leslee 

Jonathan Stewart and JD Goldblatt

Cheryl Alexander (Julia) and Megan McGettigan (Barbara)

The company celebrates first performance with a cake courtesy of Angus McIndoe chef David DeCarlo