The Fantasticks Cast Performs & Signs CDs at B&N, 4/11

The current cast of The Fantasticks will celebrate the new 2007 cast recording with special live performances and a CD signing at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center (1972 Broadway at 66th Street, Lincoln Triangle) on Wednesday, April 11, 2007 at 5:30 p.m.  Tom Jones, author of the book and lyrics to the world's longest-running musical, will discuss the classic show and the critically acclaimed Off-Broadway revival, which he also directed.

"Featuring music by Harvey Schmidt and book and lyrics by Tom Jones, The Fantasticks is the beloved musical love story that tells the story of a young boy and girl who fall madly in love at the hands of their meddling fathers.  The musical is the quintessential celebration of love, in all its gorgeous simplicity and heartbreaking complexities, and features such classic tunes as 'Try To Remember,' 'Much More,' and 'I Can See It,'" state press notes.

The new production stars Thomas Bruce ("Henry"), John Deyle ("Hucklebee"), Douglas Ullman, Jr. ("Matt"), Julie Craig ("Luisa"), Burke Moses ("El Gallo"), Robert R. Oliver ("Mortimer"), Martin Vidnovic ("Bellomy") and Nick Spangler ("The Mute").  "American Idol" star Anthony Fedorov will join the cast in the role of "Matt" on Tuesday, May 1.

The musicaloriginally opened at New York's Sullivan Street Playhouse on May 3, 1960 and played 17,162 performances before closing January 13, 2002, making it the world's longest running musical.  Audiences have enjoyed 11,103 productions of The Fantasticks in over 3,000 cities and towns throughout the United States.  Internationally, more than 700 productions have been staged in 68 nations from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and beyond.

The new cast album, recorded on Tuesday, August 22, was released on November 14 by Ghostlight Records, a division of Sh-K-Boom Records.  The album is produced by Grammy Award winner and Academy Award nominee Joel Moss and Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records' president Kurt Deutsch.

In addition to twenty-seven familiar tracks from the musical, including such perennial hits as "Try To Remember," "Soon It's Gonna Rain," and "I Can See It," the album contains a rare, never-before-heard bonus track of Harvey Schmidt performing "O Have You Ever Been To China" in 1959. "O Have You Ever Been To China" was written to musicalize the section in which El Gallo tries luring Luisa to travel with him to see the world.  The song was never completed, and "Round and Round" took its place in the score.

The Fantasticks, produced by Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel and Thomas Viertel, plays at New York's Snapple Theater Center (210 West 50th Street at Broadway).  Tickets are $76, with a special $36 ticket price for selected seating on Sunday evening performances, and can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com at (212) 307-4100.  The playing schedule is as follows: Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2 and 8:00 p.m. and Sundays at 2 and 7:00 p.m.

For more information, please visit www.fantasticksonbroadway.com.