PLATINUM Opens at FringeNYC 8/17-21

The new developmental production of Platinum (www.PlatinumTheMusical.com) starring Donna Bullock (Ragtime, City of Angels, A Class Act) will play the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street) as part of the 2010 NY International Fringe Festival. UnsungMusicalsCo. Inc. presents the musical which will play the following times:

-Tuesday, August 17 at 5 PM
-Wednesday, August 18 at 7:15 PM
-Thursday, August 19 at 11:30 PM
-Friday, August 20 at 2 PM
-Saturday, August 21 at 9:15 PM

Bruce Sabath (Company), Wayne Wilcox (Coram Boy) and Jay Wilkison (Rent) complete the cast, which includes the previously announced Sarah Litzsinger (Beauty and the Beast, Amour). Donna Bullock replaces Liz Larsen, who has withdrawn due to a scheduling conflict.

With book by Tony Award nominee Will Holt and Emmy Award winner Bruce Vilanch, music by Tony Award nominee Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Mr. Holt, this new version features revisions and direction by Ben West (How Now, Dow Jones).

An electrifying story of ambition and survival, Platinum follows Lila Halliday (Bullock), a dazzling Hollywood legend trying to make a comeback in the explosive music industry of the 1970s. Determined to reignite her career, she turns to rock star Dan Riley (Wilkison) and finds herself falling for him as they both fight to stay in the game.

Tickets for Platinum will go on sale Friday, July 23 via www.FringeNYC.org or by calling 866-468-7619. For more information, visit: www.PlatinumTheMusical.com.

This new one-act version of Platinum will be performed by a cast of five and feature two new songs ("This One's for Me", "Moments"), with four other musical numbers and eight characters having been eliminated. The production is choreographed by Rommy Sandhu (How Now, Dow Jones, Mary Poppins) with musical arrangements by Mr. Friedman ("The Electric Company") and musical direction by Fran Minarik (Sessions, The J.A.P. Show).

Said director Ben West: "Platinum is an extraordinary project on which I began working four years ago. In addition to focusing the story, we have redefined the musical language of the show by eliminating four songs and adding two new numbers, one which was cut prior to and another which was written after the original run. The time has also shifted to 1976, the year in which the Recording Industry began issuing platinum certifications. With its unique concept and its exhilarating original material, I am thrilled to be further developing this project as part of the New York International Fringe Festival and look forward to returning Platinum to the stage."

The original Broadway production of Platinum opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre on November 12, 1978 starring Alexis Smith under the direction of Joe Layton. The production played 33 performances and received two Tony Award nominations for Smith and co-star Richard Cox. It has not been seen since. An earlier version titled Sunset was directed and choreographed by Tommy Tune at the Studio Arena Theatre in 1977. The authors, Holt and Friedman, revisited their original Sunset in 1983 at the Village Gate. The cabaret production starred Tammy Grimes.

Donna Bullock most recently played Leanne in Jeffrey Sweet's "Flyovers" and Essie in Take Me Along at the Irish Rep. On Broadway she played Mother in Ragtime (Jefferson Award - Chicago production), Lucy in A Class Act (Ovation Nomination - L.A. production) and Bobbie/Gabby in City of Angels. Some other random theatrical favorites include "Rabbit Hole" at the Huntington in Boston, "Foxfire" with Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy, "Sweet Bird of Youth" with Lauren Bacall (both at the Ahmanson in L.A.), "Terra Nova" - Mark Taper Forum), "Me and My Girl" opposite Tim Curry (1st Nat. tour), "Top Girls" at The Public Theater (Obie Award), "Portrait Of Jennie," Julie Taymor's "Liberty's Taken" and Beatrice to her husband, Sherman Howard's, Benedick in "Much Ado About Nothing" at the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey. In addition to numerous television appearances ("Monk," "Medium," "Six Feet Under," "Smallville," "Frasier," "Touched by an Angel" to name a few), Donna starred in the brief but critically acclaimed NBC series, "Against the Grain." She was also featured in Wolfgang Peterson's "Air Force One" and "Girl Next Door."

Bruce Sabath Broadway: Larry in Company (2007 Tony® Award - Best Revival). New York: Jerusalem Syndrome (NYMF, American Musical Award), Prince Hal (title role, OOBR Award), The Tempest (Storm Theatre), Fleet Week (Best Musical, FringeNYC), Titanic: The Musical in Concert. Regional/Tour: Frost/Nixon (as Nixon. Caldwell Theatre, Southeast regional premiere), Company (Cincinnati Playhouse), Brookyn Boy (Florida Studio Theatre, Handy® Award), Imaginary Invalid, Lost in Yonkers (Schoolhouse Theater), Cabaret (Arts Center of Coastal Carolina), Gypsy (Forestburgh Playhouse), Chicago, Jekyll & Hyde, 1776 (WV Public), Victor/Victoria National Tour. Graduate of Harvard, Wharton and the William Esper Studio. www.BruceSabath.com.

Wayne Wilcox Broadway/New York Theater: Coram Boy, Suddenly, Last Summer (Roundabout Theater), The Great American Trailer Park Musical (New World Stages), A Man Of No Importance (Lincoln Center Theater). Theater Favorites: The Importance of Being Earnest (Paper Mill Playhouse), The Full Monty (Paper Mill Playhouse, Best Actor in a Lead Role-Musical, Award), The Last Five Years (Philadelphia Theater Company), The Sisters Rosensweig (George Street Playhouse). Film/TV: Rent, Interview, "The Gilmore Girls", "Law and Order".

Jay Wilkison Broadway - Rent (Roger), National Tour - Rent; TV/FILM - Rabbit Hole, Perfect Stranger, "Nurse Jackie", "Rescue Me", "Law & Order", "One Life To Live" (Riley Colson) & Rent (Filmed Live On Broadway).

UNSUNGMUSICALSCO. INC. (Ben West, Artistic Director) is a not-for-profit Production Company dedicated to the preservation of musical theatre through the presentation of infrequently performed works. Focusing primarily on overlooked projects from the Golden Age, both hits and substantive misses, UMC treats each property as a new musical thereby providing a unique collaboration between the artists of today and those of the past. Current projects include new productions of Platinum, Lend an Ear and the critically acclaimed How Now, Dow Jones, the new version of which is available for licensing through Samuel French, Inc.

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