Charles Busch Returns to Theater for the New City in THE CONFESSION OF LILY DARE

Charles Busch will return to Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Executive Artistic Director) this spring in his uproarious new comedy The Confession of Lily Dare for a limited premiere showcase engagement. Directed by Busch's longtime collaborator Carl Andress (The Tribute Artist, Judith of Bethulia, The Divine Sister), The Confession of Lily Dare will play a limited engagement of 24 performances from Wednesday, April 4 to Sunday, April 29 at Theater for the New City's Johnson Theater (155 First Avenue).

Played against the gaudy tapestry of turn-of-the-century California's notorious Barbary Coast, The Confession of Lily Dare tells the story of one woman's tumultuous passage from convent girl to glittering cabaret chanteuse to infamous madam of a string of brothels. Behind her every move lies her greatest secret: her undying devotion to the child she was forced to abandon. The Confession of Lily Dare is the latest comic melodrama written by and starring Mr. Busch, the legendary master of theatrical parodies such as Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, Die Mommie Die!, and The Divine Sister. Here, Mr. Busch and Mr. Andress celebrate the gauzy "confession film" tearjerkers of early 1930s pre-code cinema, such as The Sin of Madelon Claudet, Frisco Jenny, and Madame X.

Busch returns to Theater for the New City, where he created comedy gold with Cleopatra (2016), Judith of Bethulia (2012), and The Divine Sister (2010), which producer Daryl Roth transferred for a record-breaking and highly acclaimed Off-Broadway run. All three productions, directed by Mr. Andress, became immediate sold-out hits for the landmark downtown theater.

Mr. Busch said, "For almost four decades Theater for the New City has been my artistic home. It's the place where I began my career on the Lower East Side and each time I return I once more rediscover the sheer joy of creating theater."

The creative team for The Confession of Lily Dare includes B.T. Whitehill (Scenic and Graphic Design), Rachel Townsend (Costume Design), Jessica Jahn (Costume Design for Mr. Busch), Kirk Bookman (Lighting Design), Bart Fasbender (Sound Design), and Katherine Carr (Wig Design).

Additional casting for The Confession of Lily Dare will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Confession of Lily Dare will rehearse at Theater for the New City prior to starting performances at the venue's Johnson Theater on Wednesday, April 4.

Tickets for The Confession of Lily Dare are on sale now via SmartTix.com. All tickets are $25 and seating is general admission.

BIOGRAPHIES

Charles Busch (Playwright, Lily Dare) is the author and star of such plays as The Divine Sister, Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, The Tribute Artist, and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, which ran for nearly two years on Broadway and received a Tony nomination for Best Play. He wrote and starred in the film versions of his plays, Psycho Beach Party and Die Mommie Die!, the latter of which won him the Best Performance Award at the Sundance Film Festival. In 2003, Mr. Busch received a special Drama Desk Award for career achievement as both performer and playwright. He is also the subject of the acclaimed documentary film The Lady in Question is Charles Busch. He is a two-time MAC award winner and has performed his cabaret act in many cities including San Francisco, Provincetown, New Orleans, Atlanta, Philadelphia, London, Paris, and in New York at the Ballroom, Birdland, and 54 Below. His website is charlesbusch.com.

Carl Andress (Director). Mr. Andress' directing credits include the world premieres of Charles Busch's critically acclaimed plays The Divine Sister, The Tribute Artist, The Third Story, Judith of Bethulia,Cleopatra, Bunnicula, Queen Amarantha, and Shanghai Moon, as well as the New York production of Die! Mommie Die! and the annual Times Square Angel at Theater for the New City. Other credits include Matthew Lombardo's Who's Holiday!, Carmen Pelaez's Rum & Coke, Douglas Carter Beane's The Cartells, Joe Godfrey's Romance Language, and regional productions of Paul Rudnick's I Hate Hamlet, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife, My Fair Lady and Crush the Infamous Thing - The Adventures of the Hollywood Four. Mr. Andress staged the New York concert premieres of The Visit, A Wonderful Life, Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol, and Valley of the Dolls, all to benefit The Actors Fund. He has also directed such productions as Tenderloin, Harold & Maude, I Love My Wife, and The Mad Show for the York Theatre's "Musicals in Mufti" series, as well as Here's to the Girls! and Being Comden & Green for the 92Y's "Lyrics and Lyricists" series. His website is carlandress.com.

Photo Credit: Michael Wakefield

To post a comment, you must register and login.