York Theatre Company to Launch Winter MUSICAL IN MUFTI Series in February

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and the preservation of musical gems from the past, celebrates the world of the musical revue with the announcement of the Winter 2016 Musicals in Mufti series. The 2-show series will launch with Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, a musical entertainment with book, music, and lyrics by Micki Grant, conceived by Vinnette Carroll, under the direction of Leslie Dockery (February 27 - March 6, 2016), and Starting Here, Starting Now, music by David Shire, with lyrics and direction by Richard Maltby, Jr. (March 12 - 20, 2016)at the York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Tickets are now on sale.

The York Theatre Company's acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series of musical theatre gems, performed in a simply-staged, book-in-hand concert format, celebrates its twenty-first historic year with the 102nd and 103rd presentations of shows from the past. Mufti means "in street clothes, without the trappings associated with a full production."

Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope, a musical entertainment with book, music, and lyrics by Micki Grant and conceived by Vinnette Carroll, will be directed by Leslie Dockery. With five 1972 Tony Award nominations (including Best Musical) and an Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical the same year, the show also won Micki Grant a Grammy Award for best score-the first female to be so honored. Ms. Grant was also one of the stars of the show, which came to Broadway after successful runs in Washington DC, Detroit, and Philadelphia. A dynamic mixture of gospel, jazz, funk, soul, calypso, and soft rock, the show illuminates the African-American experience with vibrant song and dance. Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope was describedas "a cultural pulse-taking of the challenges facing the black community in America" and is the first Broadway musical written entirely by a woman and the first Broadway production to be directed by a female African-American. T. E. Kalem, writing in TIME Magazine, said, "all heaven breaks loose on stage. This is the kind of show at which you want to blow kisses." Performances begin Saturday afternoon, February 27, 2016 for a limited engagement through March 6, 2016.

Starting Here, Starting Now, music by David Shire, lyrics and direction by Richard Maltby, Jr. From first kiss to painful breakup, romantic relationships come full circle in this thrilling and touching intimate revue by the team that brought you Big, Baby, and York's recent, award-winning runaway hit, Closer Than Ever. This bold, extroverted revue takes a journey through the maze of modern relationships with its heart firmly on its sleeve. As with all of Maltby and Shire's work, each song is an impeccably crafted story--original, engaging, bursting with character, and showcasing the versatility and charisma of its performer using songs from their various early musicals (produced or otherwise). From tender ballads to hysterical husband-hunting laments, from wry comments on trendy marriages to ecstatic shouting-from-the-rooftop celebration, Starting Here, Starting Now has an appealing freshness as relevant today as it was when it premiered in 1976. Performances begin Saturday afternoon, March 12, 2016 for a limited engagement through March 20, 2016.

"The York Theatre Company has celebrated many milestones over the past 46 years and we are proud to add additional Mufti presentations to our collection," stated James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director at The York. "Whether you are a returning member or a first timer, we hope you will enjoy these exciting shows with us."

Musicals in Mufti will play the following 10-performance schedule -- First Week: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 6:00 p.m.; Second Week: Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE! Single tickets for the General Public go on sale January 12 and are priced at $45, or buy both Muftis for $65 and save $25.Musicals in Mufti tickets are available online at www.yorktheatre.org, by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), Monday through Friday (12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m).

York Theatre Company Members save even more. The Membership Package, priced at $54, includes exclusive savings on all York Theatre Company performances, VIP Member-Only Receptions, priority access to special events and programming, discounts on lobby concessions and merchandise, and special ticket exchange privileges. For additional information, please visit www.yorktheatre.org.