George Abud, Caitlin Cohn, and More Will Lead York Theatre Company's LOLITA, MY LOVE

The York Theatre Company continues the 25th Anniversary of its acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series celebrating the work of the legendary librettist and lyricist Alan Jay Lerner, whose hundredth birthday was August 31, 2018. The series honors one of the creators behind such classics as Brigadoon, Camelot, Love Life, and My Fair Lady.

Closing out the popular Musicals in Mufti series celebration is the New York premiere of Lolita, My Love, with music by John Barry and book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, as edited by Erik Haagensen. Directed by Emily Maltby and with music direction by Deniz Cordell, the 13-member cast will feature George Abud (The Band's Visit) as Clare Quilty, Caitlin Cohn (The Secret Garden) as Dolores "Lolita" Haze, Robert Sella (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Humbert Humbert, Thursday Farrar (Aida) as Dr. June Ray, and Jessica Tyler Wright (Sweeney Todd) as Charlotte Haze, with Becca Fox (Singin' in the Rain), Hanako Greensmith (Spring Awakening), Victoria Huston-Elem (Finding Neverland), Jay Aubrey Jones (Assassins), Kennedy Kanagawa (Into the Woods), Max Meyers (Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story), Mark Montague (A Very Brady Musical), and Analise Scarpaci (Matilda, The Musical).

Based on the 1955 novel Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, the musical, which originally closed in Boston in 1971, closely follows the legendary novel: a college professor named Humbert Humbert becomes fascinated by and starts to seduce his landlady's young daughter, Dolores "Lolita" Haze. The fascination quickly turns into obsession, and soon a whirlwind race across the US begins. For this Mufti presentation, Erik Haagensen (Darling of the Day and The Day Before Spring in Mufti) has created a new script, edited together from Lerner's assorted drafts, each vastly different from the others. Haagensen said "now audiences will have a chance to hear Lolita on stage and decide for themselves what they think of this unquestionably daring musical that begins as a black comedy and ends in tragedy." Performances begin Saturday afternoon, February 23, 2019 and continue for 11 performances only through March 3, 2019. Opening Night will be Sunday evening, February 24, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.

The York Theatre Company's acclaimed Musicals in Mufti features musical theatre gems performed in a simply-staged, book-in-hand concert format. This is the Muftis' twenty-fifth historic year of presenting shows from the past that deserve a second look. Mufti means "in street clothes, without the trappings of a full production."

The production team includes Lighting Designer Stephen O'Shea, Production Manager Kevin Maloof, Production Stage Manager Chris Steckel, and Assistant Stage Manager Kayla Santos. Casting for Lolita, My Love is by Carol Hanzel.

Lolita, My Love will play the following 11-performance schedule- First Week: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 & 7:00 p.m.; Second Week: Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., Thursday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

The 2019 Winter series opened with Carmelina, with music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, additional lyrics by Barry Harman, and book by Joseph Stein and Alan Jay Lerner. Directed by Michael Leeds (Bette and Barry: From Bathhouse to Broadway), it had music direction by David Hancock Turner (Desperate Measures). It was followed by the 1945 musical The Day Before Spring, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by his longtime collaborator Frederick Loewe. It was adapted and directed by Marc Acito (Allegiance) and had music direction by David Hancock Turner.

SPECIAL ONE-NIGHT ONLY MUFTI SERIES EVENTS: Almost Like Being in Love: An Evening of Lerner & Loewe...and Friends (A Concert) on Monday, February 25, 2019, at 7:00 p.m.

The final added event will be In Philly, Boston, or Baltimo', a discussion with Josh Ellis and Peter Filichia who witnessed out-of-town tryouts of countless Broadway shows in Philadelphia and Boston, respectively, who are delighted to discuss them in detail Saturday afternoon, March 2, 2019 at 5:00 p. m.

Single tickets for the Winter 2019 Musicals in Mufti series are priced at $45 (Weekdays and Saturday nights) and $50 (Weekend matinees). York Member single tickets are priced at $31.50 (all performances). Single tickets for Almost Like Being in Love are priced at $30; In Philly Boston or Baltimo' are priced at $25.

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