Producer Michael Cooper, and actor/writer Bill Connington attended the new musical SOUTHERN COMFORT at CAP 21 in Manhattan. The director of SOUTHERN COMFORT, Thomas Caruso (www.thomascaruso.com) , also directed the stage and screen versions of ZOMBIE, which Cooper produced, and Connington starred in. SOUTHERN COMFORT's book and lyrics are by Dan Collins, the score and orchestrations are by Julianne Wick Davis, and stars Annette O'Toole and Jeff McCarthy. Others cast members are Todd Cerveris, Natalie Joy Johnson, Jeffrey Kuhn, Robin Skye, Allison Briner, Lizzie Hagstedt, David M. Lutken and Joel Waggoner. The Creative Producer is Robert DuSold. The music director is Emily Otto. Performances continue through Oct. 29. Show times are Wednesday-Saturday at 7 pm. Tickets are $18 and are available at www.cap21.org. CAP 21 Black Box Theater is located at 18 West 18th Street in New York City.
Michael Cooper is the producer for the short film ZOMBIE which has screened at 10 film festivals so far, and he will produce the feature of ZOMBIE next year. The film garnered the "Best Short Film (Horror)" award at the Washington DC International Film Festival, and is nominated for 5 awards in a film festival in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia screening is on October 27. (www.zombiethefilm.com)
Bill Connington (http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1316434233) is the award-winning actor/writer of ZOMBIE. He appeared in the stage play at the New York International Fringe Festival, twice Off-Broadway, and in the short film. He will star in the feature film in 2012. The property is based on the novella by famous American author Joyce Carol Oates.
SOUTHERN COMFORT is described as a "uniquely American musical with a folk/ bluegrass score . . . based on the true story of transgender friends living life openly, honestly, and courageously in rural Georgia." It is based on the documentary by Kate Davis, which won the Sundance Grand-Jury prize in 2001. The message of the musical is to accept each person for what they really are. The musical received a grant from the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Earlier in the year, the musical received a reading at prestigious Playwrights Horizons, and was also directed by Thomas Caruso.
CAP 21 is a professional theater company and conservatory. It is dedicated to creating new work, developing new talent, and building new audiences. Frank Ventura is the Executive Artistic Director and Founder. Eliza Ventura is the Artistic Director and Founder.
