Photo Flash: 'The Jerusalem Syndrome' Musical Staged Reading

A musical staged reading of The Jerusalem Syndrome took place on Monday, October 22 at 7:30PM at the York Theatre as part of their Developmental Reading Series.

The cast included Mike Burstyn, Richard H. Blake, Kenny Morris, Deone Zanotto, Liz Larsen, Stuart Zagnit, Robert H. Fowler, Danny Binstock, J.D. Webster, Gayle Turner, Staci Rudnitsky, Vanessa Lemonides, Ron DeStefano and Felicia Ricci.    

"The Jerusalem Syndrome is an original madcap musical comedy with book and lyrics by 2006 Kleban Award winners Laurence Holzman & Felicia Needleman and a score by Kyle Rosen.  The musical follows an ensemble of characters whose lives intertwine when they journey to Israel and experience the Jerusalem syndrome, a real-life psychological malady that affects about 200 tourists a year who arrive in the Holy City and suddenly come to believe that they are biblical characters and act out their respective roles in the Bible.  Zaniness ensues as Moses leads Noah, Abraham, John the Baptist and not one, but two Virgin Mary's on an exodus from the psych ward while Jesus roams the Holy City working his own miracles," state press notes.

The reading was directed by Annette Jolles, whose credits include Little by Little, That Time of the Year, Wall to Wall Sondheim at Symphony Space, and TV's "9/11 Memorial from Ground Zero," for which she received an Emmy Award.   Rick Hip-Flores will serve as musical director.

Photos courtesy Laurence Holzman