WALDEN Set for The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity

The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity presents Walden, a story-theatre style musical adaptation of Thoreau's best seller, featuring his work on the underground railroad and his star-crossed romance. Book and Lyrics for Walden are written by Katherine Brann Fredricks and the music is composed by Bert Draesel. Brian Maschka directs a cast of ten including Drew Aber, Cole Burden, Susannah Jones, Lisa Lamothe, Heather Lundstedt, Ronnie Nelson, Kurt Robbins, Thalia St. Hubert, Doug Shapiro, Forest VanDyke, with additional cast members to be announced shortly. Six performances for Walden will be held at the Robert Moss Theatre, 440 Lafayette Street, NYC from May 29-June 15 as part of The Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. The Festivity will take place May 29th through June 23rd at Gene Frankel and Robert Moss Theatres in New York City.

Synopsis
The Mayor orders his daughter out of Walden Woods, to keep her out of the arms of rabble-rousing jailbird, Henry Thoreau. Yet more than young lovers sneak through the huckleberries. Love and freedom conflict in this musical adaptation of Thoreau's best-seller, featuring his work on the underground railroad.

From the Playwright
"We often think of human rights and the environment as separate issues, but Thoreau combined them in his observation of living ecosystems. Both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Gandhi credited Thoreau with inventing non-violent civil disobedience, and Thoreau worked actively on the underground railroad. Walden has evolved from a collection of art songs, to a musical drama about the conflict that arises when a man takes a moral stand that his friends and neighbors find uncomfortable, impractical and illegal."

Walden is presented by the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Co-Producers: Katherine Fredricks & Bert Draesel; Director: Brian Maschka; Musical Director & Additional Arrangements: J. Oconer Navarro; Lighting Designer: Travis McHale; Costume Designer: David "DW" Withrow; Publicist: Paul Siebold/Off Off PR.

Walden plays the following schedule as part of the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity: Wednesday, May 29 @ 6:30pm; Thursday, May 30 @ 4:30pm; Friday, May 31 @ 7:00pm; Sunday, June 2 @ 2:30pm; Tuesday, June 11 @ 6:00pm;Saturday, June 15 @ 1:30pm.

Tickets are $18 and can be purchased online at www.planetconnections.org/walden or by calling 212-352-3101.