The two-disc cast recording of the musical Summer of '42 has finally been released by Jay Records, two years after it was recorded.
Inspired by Herman Racuher's classic novel and the 1971 film version,
Summer of '42 chronicles a teen's coming of age with a lonely war bride and had a brief commercial Off-Broadway run that began in December 2001. The show has enjoyed a regional life, and will be staged at the Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD this spring.
The libretto is by
Hunter Foster, best known as a Broadway leading man, and the music and lyrics are by
David Kirshenbaum (
Vanities). Its post-Off-Broadway life included a special May 2005 concert presentation at the York, where the musical had an early reading. The cast started recording the next day.
The recording features the talents of
Rachel York as war bride Dorothy, Megan Valerie Walker (Miriam),
Celia Keenan-Bolger (Aggie), Joe Gallagher (Benjie), Brett Tabisel (Oscy),
Ryan Driscoll (as lovestruck Hermie),
Ayal Miodovnik (Pete),
Danielle Ferland (Gloria) and
Bill Buell (Mr. Sanders, Walter Winchell).
There are 41 tracks on two discs, representing the score and script. For more information, visit
www.jayrecords.com
