Caissie Levy to Lead Reading of New Musical ANY OTHER WAY in Philadelphia

Entertainment & Arts Management (EAM) professor Brannon Wiles brings his creative work into his "Producing for Live Entertainment" course, and students spend a term actually putting together the many moving parts of a professional show.

Over the course of this spring term, students have been engaged in the development and a staged reading of the new musical Any Other Way, featuring Broadway veteran Caissie Levy (Les Mis, Ghost: The Musical, Hair, Rent, Hairspray, Wicked). Created by New York writer David Reiser, Any Other Way explores the question of what might happen if a couple met at a completely different moment in their lives. What role does fate play versus the choices we make? The four-person musical is inspired, in part, by Reiser and Levy's own relationship, which began when they met outside the stage door of Philadelphia's Merriam Theatre while Levy was on tour with Hairspray. (They have been married since 2011.) The staged reading is directed by Drexel Theatre professor Bill Fennelly and will take place on May 29 and 30 at the SkyBox @ The Adrienne Theater in Philadelphia.

The cast also includes Wilson Bridges, Cary Tedder and Mia Gerachis, with musical direction and additional music by Dana Haynes

Through producing the work, Professor Wiles' students have been exposed to an early-stage project and the creative development process. They gave comments to and participated in discussions with the writer and director after seeing an earlier version of the script, and they've witnessed its subsequent evolution. The class has focused on creating a "safe" space for the artists to work on something brand new, without the pressures of an impending production, and the students will have the experience of working with professional actors over the course of the rehearsal week and seeing the kinds of changes which continue to happen during that period. EAM senior Caitlin Pinick has undertaken the class and the production as her senior project, serving as Wiles' teaching assistant and associate producer.

Three other New York actors join Levy for the staged reading of Any Other Way, in which characters Rob and Rebecca go through the difficulties and joys of meeting for the first time ... twice ... and seeing if it ever could be any other way.

Admission is FREE and open to the public, and reservations can be made at http://anyotherway.brownpapertickets.com.

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