York's Developmental Reading Series to Feature THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, COMMANDERS IN CHIEF & More This Month

The York Theatre Company, and its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, will present three new works: The Sleeping Beauty that has book, music & lyrics by Benjamin P. Wenzelberg, Commanders-In-Chief written by P.J. Barry, and Cheer Wars with book & lyrics by Gordon Leary and music by Karlan Judd at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). The readings are open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00.

The Sleeping Beauty, a new opera, has book, music & lyrics by Benjamin P. Wenzelberg, winner of ASCAP's 2014 Morton Gould Young Composer Award and the Charlotte V. Bergen Scholarship Award. The Sleeping Beauty finds a beautiful Princess trying to find a Prince, with an Evil Wise Woman who casts magic spells. The Princess falls into a deep sleep for 100 years along with everyone in her castle. Will a Prince arrive in time to save the Kingdom and be true love the Princess is looking for? With direction and music direction by Mr. Wenzelberg, the cast features Dominic Armstrong as the Prince, Nicole DeLuca as the Frog, Lauren Flanigan as the Evil Wise Woman, John Hancock as the Old Man, Anna Noggle as the Last Wise Woman, Kate Oberjat as Rosamond, Sara Beth Pearson as the Queen, and Justin Ryan as the King with Mark Ahramjian, Remy Canario, Matt Cervoni, Andrew DeJoseph, Christine Duncan, Alistair Hamilton, Lauren Orlando, Eric Nold, and Bianca Rose. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY: TONIGHT. February 9, 2015 at 6:00 p.m.

Commanders-In-Chief, written by P.J. Barry, takes place after a chaotic rehearsal when 6 community volunteers stampede through a fund raising one-night-only tribute performance to our 44 Presidents. Directed by Frank McGrory, the cast will feature Dennis Parlato, Bill Tatum, Donna Vivino, John Wernke, and C.J. Wilson. ONE PERFORMANCE ONLY: Tuesday, February 10, 2015 at 2:30 p.m.

Cheer Wars is a new musical with book & lyrics by Gordon Leary and music by Karlan Judd and winner of the 2009 Richard Rodgers Award. Halle Bolingbroke is going to be the next captain of the New London Lady Leopard Varsity Cheer Squad, whether she likes it or not. After all, her mom, Doretha, is the former captain and current coach. But when Nuella Percy, Doretha's long-lost cheer-nemesis, returns to New London with her cheerleading machine of a daughter, Charmain, a battle erupts for control of the squad. And, cheerleading itself. Inspired by Henry IV, Part 1 and the true story of the Texas-cheerleader-murdering mom. Directed by Hunter Foster, and with music direction by Vadim Feichtner, the cast includes Britney Coleman, Annie Golden, Molly Hager, Stephanie Hsu, Amy Linden, Alyse Alan Louis, Robb Sapp, Dana Steingold, Sally Struthers, and Mary Testa. TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY: Thursday, February 19 at 3:00 p.m. and Friday, February 20 at 12:00 p.m.

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

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