Tony Nominee Phillip Boykin Set for York's Developmental Lab Presentation of LORD TOM

The York Theatre Company and its acclaimed Developmental LAB Series presents the musical, LORD TOM, with book by Kimberly Vaughn and Stanley Jay Gelber, and music & lyrics are by Mr. Gelber at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

There are five performances only: Monday, April 13 at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 14 at 2:30 p.m., Thursday, April 16 at 2:30 p.m. and Friday, April 17 at 10:30 a.m. & 3:00 p.m. All performances are open to the public.

Directed by Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia, and with choreography by Shannon Lewis and music direction Joshua Stephen Kartes, the cast will feature Tony Award nominee Phillip Boykin in the title role, Jelani Alladin, Nat Chandler, Carrie Compere, Maria Couch, Glory Crampton, Alan H. Green, Leah Hocking, Kevin Leak, Jr., Caitlyn McLaughlin, Kenita Miller, Amma Osei, Jim Poulos, Isaiah Register, Elizabeth Teeter, Gordon Weiss, and Michael Winther.

The creative team will include James Morgan (set), Brian Nason (lights), Alden Fulcomer (sound), Nathan Scheuer (projections), and Kimothy Cruse (production stage manager).

A beacon of hope, a thunder of truth, a rainbow of love...LORD TOM is a new American musical inspired by Harriet Beecher Stowe's seminal anti-slavery narrative, Uncle Tom's Cabin, with book by Kimberly Vaughn and Stanley Jay Gelber, and music & lyrics by Mr. Gelber. The story follows the fortunes of two slaves Eliza and Tom journeying north and south, respectively, one in shadows, the other in shackles. When first published, Ms. Stowe's book was outsold only by the bible. And now, in this 21st Century offering, directed by John Tartaglia, it continues to herald the call for universal justice, global freedom, and unity of spirit in a colorblind world. The electrifying Phillip Boykin, Tony Award nominee and Theatre World Award winner for his portrayal of Crown in Porgy & Bess, stars as Tom and leads a cast of 17 Broadway actors with a compelling script and score of twenty-six original songs ranging in musical styles from spiritual, blues, gospel, jazz, ragtime, to contemporary ballad, anthem, lullaby, and upbeat comedic swing. LORD TOM takes the audience on a journey in which faith and freedom prevail in this 21st century trajectory of the legendary novel.

Reservations can be made by visiting the website at www.yorktheatre.org.