Previews Begin Thursday, February 17 for DESSA ROSE

The world premiere of DESSA ROSE, a new musical with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty and choreography and direction by Graciela Daniele, begins performances Thursday (February 17) at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. Opening night for this Lincoln Center Theater production is Monday, March 21.

Based on the novel by Sherley Anne Williams, DESSA ROSE is the fictional story of two real women -- a runaway slave (played by LaChanze) and an abandoned wife (played by Rachel York) who embark on an unexpected and dangerous journey through the pre-Civil War South.

In addition to LaChanze and Rachel York, the cast of DESSA ROSE features Rebecca Eichenberger, Tina Fabrique, Michael Hayden, David Hess, Kecia Lewis, Norm Lewis, William Parry, Soara-Joye Ross, James Stovall and Eric Jordan Young. DESSA ROSE has sets by Loy Arcenas, costumes by Toni Leslie-James, lighting by Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, sound by Scott Lehrer, musical direction by David Holcenberg and orchestrations by William David Brohn and Christopher Jahnke.

DESSA ROSE reunites the team of Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty with director/choreographer Graciela Daniele who collaborated on the musicals Once On This Island and Ragtime.

DESSA ROSE, which is part of Lincoln Center Theater's 20th Anniversary season, is LCT's 108th production. LCT's next production is The Light In The Piazza, a new musical with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, book by Craig Lucas and direction by Bartlett Sher, in the Vivian Beaumont Theater (performances begin Thursday, March 17).

(Note performance schedule) DESSA ROSE will be performed Tuesday through Saturday evenings at 8pm and Sunday evenings at 7pm, with matinees Wednesday and Sunday at 2pm.

Tickets priced at $70 to $75 are available at the Lincoln Center Theatre box office, by calling Tele-Charge at (212) 239-6200 or on-line by visiting www.lct.org.

Photo of LaChanze and Rachel York by Brigitte Lacombe