Photo Flash: The York's 'Grind'

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) presents a concert revival of GRIND, the latest show in the Musicals in Mufti Series, the York's acclaimed program of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances. 'Mufti' (pronounced MUFF' tee) means "in street clothes; without the usual trappings."  With music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Ellen Fitzhugh, book by Fay Kanin and a new book by Brad Rouse, GRIND plays five performances only on June 13-June 15.  For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.yorktheatre.org, or call the York box office at 212-935-5820.  The box office is open Monday to Friday, Noon-6pm.
 
The cast features: Bob Ari (Die Mommie Die!) as Harry, Joe Cassidy (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as Doyle, Nikki Renee Daniels (Les Miserables) as Satin, Brandon Victor Dixon (The Color Purple) as Leroy, Wendy Fox (Rent, National Tour) as a Stripper, Chasten Harmon (Iphigenia 2.0) as Clementine, Linda Hart (The Great American Trailer Park Musical) as Romaine, Larry Keith (Caroline, or Change) as Gus, Max Quinlan (New Voices) as a Juggler, Michele Ragusa (Kiss Me Kate, Paper Mill) as Lizzie, Christopher Sergeeff (Boys from Syracuse, Centerstage) as Juggler, Kelly Sullivan (Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein) as Glyde/Katie and Jasmin Walker (Avenue Q) as Ruby.  Steven Marzullo is music director, and Annette Jolles directs.
 
GRIND is the story of a seedy 1930s Chicago burlesque house that draws Depression-era customers with a daring mix of white and African American performers. When a backstage romance crosses racial lines and women refuse to be sexually exploited, the show must go on—or will it?  This production includes a new libretto and songs not previously heard in NYC. The original Broadway production opened at the Mark Hellinger Theatre in 1985 under the direction of Harold Prince.
 
Over the past 14 years, the York's Musicals in Mufti Series has presented more concert productions of musicals than any other series in the world. This Mufti series is made up of shows with music by composer Larry Grossman and features three of his shows: Minnie's Boys, Grind (June 13-15) and Goodtime Charley (June 27-29). These will be followed by the premiere of Compose Yourself! (July 11-13), a revue of songs Grossman has written for stage, screen and television that will introduce the York's latest series, New2NY—New York City premieres of musicals in staged concert performances. Compose Yourself! will be directed by Stuart Ross, with Larry Grossman himself at the piano.
 
The York is the only theater in New York City—and one of very few in the world—dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals, and preserving shows from the past.  For more than three decades, the York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and rarely seen classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike.  Under the guidance of Producing 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. Nearly 30 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD. Commercial transfers of such York productions as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, and acclaimed revivals of Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs. York's Musicals in Mufti Series, which offers rarely seen works from the past, has produced more titles than any other musical theatre concert series, and is the only series that has presented works from on Broadway and Off-, as well as from London's West End. The Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Avenue Q made its first appearance as part of York's Developmental Reading Series, which presents over 40 free readings of new musicals every year.
 
For ticket information visit www.yorktheatre.org or call 212-935-5820.

Linda Hart and Steven Marzullo

Linda Hart and Wendy Fox

Brandon Victor Dixon

Joe Cassidy and Larry Keith

Wendy Fox, Nikki Renee Daniels, Joe Cassidy, and Christopher Sergeeff

Chasten Harmon

Cast Photo: Back row: Max Quinlan, Jasmin Walker, Michele Ragusa, Brandon Victor Dixon, Wendy Fox, Bob Ari; Second Row: Nikki Renee Daniels, Kelly Sullivan, Joe Cassidy, Linda Hart, Chasten Harmon, Larry Keith; Front: Christohper Sergeeff

Full Company. Back Row: Lyricist Ellen Fitzhugh, Director Annette Jolles, Max Quinlan, Jasmin Walker, Michele Ragusa, Brandon Victor Dixon, Wendy Fox, Bob Ari, Larry Keith; Second Row: Music Director Steven Marzullo, Nikki Renee Daniels, Kelly Sullivan, Joe Cassidy, Linda Hart, Composer Larry Grossman, Chasten Harmon; Front: Lighting Designer Christopher Robinson, Production Stage Manager Sarah Butke, Christohper Sergeeff, Assistant Stage Manager Bailie Slevin

Jasmin Walker, Brandon Victor Dixon, Nikki Renee Daniels, Chasten Harmon, and Wendy Fox

Linda Hart and Nikki Renee Daniels

Nikki Renee Daniels and Brandon Victor Dixon

Bob Ari

Photos by Ben Strothmann.