York Theatre Company to Stage Elizabeth Swados' NIGHTCLUB CANTATA, 6/28-29

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Interim Executive Director; David McCoy, Chairman of the Board), as part of The York Theatre's Musical Theatre Training Program, and in association with Rosita Sarnoff andCraig Zehms, presents The Marymount Manhattan College Student Workshop Presentation of Nightclub Cantata with music by Elizabeth Swados and words by Swados and David Avidan, Nazim Hikmet, Nancy Larrick, Isabella Leitner, Eve Merriam, Pablo Neruda, Frank O'Hara, Sylvia Plath, Muriel Rukeyser, and Delmore Schwartz, at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just East of Lexington Avenue).

Directed and choreographed by Bill Castellino (York's Cagney, Storyville) and with music direction by Ryan Touhey (The Three Maries, Passion), the cast will feature Michael Balin, Brian Fender-Shirley, Emma Gibson, Claire Idstrom, Noah Pyzik, and Nicolette Shin, with Dave LeBlanc on drums.

Nightclub Cantata will play 4 performances only: June 28 & 29 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Performances are open to the public with a $10.00 advance reservation fee (complimentary for York Theatre's Platinum Members and Marymount Manhattan College students with valid I.D.; $5 for York Theatre's 54th Street Members).

In 1977, Elizabeth Swados redefined theatre music with her ground-breaking mashup of literature, poetry, sound, and song called Nightclub Cantata.With words by Swados and David Avidan, Nazim Hikmet, Nancy Larrick, Isabella Leitner, Eve Merriam, Pablo Neruda, Frank O'Hara, Sylvia Plath, Muriel Rukeyser, and Delmore Schwartz, this dazzling sung-through event is whimsical, intense, insightful, and singular - a theatrical "happening" unlike any other.

"For anyone wanting a show that is different, involved and engaging, and yet, on its own special terms, quite clearly cabaret, this is the show for you. I adored it," said New York Times critic Clive Barnes. The New Republic called it "...a vital theatre piece," while the Associated Press declared the show, "...a deft mix of poetic bits, eclectic sounds and circusy pranks." Nightclub Cantata has not been seen in New York City in nearly 40 years.

In 1978, Elizabeth Swados' Runaways was nominated for five Tony Awards, and put her decisively on the cultural landscape as an innovator, activist, and theatre icon. She wrote numerous books (fiction and non-fiction) as well as volumes of poetry and literature for juveniles and children, in addition to film scores, oratorios, and concerts, as well as more than 30 theatre works.

Director Bill Castellino was in the Boston cast of Nightclub Cantata, directed by Ms. Swados. He went on to direct the West Coast premiere and the 10thAnniversary production and tour. He has directed many works from Swados' canon including Lullaby and Goodnight, Rap Master Ronnie, Alice in Concert, Esther, and We Are Not Strangers. He is currently represented by Cagney (previously seen at The York) at the Westside Theatre in NYC.

Nightclub Cantata will play four performances only: Tuesday, June 28 and Wednesday, June 29 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. This presentation is approximately one hour. Performances are open to the public with a $10.00 advance reservation fee for each reading (complimentary for York Theatre's Platinum Members and College students with valid I.D.; $5 for York Theatre's 54th Street Members). Reservations may be made by calling (212) 935-5820, online at www.yorktheatre.org, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), Tuesday through Friday (12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.).

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