Prince, Reichard, Etc. Set for Reading of Styne's 'Boy'

An array of Broadway stars will take part in a January 26th reading of the Jule Styne musical Bar Mitzvah Boy, which will be presented at Chelsea Studios (151 West 26th Street, Fifth Floor).

The reading, featuring a number of songs by Styne (Gypsy, Funny Girl, Bells Are Ringing) that will be heard for the first time, will star Tony Award-winner Faith Prince (Guys and Dolls), Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys), Tony Award-nominee Peter Friedman (Ragtime) and Larry Keith (Caroline, or Change), as well as Hal Robinson, Shana Dowdeswell, Megan Lewis and Malcom Morano.

Produced by Paper Mill Playhouse CEO Michael Gennaro, the reading will be directed by Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz).

Bar Mitzvah Boy, which played the West End in 1978, will feature David Thompson's (Chicago revival) adaptation of Jack Rosenthal's book (Rosenthal also penned the BBC television play on which the musical was based).  

The show will also feature revised lyrics by Don Black (Sunset Boulevard), who has changed preexisting lyrics as well as written new ones for never-before-heard Styne tunes (some of which were not penned specifically for Bar Mitzvah Boy). 

The reading will be presented with the permission of the Jule Styne estate.

Photo - Daniel Reichard