Photo Flash: 'Floyd Collins' at NYU thru Feb.17

Floyd Collins, currently presented by NYU Steinhardt's Program in Vocal Performance, continues performances through February 17, 2008. 

The show features a score by Adam Guettel (composer of The Light in the Piazza) with a book and additional lyrics by Tina Landau. With songs including "Lucky," "The Riddle Song," and "How Glory Goes," Floyd Collins premiered on April 9, 1994 in Philadelphia. The musical is based on the true story of a caver who was trapped and died while exploring Kentucky's Sand Cave between January 30 and February 16, 1925.The production had its New York premiere at Playwrights Horizons in 1996.

"The story takes place near Cave City, Kentucky in the winter of 1925 and follows the local attempts by the family and friends of Floyd Collins to rescue him from entrapment in the cave. The disaster slowly becomes a national phenomenon as the story of Floyd's struggle hits the news. Seventeen days after he became trapped, a shaft finally reaches Floyd Collins - only to discover that he had died of exposure, exhaustion, and starvation three days earlier," describe press notes.

NYU's Floyd Collins began February 8, and continues February 14-16 at 8PM and February 17 at 3PM at the Frederick Loewe Theatre at 35 West 4th Street.  Tickets are $20 general admission and $5 with valid NYU ID.  For more information and to make ticket reservations, call (212) 998-5281.

The production will be directed by John Simpkins, with music direction by Grant Wenaus and choreography by Jennifer Werner.  The cast and orchestra will feature the talented undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from The Steinhardt School's Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions.  The NYU production has been collaborating and visited by Adam Guettel, Bruce Coughlin and Roger Brucker, the author of "Trapped: The Floyd Collins Story" (who led a talkback Sunday afternoon)

For more information about Floyd Collins, please contact the Steinhardt Production Office at (212) 998-5069.

Photos by Chianan Yen and Dan Creighton