A Fine & Private Place Ends Limited Run at the York, 5/21

The York Theatre Company's A Fine & Private Place will close as scheduled this Sunday, May 21st at 3pm.

The show, which began previews on April 13th, opened on April 27th. A Fine and Private Place, which is based on the Peter S. Beagle novel, features book and lyrics by Erik Haagensen and music by Richard Isen. In addition to Christiane Noll (Jekyll & Hyde, The Mambo Kings), Glenn Seven Allen (The Light in the Piazza) and Gabriel Barre, it features Joe Kolinski, Evalyn Baron and Larri Rebega. Barre, whose work as a director includes Almost, Maine, Summer of '42 and Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party, helms the piece as well as recreating the role of The Raven, which he performed in the show's premiere at Goodspeed Opera House in 1989.

The show "is a musical fantasy of love and discovery, as two couples (one living, and one of the spirit world) find that love and redemption can be found in the most unexpected places. Set in the Yorkchester Cemetery in the Bronx (inspired by the Woodlawn Cemetery), A Fine and Private Place proves that love can be an affirmation of life," state press notes.

Following the closing celebration for A Fine & Private Place, the York Theatre team will head to the Drama Desk Awards, where they will receive a special achievement award for "Vital contributions to theater by developing and producing new musicals".

When asked about the award, Producing Artistic Director James Morgan said, "This recognition from the Drama Desk is exciting because it is an affirmation of our 10-year-old mission which centers on musicals new and old with a decided emphasis on the new."

Over the last year, York has seen 3 productions move commercially: The Musical of Musicals, the Musical (to Dodger Stages, the West End, and numerous regional theaters), Souvenir (to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre – Tony nomination for Judy Kaye) and Stephen Schwartz' Captain Louie (The Little Shubert). This season York also received an Outer Critics Circle nomination for Outstanding Musical – Thrill Me: The Leopold and Loeb Story; A Drama League citation for Patti Allison – Fanny Hill; 4 Drama Desk Award nominations: Best Musical – Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story; Best Music - Thrill Me; Best Actress – Nancy Anderson, Fanny Hill; and Best Set Design: Bottari & Case – Fanny Hill.

The York Theatre Company is located at Saint Peter's Theatre in Citigroup Center at 619 Lexington Avenue. For tickets, visit SmartTix at www.smarttix.com or call 212-868-4444 (use the code YORK21 for $21 tickets). Visit the show's website, www.afandpp.com, or www.yorktheatre.org for more information.