Summer of '42 Benefit Concert with Rachel York and Ryan Driscoll May 23 at York

On Monday, May 23, 2005, Summer of '42, the coming-of-age musical by composer/lyricist David Kirshenbaum, will be presented in a benefit concert reading for the York Theatre Company, featuring Rachael York and Ryan Driscoll. Gabriel Barre directs the reading at the company's home at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's in the Citigroup Center, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street). The musical's libretto was written by Hunter Foster.

Summer of '42 tells the story of a young boy during World War II who falls in love with the wife of a soldier who has shipped out overseas. In addition to Rachael York and Ryan Driscoll, the cast includes Celia Keenan-Bolger, Megan Valerie Walker, Danielle Ferland, Brett Tabisel, Joe Gallagher, Ayal Miodovnik and Bill Buell.

The York Theatre Company, now ending its 36th season, is the only theatre in New York City -and one of very few in the world - dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals, and preserving neglected, notable shows from the past. For over three decades, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and neglected classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike.

The York Theatre Company album of Summer of '42 will be produced for JAY Records by John Yap and will be recorded May 24 complete on two CDs, including all underscoring and dialogue, as well as some material cut from the original off-Broadway production.

Tickets for the benefit are $80, which includes priority seating, a post-show reception with the cast and creative team, and a choice of York cast albums issued by the JAY Records label. Show tickets only are available for $50. All tickets are available at Smarttix at (212) 868-4444. Visit www.yorktheatre.org.