York Announces First Two Muftis with Cryer and Ford

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) has announced the first two titles for its upcoming Summer 2011 Musicals in Mufti Concert Series-the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances taking place in June and July 2011. Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford's late-70s Off Broadway hit, I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road will play in repertory with the world premiere of the show's sequel, Still Getting My Act Together. Both shows will be directed by West Hyler, and the sequel will include three original cast members from the first show where Cryer will reprise her role of Heather Jones. Performances will run from June 18-26, 2011.

This summer's Mufti Series will also serve as the kick-off for York's 42nd Season: "York Celebrates Off-Broadway," which will also include Mainstage productions and other special events dedicated to commemorating Off-Broadway musicals. The other two shows in the Muftis will be announced at York's upcoming NEO7 concert on Monday, May 16th; those shows will play the weekends of July 15th and July 29th, respectively. I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road and Still Getting My Act Together will be presented in repertory as a special Musicals in Mufti event, requiring separate tickets for each staged concert performance (York's Musicals in Mufti series has presented over 75 shows from the past in simply-staged concert format; Mufti means -in street clothes, without the trappings associated with the original productions.) Each of these shows will run approximately 90 minutes, with no intermission. There will be a 30-minute break between Muftis on Thursday and Friday evenings, and Saturday and Sunday matinees. There will be an extended 90-minute dinner break between evening Muftis on Saturday and Sunday only.

Jim Morgan, York's Producing Artistic Director, said, -I am delighted to kick off our multi-month celebration of Off-Broadway with Gretchen and Nancy's shows. That one is an iconic long-running hit from the past, and the other a world premiere perfectly encapsulates all that York does. Still Getting... is the first premiere in the Mufti series, but why not? Rules are made to be broken!?

York will provide local restaurant recommendations with discount offers for a quick dining experience during the dinner breaks; snacks will be on sale at the theater for the shorter breaks. Within the next few days, this information will be available at www.yorktheatre.org or from a box office representative. Two-show Rep Package tickets will be priced at $67.50. Individual tickets for both shows will also be available at the regular Mufti price of $39.50.

Show information:

I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road
Book and Lyrics by Gretchen Cryer
Music by Nancy Ford
I'm Getting My Act Together and Taking It on the Road by Gretchen Cryer and Nancy Ford (The Last Sweet Days of Isaac, Shelter) is one of the most enduring and empowering Off-Broadway musicals of all time. The show premiered in the late 1970s Off-Broadway at The Public Theater and ran for years, becoming a sensation for all theatre-goers. The story follows a fictional cabaret singer, Heather Jones, as she evolves her traditional act of romantic pop tunes to a bold new act full of emancipating, feminist pieces. As she performs the new show, song by song, Heather fights to achieve an artistic metamorphosis while her dominating manager, Joe, tries to keep her act in the past. Director: West Hyler.

Still Getting My Act Together
Book and Lyrics by Gretchen Cryer
Music by Nancy Ford
The never-before-seen-or-heard sequel, Still Getting My Act Together, takes place 30 years after the original and will also be presented Mufti-style for the first time ever onstage. In this new show, Heather and her daughter take center stage and will uncover just what happened in the three decades since Heather got her act together and took it on the road... And, in a real treat for music theatre aficionados, the sequel will feature three cast members from the original production: Gretchen Cryer (also the show's librettist), Betty Aberlin and Margot Rose. Nancy Ford also returns as composer. Director: West Hyler.

Performance Schedule:
Sunday, June 19; Saturday, June 25; and Sunday, June 26:
12:30 PM: I'm Getting My Act Together...
2:00 PM: 30-minute break
2:30 PM: Still Getting My Act Together
5:30 PM: I'm Getting My Act Together...
7:00 PM: 90-minute dinner break
8:30 PM: Still Getting My Act Together

Thursday, June 23; and Friday, June 24:
7:00 PM: I'm Getting My Act Together...
8:30 PM: 30-minute break
9:00 PM: Still Getting My Act Together

The York Theatre Company 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 neglected, notable shows from the past. Over the past two seasons, York productions and artists have been nominated for a combined 19 Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Off Broadway Alliance, AUDELCO and Callaway Awards (and its productions of Yank! A WWII Love Story and Enter Laughing, The Musical have both been announced for Broadway). For over four decades, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and neglected 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. Over 35 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York premieres as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, and its acclaimed revivals of Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs.

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