The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces casting for two new musicals (Gods of Mischief and Socks), the next offerings in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series. For more information on the Developmental Reading Series, visit: www.yorktheatre.org.
Gods of MischiefBook, Music and Lyrics by Seymour Barab
Thursday, February 10, 2010 • 3 PM
The cast of Gods of Mischief features Frank Basile, Ryan Boda, Vivienne Cleary, Gavin Esham, Christy Faber (Les Misérables), David Garry (Road Show), Danette Holden (Shrek, The Musical), Kristin Huffman (Company) Michael Marcotte (Encores! Bells are Ringing) Trevor Southworth, Jendi Tarde, Jason Williams and Kirsten Wyatt (Elf). The reading is directed by Frank Galgano (Naked Boys Singing!), with music direction by Matt Castle (Enter Laughing, The Musical)
In Gods of Mischief, two minor gods, bored and idling away on Mount Olympus, wager on the love lives of mortals. When they throw out the rules and cheat to win, things start to spiral out of control. Add two starry-eyed youngsters, a rich, beautiful, and man-hating landowner, three swooning housemaids, a hunky cop, a couple of con artists, and a stray horse... and the situation may require intervention by Zeus, in one of his lesser-known incarnations.
SocksBook, Music and Lyrics by ShaRon Barnett and Michael McFrederick
Tuesday, February 22, 2010 • 3 PM
The cast of Socks features Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone ("Grease: You're The One That I Want"), Peter Gregus (Jersey Boys), Adam Shorsten ("Grease: You're The One That I Want"), Joan Barber (Follies), Manoly Farrell, Jeremiah James, Shobhit Agarwal, Jeffrey W. Holmes and Ben Liebert (Wicked) The reading will be directed by Heidi Ford.
Socks is a frolicking new musical that answers the age old question of "what happens to socks after they disappear from the dryer?" Travel along with "material girl" Cassie Cashmere Sock, as she tumbles from the dryer into the dirty, lint filled world of Sockland. Battling to escape and reunite with her match, she discovers her inner fabric and the true meaning of freedom.
The York Theatre Company is the only theater in New York City - and one of very few in the world - dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals and preserving neglected, notable shows from the past. Over the past two seasons, York productions and artists have been nominated for a combined 31 Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, AUDELCO and Callaway Awards (and its productions of Yank! A WWII Love Story and Enter Laughing, The Musical have both been announced for Broadway). For over four decades, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and neglected classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of Producing Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on new musicals in its Mainstage Series-most of them world, American, or New York premieres-by some of the field's most esteemed creators, and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers. Over 30 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York premieres as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, and its acclaimed revivals of Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs.
Each year, York's Developmental Reading Series presents between 30 to 40 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors. Reading Series Coordinator Jeff Landsman says, "These readings give writers a unique opportunity to get audience feedback while a show is still in progress." York's Mainstage production, Yank!, as well as past Mainstage productions Souvenir and The Musical of Musicals, The Musical! were first developed in the Developmental Reading Series, where the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Avenue Q also made its first appearances. The Developmental Reading Series is made possible in part by The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.
