SuEllen Estey, Robin de Jesus & More to Lead MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE Reading at Ripley Grier Studios, 12/17

SuEllen Estey (Sweeney Todd, State Fair, Barnum) leads the upcoming reading of Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade with book, music, and lyrics by Cheryl E. Kemeny of Crystal Theatre. The cast will also feature two time Tony nominee Robin De Jesus (In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles, Domesticated, Rent), N'Kenge (Motown, Sondheim on Sondheim), Sadie Sink (Annie), Marissa Miller (Wicked), Julie Benko (Spring Awakening, Les Miserables), Ava DeMary (Matilda), Peter Davenport (The Sound of Music), and Kaye Tuckerman (Mamma Mia).

Benjamin Simpson directs the 11AM and 3PM readings on Tuesday, December 17th at Ripley Grier Studios, with musical direction by Dan Micciche. The cast also includes Jeremy Greenbaum (The Fantasticks), Elizabeth Ann Berg (Mary Poppins), Zachary Mackiewicz (Mary Poppins), Bryce Edwards, Lulu Lloyd, Michael Deleget, Whitney Woerz, and Morgan Billings.

Here's how the new musical is billed: "West Virginia, June, 1903--the fiery 73-year-old "Mother" Jones has come to help coal-miners strike for higher wages and better working conditions by convincing them they'll never get to heaven unless they "Raise A Little Hell!" Ordered to Pennsylvania, she leads the Kensington Mill children on a crusade against child labor and they begin their march to Long Island in hopes of winning President Roosevelt's support.