Thorstein Veblen Sings! Economic Vaudeville by Kleban Winner Charles Leipart plays Provincetown Playhouse

Thorstein Veblen, dismissed from the professorial ranks of Barnard College for Women, takes to the Vaudeville stage to promote his latest economic treatise, THEORY OF THE LEISURE CLASS. Using a group of unemployed actors, Veblen introduces you to the foibles and follies of "conspicuous consumption" as displayed by New York's leisure class during the turn of the century in this sassy new musical.

With Book and Lyrics by Kleban Award-winner Charles Leipart, and Music by Richard B. Evans, "Thorstein Veblen's THEORY OF THE LEISURE CLASS" receives its premiere production beginning Wednesday, March 23rd for five performances at the historic Provincetown Playhouse in Greenwich Village.

Produced by the New York University Steinhardt School of Music and Performing Arts, LEISURE CLASS is a musical comedy romp demonstrating that not much has changed in over 100 years of American conspicuous consumption. One of the songs, "Greed Is Good" as performed by Matt Bogart, is available to listeners of Broadwayworld.com Radio at broadwayworld.com/radio under "Lyrics by Leipart: Songs for the Theatre."

Charles Leipart, bookwriter and lyricist, was awarded the prestigious Edward Kleban Award, among other awards. His new musical comedy, THE FROG PRINCE, with music by Eric Schorr, will be presented at the Cardiff International Festival of Musical Theatre next month. It will also be seen at the Edinburgh Festival in August, and also in August at Theatre Building Chicago Stages 2005. Another of his musicals, THE SHOWGIRL ON 52ND STREET, music by John Kroner, is scheduled to be presented in New York City in April 2005.

Composer Richard B. Evans' music has been performed in New York City from LaMaMa to Carnegie Hall; throughout North America in concerts from San Diego to Toronto; and also in England, Ireland, Italy, France, Norway, Germany and Greece. A musical version of Synge's THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD is one of his current projects in addition to LEISURE CLASS.

Karen Azenberg directs and choreographs the student cast. Most recently she directed THE SOUP COMES LAST (59E59 Theatre – New York), THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND (Cape Playhouse) and choreographed THE DEAD (Pioneer Theatre). Other New York credits include choreography for Richard Greenberg's THE DAZZLE (Roundabout), direction and choreography for PROM QUEENS UNCHAINED (Village Gate) and BLOCKS by Jonathan Larson. Ms. Azenberg is the Executive Vice –President of Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

"Thorstein Veblen's THEORY OF THE LEISURE CLASS" performance schedule is

Wednesday, March 23rd (Free Preview)
Thursday, March 24th at 8 p.m.
Friday, March 25th at 8 p.m.
Saturday, March 26th at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

General Admission: 15 dollars
Reservations call: 212-998-5281

The historic Provincetown Playhouse is located at 133 MacDougal Street in the Village.