York Theatre Company's HAPPY HUNTING Opens Tonight

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director) continues the Winter 2013 Musicals in Mufti Series with the 1956 musical hit, Happy Hunting, with book by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse, lyrics by Matt Dubey and music by Harold Karr. Directed by David Glenn Armstrong and with music direction by David Andrews Rogers, the cast stars KLea Blackhurst, and will feature Janine DiVita, Joy Franz, Jessica Grové, Seán Martin Hingston, Michael McCormick, Heather Parcells, Andrew Samonsky, Eric Sciotto, Michael Sharon and Lynne Wintersteller.

The limited engagement will play 5 performances only, March 15 - 17, 2013 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Mama Rose meets "The Hostess with the Mostes' on the Ball" in Happy Hunting, the 1956 musical that was a star vehicle written for the incomparable Ethel Merman. A huge, flamboyant, bubbly, light-hearted romp, Happy Hunting features a gag-filled book by the authors of Anything Goes and a delectable score featuring the Merman classics "Mutual Admiration Society" and "Gee, But It's Good to Be Here."

When Liz Livingstone--rich, widowed Philadelphia hostess with a heart of gold--perceives a snub at the Grace Kelly-Prince Rainier "Wedding of the Year" in Monaco, she single-mindedly sets out to snare an even more impressively titled husband for her daughter. Things get predictably complicated when she succeeds and then promptly falls for her intended son-in-law herself. Meanwhile, the bride-to-be only has eyes for the society lawyer, and Liz's dashing Duke turns out to be very possibly penniless.

"I am genetically predisposed toward celebrating the works of Ethel Merman," stated KLea Blackhurst. "I know a lot about the First Lady of Musical Theatre and have enjoyed playing some of her most celebrated roles. I've walked miles in those tiny pumps and enjoyed life from behind her proverbial highball. " She went on to add, "But never, in my wildest dreams, did I expect someone to come knocking and ask me to take a swing at Happy Hunting! It takes a genius and a fabulous theatre company to make that call."

Director David Glenn Armstrong has this to share, "Happy Hunting is a joyous re-discovery, an amazing slice of 1956 Broadway escapist fun. The score, by the "infamous" dentist caricatured in Bells are Ringing, is irresistibly addictive (I dare anyone not to have the song "If'n" stuck in their head for hours after hearing it)." The libretto, by the masters of crazy shenanigans, Lindsay and Crouse, is just plain ridiculous and includes scenes aboard a transatlantic ocean liner (naturally), a two-page conversation between Ethel Merman's character and a horse, and even a full-on fox hunt (complete with a directionally-challenged fox)." He went on to say, "I couldn't be more thrilled to be a part of bringing this delightfully silly show back to the boards with our stunning cast."

The creative team includes Wendy Seyb (Associate Director), Beth Ertz (Assistant Music Director), Jenny Leon (Assistant to the Director), and Steven Cardona (Assistant to Wendy Seyb). The Production Stage Manager is Bernita Robinson.

The performance schedule for Happy Hunting will be: Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m.* and 8:00 p.m., and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.* & 7:30 p.m. (*Audience discussions follow all matinee performances).

Tickets are priced at $39.50 and 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 (12-6 PM).

The York Theatre Company's acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series of musical theatre gems, in a simply-staged, book-in-hand concert format, has presented over 90 shows from the past in its eighteen-year history. Mufti means: "in street clothes, without the trappings associated with the original full productions."

For additional information on Musicals in Mufti, please visit www.yorktheatre.org.

The York Theatre Company is the only theater in New York City-and one of very few in the world-dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals and preserving neglected, notable shows from the past. For over four decades, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and neglected classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of Producing Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on new musicals in its Mainstage Series-most of them world, American, or New York premieres-by some of the field's most esteemed creators, and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers. Over 35 cast recordings from The York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York premieres as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, and its acclaimed revivals of Closer Than Ever, Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs.