Photo Flash: Journey to the West Dress Rehearsal

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and New Voice Theatre will present the New York premiere of Journey to the West, a new musical by Richard Oberacker (book, music and lyrics) and Robert Taylor (book and lyrics) that will be seen as an official Next Link selection in the third annual NYMF.  Created and directed by Richard Oberacker, the show begins performances on Monday, September 25, 2006 at Off-Broadway's 37 Arts Theatre (450 West 37th Street).

"A thrilling combination of martial arts, kabuki theatre, modern dance, puppetry, masks and acrobatics, Journey to the West is based on the legendary Chinese fable written during the Ming Dynasty. It tells the universal tale of man's purpose in life – to live honorably, to triumph over adversity, to follow the path that lies ahead, and to reach the paradise that waits at the journey's end," state press materials.

Journey to the West will star Steven Booth (Avenue Q in Vegas) as the monk Riversong, Angela Ai (Las Vegas Avenue Q) as the goddess Kuan-Yin, David Girolmo (Candide) as adversary Hou-Lia, Nicholas Kohn (Las Vegas Avenue Q) as spirit guide Tu-Bao, Philip Solomon (Hedwig and the Angry Inch) as water dragon Tsunami, W. Wong as Monkus, the Great Monkey King, Kevyn Morrow (Olivier-nominee for London Ragtime) as Buddha, Shannon Stoeke (European Hair tour) as the Boatman and Evil Abbott, Daniel Therrien as Tam, A.J. Ocamp as Brother Yi and Old Kao, Anne Burnett Mathews (Victor/Victoria, The Full Monty tours) as the Spider Queen, and Christine Hudman (Grease, The Full Monty tours) as Lei-Lei and Queen of the Bhiksu Kingdom.

The complete concept recording of Journey to the West can be downloaded for free at www.journeytothewestthemusical.com.  Tickets are available online at www.NYMF.org or by calling 212-352-3101. They may also be purchased in-person at the 37 Arts Theatre Box Office 30 minutes before show time.   

Photos by Tom Donoghue

Steven Booth in the role of Riversong

Shanon Stoeke and Kevyn Morrow manipulate the Monkey King and Demon puppets in a battle scene

Steven Booth and Angela Ai

Kevyn Morrow and Angela Ai

Daniel Therrien and Christine Hudman

Kevyn Morrow as the Tang Emperor

Steven Booth and Angela Ai