Workshop Production Of New Musical SHADOWS OF POMPEII To Debut 4/16-4/26

In collaboration with 42nd Street Moon, a workshop production of a dramatic new musical Shadows of Pompeii debuts at the Eureka Theatre, April 16 - 26.

A saga of Romans living in the seaside village of Pompeii in AD 79 at the foot of Mount Vesuvius , Shadows of Pompeii was written by Bay Area playwright R.C. Staab, with music and lyrics by Keith Herrmann, the Tony-nominated composer of Romance, Romance, Onward Victoria (also featured on Broadway) and Prom Queens Unchained, an off-Broadway hit. It's a fully-stage, full-length production similar to other presentations by 42nd Street Moon.

Shadows of Pompeii tells the story of a young female painter who seeks to express her artistry despite restrictions of the Rome Empire, while disaster looms from Mt. Vesuvius .

Librettist R.C. Staab said, "It's a compelling story of passion that echoes modern times. The Bay Area audience will find parallels with people in Pompeii , who lived in a seaside, moderate Mediterrean but knew their ideal life could change at any minute from earthen catastrophes such as earthquakes.

"The songs are being presented for the first time to the public and we invite the audience give us feedback to help shape the show for future productions," Staab said. In January 2009, a staged reading was held at 42nd Street Moon's rehearsal space.

With sponsorship of 42nd Street Moon, Shadows of Pompeii will be submitted in 2010 to the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival for New Musicals and the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Led by veteran Bay Area Director Dianna Shuster, former Artistic Director of American Musical Theatre of San Jose, and Music Director Mark Hanson, Shadows of Pompeii features a cast of nine veteran and up-coming Bay Area actors -- many familiar 42nd Street Moon company members -- including Sara Aili, Russ Lorenson, Andrew Willis-Woodward, Carrie Madsen, Carmichael Blankenship, Sean Patrick Murtagh, Samantha Bartholomew, Steve Vaught and Steve Budd.

All tickets are available through the 42nd Street Moon Box Office at 415/255-8207 (Open Tues. - Fri. from noon to 5 p.m.), or through the website www.42ndstmoon.org. All performances are presented at San Francisco 's intimate Eureka Theatre, 215 Jackson St.

42nd Street Moon celebrates and preserves the art and spirit of the American Musical Theatre, contributing to its evolution and continuing vitality by presenting performances of classic and rarely performed musical works. Through productions, educational programs, and community outreach, the company is committed to increasing the awareness and appreciation of the rich heritage and cultural perspective of the musical theatre and its vast influence on the world stage. Since 1993 the company has staged more than 90 musicals as well as several revues celebrating the dazzling legacy of the 20th Century's greatest musical theater composers and lyricists.

For more information, visit www.pompeiimusical.com

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