Vanguard Theater Company To Present RUNAWAYS By Elizabeth Swados

Vanguard Theater Company presents Runaways, by Elizabeth Swados, for four performances only on January 18-20 at the American Theater for Actors, 314 W 54th Street, NY, NY.

Runaways is an inspired musical collage about the hopes, dreams, fears, frustrations, loneliness, humor and anger, of young people estranged from their families and searching for themselves. Written, composed, choreographed and originally directed by Elizabeth Swados, about the lives of children who run away from home and live on the city streets, the characters were taken from workshops conducted by Swados with real-life runaways in the late 1970s.

The development of Runaways began in 1977 when legendary director Swados approached Joseph Papp about creating a new show focused on the runaway youths of New York City. Papp commissioned the show and Runaways premiered at The Public in February 1978 before transferring to Broadway in May of the same year, earning five Tony nominations for Best Musical, Book of a Musical, Original Score, Choreography and Direction.

Runaways is presented by Vanguard Theater Company, directed by Janeece Freeman Clark, with choreography by Izryel Mathis, musical direction by Terri Gorgone, and fight choreography by Branden Mangan. It features a cast of 45 performers from New York and New Jersey.

The cast and production team of Runaways, wearing Hamilton Across America shirts by Vanguard Theater Company's sponsor, TeeRico by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Runaways performs January 18-20 at the American Theater for Actors, 314 W 54th Street, NY, NY. Tickets and more information at https://vanguardtheater.org, or https://www.eventbrite.com/e/runaways-tickets-52724986855

Vanguard Theater Company (VTC), founded in 2015, produces original and reimagined theater dedicated to D.R.E.A.M: Diversity, Reciprocity, Education, Awareness and Mentorship. VTC's MainStage productions, educational programs, collaborations with e.g., Montclair Film, NJ Pride, and Everytown for Gun Safety, engage varied communities in the performing arts and social issues.

For more information about Vanguard Theater Company, visit www.VanguardTheaterCompany.org