Burkhardt, Cuccioli, Earley Cast In LOVE SONGS Reading 10/29

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces casting for Love Songs the next offering in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series. As always, these readings are open to the general public and admission is free, but reservations are suggested and can be obtained by visiting yorktheatre.org to make reservations online or by calling 212-935-5824 x24. Reservations are no longer accepted via email. Reservations for Love Songs are full and now being accepted for the waitlist only.

Love Songs

By Steven Kagan

Thursday, October 29, 2009 • 7:30 PM

The cast of Love Songs features Brandi Burkhardt (A Tale of Two Cities), Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll & Hyde), Kevin Earley (A Tale of Two Cities), Fleur Phillips (The Rise and Fall of Little Voice), Jacquelyn Piro Donovan (Les Misérables) and Nicholas Rodgriguez (Tarzan).

What could be more romantic than a wedding weekend at a luxurious resort hotel? The bride is semi-frantic and wholly pregnant, her sister (and maid-of-honor) is fed up with her own fiancé and ready to bolt, and the groom is stuck out of town and having second thoughts. Is this wedding to be or not to be? From confusion to happy ending, the songs soar and harmony finally prevails.

The York Theatre Company was nominated for five 2009 Drama Desk Awards, four Lucille Lortel Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Drama League Awards for its productions of Enter Laughing, The Musical and My Vaudeville Man! last season. York Theatre Company is one of the only companies in the city committed to developing and producing new Musical Theatre Works and rediscovering musical gems from the past. Winner of a special Drama Desk Award for developing and producing new musical theatre, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike for almost four decades. Under the guidance of 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.

Each year, York's Developmental Reading Series presents between 30 to 40 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors, all free of charge and open to the public. Reading Series Coordinator Jeff Landsman says, "These readings give writers a unique opportunity to get audience feedback while a show is still in progress and gives audiences an active role in the creative process." York's productions of Souvenir and The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) were first developed in the Developmental Reading Series, where the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Avenue Q also made early appearances. The Developmental Reading Series is made possible in part by The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.

Photo credit: Peter James Zielinski