Photo Flash: The York's 'Minnie's Boys'

The York Theatre Company's (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) concert revival of MINNIE'S BOYS, the first show in its latest Musicals in Mufti Series—the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances—has sold out. 'Mufti' (pronounced MUFF' tee) means "in street clothes; without the usual trappings."  With music by Larry Grossman, lyrics by Hal Hackady and book by Arthur Marx and Robert Fisher, MINNIE'S BOYS plays May 30-June 1. 
 
The cast features: Tony nominee Pamela Myers (Company) as Minnie Marx, Jim Walton (Show Boat) as Al Shean, Dan Bogart (Les Miserables) as Herbie/Zeppo, Ryan Duncan (Shrek the Musical) as Leonard/Chico, Nick Gaswirth (The Water) as Adolph/Harpo, Beth Glover (Take Me Along) as Mrs. McNish, Erik Liberman (Lovemusik) as Julie/Groucho, Don Mayo (Man of La Mancha) as Albie, Nancy McCall (Nine) as Mrs. Flanigan, Emily Shoolin (Enter Laughing) as Miss Murdock, Kelly Sullivan (Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein) as Cindy and Stuart Zagnit (Seussical) as Sam Marx.  Matt Castle serves as music director and Stuart Ross (creator of Forever Plaid) directs.
 
MINNIE'S BOYS is loosely inspired by the early adventures of the Marx Brothers. Would any mother envy Minnie Marx, whose five teenage sons make her life endless chaos? She encourages the boys' dreams of vaudeville stardom, touring with them through good times and bad until the quintet become known to the world as Harpo, Chico, Gummo, Zeppo and Groucho.  The original Broadway production opened on March 26, 1970 at the Imperial Theatre. 
 
Over the past 14 years, the York's Musicals in Mufti Series has presented more musicals than any other such series in the world. The Summer '08 Mufti series is made up of shows with music by composer Larry Grossman and features three of his Broadway 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.  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 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, as well as preserving shows from the past.  For more than three decades, 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 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, and 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. The York Theatre Company is in Saint Peter's Theatre- 54th Street just east of Lexington- take the E train to Lexington Avenue or 6 train to 51st Street

Music Director Matt Castle and Emily Shoolin

Nick Gaswirth and Composer Larry Grossman

Lyricist Hal Hackady and Pamela Myers

Anne Kaufman Schneider and Producing Artistic Director, James Morgan

Lyricist Hal Hackady and Composer Larry Grossman

Back row: Ryan Duncan, Pamela Myers, Director Stuart Ross,Dan Bogart; Front: Nick Gaswirth, Erik Liberman

Stuart Zagnit and Jim Walton

Photos from the York Theatre Company.