von Essen, Powers, King, Etc. to Take 'Measures' at NYMF

Max von Essen, Jenny Powers, Nick Wyman, Ginifer King and more will headline the cast of the new musical Desperate Measures, running as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival from September 12th through 24th at the 45th Street Theatre.

"Johnny Blood, a hotheaded young cowboy, is sentenced to hang for killing a man in a bar fight. When his sister, Susanna, a novice nun in a nearby Franciscan mission, pleads for his life, the Governor offers to pardon Johnny — if Susanna will sleep with him. What to do? The sheriff suggests Susanna say yes and then, under cover of darkness, switch places with one of the saloon girls. What happens next makes for a desperate mix of comedy, suspense and romance, in this Western musical loosely based on Shakespeare's Measure for Measure," state NYMF notes.  Eleanor Reissa directs.

The musical, which features music by David Friedman and a book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg, will feature von Essen (Kennedy Center Mame, Dance of the Vampires) as Johnny Blood, with Powers (Little Women, Of Thee I Sign at Encores!) as Bella, Wyman (Sly Fox, Les Miserables) as Governor, and Ginifer King (Steel Magnolias, Gypsy) as Susanna  It will also feature Merwin Foard (Sweeney Todd, La Cage aux Folles) as Sheriff, and Patrick Garner (The Smell of the Kill, ...Forum) as Priest.

The show will include sets by Sarah Lambert and costumes by Clint Ramos.

Visit www.nymf.org for more information.