OUR MUTUAL FRIEND Musical Staged Readings Set for 10/19

Our Mutual Friend, A New Musical based on Charles Dickens' final novel with music and lyrics by Larry Gelb and book adapted by Elizabeth and Larry Gelb will be performed in Staged Reading format featuring the composer at the piano, with bass (Myles Sloniker) and drums (Daniel Rabinow) at Actors' Temple Theater on Monday October 19th at 2PM and 7PM.Mark Harborth directs. The cast includes Matthew Amira* (The Most Happy Fella at Goodspeed), Mark Blowers, Kathryn Boswell* (Gigi on Broadway), Kyle Bradford, Jamie Buxton*(Me and My Girl at Reagle Theatre), Joseph Cassese*,James Patterson* (Beauty and the Beast on Broadway), Erika Person* (Iolanthe at City Center), Matthew Wages* (The Pirates of Penzance at City Center), Nicholas Wuehrmann*, Elizabeth Urbanczyk and Jacob Voight. (*Member of Actors' Equity)

Our Mutual Friend opens in London circa 1864 as John Harmon, a young man sent to be educated abroad since boyhood, sails home following his father's death knowing that his father's considerable fortune made from dust mounds will be passed on to him under the condition that he marry Bella Wilfer, a girl he's never met. Before setting foot on land however, John is brutally attacked by two waterfront thieves and reported as having drowned. In this turn of events old man Harmon's fortune goes to his trusted servants, the Boffins who decide to adopt the beautiful, but mercenary Bella intending to elevate her station in society. Having secretly survived, John Harmon presents himself to the Boffins under an assumed name offering his services as their secretary so that he can observe Bella surreptitiously in the hope that she will fall in love with him for himself. Harmon's alleged death also inextricably links Bella's life with that of Lizzie Hexam's, whose father had discovered the body presumed to be Harmon's on the same day he went missing, an event that alters both of their destinies.

This unprecedented musical version of Our Mutual Friend offers a Victorian age depiction of upper and lower classes in a story of redemption, romance and survival that is considered by some as Dickens' most compelling and profound. In the tradition of Oliver! it is beautifully adapted for the stage and features a memorably melodic score by Larry Gelb that will resonate with audiences.

Composer/lyricist, musical director and co-author Larry Gelb has written over one thousand songs. His other musicals include Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray and Love So Dear about the discovery of LSD and the spiritual awakening of America during the 60's.

Elizabeth Gelb has produced staged readings for The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Definition of Love and produced and co-authored Love So Dear. She has produced the CDs America Is Free, The Love Songs of Ian Ops and The Larry Gelb Songbook Volume 1.

Director Mark Harborth is the Artistic Director of Gallery Players where he has directed a myriad of musicals, dramas and comedies including Evita, Rent, Run for Your Wife, Noises Off and Bent. Regionally he's directed High Spirits, Gypsy,Vanities and Children of a Lesser God, among others.

Our Mutual Friend will be presented on Monday, October 19th at Actors' Temple Theatre (339 West 47th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) with performances at 2PM and 7PM. Admission is free and includes a CD of the score. Producers, artistic directors of theater companies and literary managers are especially encouraged to attend. For reservations call (201) 227-8177.

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