Freeman, LaCause, And More Cast In York Theatre's Cariou-Directed ONCE UPON A PASTIME Reading 8/6

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces casting for Once Upon a Pastime, 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 e-mailing Reading Series Coordinator Jeff Landsman at jlandsman@yorktheatre.org or calling 212-935-5824 x24.

Once Upon a Pastime
Thursday, August 6, 2009 at 3pm
The Next Great American (Baseball) Musical
Book by Lee Robert Schreiber; Music and Lyrics by Terry Cashman

Directing and performing in Once Upon a Pastime is Tony Award winner Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd, Applause). The cast of Once Upon a Pastime also features Dan Bogart (Les Misèrables), Cole Burden (Applause; Encores!), Cheryl Freeman (The Who's Tommy), Ikum Isaac Fryman, David Green (Wish You Were Here; Musicals in Mufti), Sebastian LaCause (The Rocky Horror Show), Matt Landers (Working), Adam Monley (Mamma Mia!), Brooke Sunny Moriber (Follies), Benjamin Perry, Richard Ruiz (Two Gentleman of Verona; Shakespeare in the Park) and Henry Strozier (Judgment at Nuremberg).

In Once Upon a Pastime, Mac, a widowed ex-ballplayer, now a bar owner in a shabby Southern town, is having a bad day. Things becomes worse as he is confronted with ghosts from his past, an unhappy daughter, a dying best friend, an African-American singer named Whitey and three travelers who may or may not be baseball gods.

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. Producing Artistic Director James Morgan 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.

Directions to The York Theatre Company in Saint Peter's Church: Enter on 54th Street Just East of Lexington, E or V train to Lexington Avenue or 6 train to 51st Street.

For more information, visit www.yorktheatre.org.

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