Ben Platt, John Bolton, Ben Fankhauser & More to Take Part in York Theatre Company's 2014 Developmental Readings

The York Theatre Company, and its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, present the New York premiere of three new musicals: Mark Felt, Superstar with book, music and lyrics by Joshua Rosenblum; Paris Through the Window, with book & lyrics by Charles Osborne and music by Leo Hurley; and We Foxes with book, lyrics and music by Ryan Scott Oliver at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). The readings are open to the public with a suggested donation of $5.00.

The Developmental Reading Series presents some 40 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors throughout the year, a vital part of the writing process. The series serves as an incubator for shows to be considered for Mainstage productions, thus serving the York's unique mission of taking new musicals through the complete development process to full production.

We Foxes is presented as part of The York Theatre Company's initiative, NEO (an acronym for "New,Emerging, Outstanding"), a year round program that focuses on supporting emerging writers through readings, shared resources and the mentorship of established writers and producers

The Development Reading Series schedule is, as follows:

Thursday, August 28th at 3:00 p.m.
Mark Felt, Superstar
Book, Music and Lyrics by Joshua Rosenblum
Directed by Annette Jolles
Music Direction by Joshua Rosenblum

The cast features John Bolton, Michael McCoy, Amy Griffin, Herndon Lackey, and Neal Mayer.

Mark Felt was the retired FBI man who revealed in 2005 that he had been Deep Throat, the secret source for journalists Woodward and Bernstein during the Watergate era. Deep Throat's identity was the greatest political mystery of all time, and Felt's story is thrilling, heart-breaking, and funny in equal parts. Mark Felt, Superstar is a whimsical musical romp through Watergate and beyond from Deep Throat's unique perspective. Only one U.S. President ever resigned-meet the man who brought him down.

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Tuesday, September 9 at 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
Paris Through the Window
Book and Lyrics by Charles Osborne
Music by Leo Hurley
Directed by Jonathan S. Cerullo
Music Direction by Mathew Stephens

Featuring Jeffrey Denman, Patrick Osteen, and Jennifer Hope Wills, with Mick Bleyer, Bridgett Craw, Sam Durant Hunter Stephen Orr, Elisa Nikoloulias, Bill Nolte, Angela Schultz, Mathew Scott, Sydney Shepherd, Jody Williams-Tutt, and Allan Washington.

Paris Through the Window is a historical fantasy about Paris during World War I and the healing power of art. It tells the story behind the eponymous Marc Chagall painting, and how World War I poet Alan Seeger met his "rendezvous with death."

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September 12 at 3:00 p.m.
We Foxes
Book, Lyrics and Music by Ryan Scott Oliver
Directed by Mike Donahue
Music Direction by Rich Silverstein

The cast features Ben Fankhauser, Forrest McClendon, Anne L. Nathan, Ben Platt, Aaron Ramey, Katie Thompson, and Emily Rogers, with Andie Alhadeff, Will Erat, F. Michael Haynie, Victoria Huston-Elem, Ellyn Marie Marsh, and Joel Waggoner.

As part of its NEO (New, Emerging, Outstanding) program, the York Theatre proudly presents Ryan Scott Oliver's newest musical, We Foxes, a southern Gothic thriller set in small-town Missouri, 1945. It's the story of Willa, a tough and unmannered orphan girl, and her adoption by the crafty Sheriff's wife, Vesta Quimby. When Willa discovers the dark secrets beneath the floorboards, a war cuts them apart and Willa must fight to survive. After all, Vesta Quimby is the most beloved and powerful woman in town. Yet she's less humanitarian socialite than she is Machiavellian sociopath. Can Willa discover her own salvation, deliver herself into courage, and sacrifice everything to escape Vesta? It is a story of intense human struggle, deliverance, and the great salvation found only through oneself.

The epic period musical is mostly sung-through, combining bluegrass, country, big band and concert music of the 1940s, infused with the contemporary folk-rock of today. We Foxes was commissioned by Broadway Across America, and has been in residence at the 5th Avenue in Seattle, Goodspeed, TheatreWorks, Silicon Valley's Writer's Retreat, Pace New Musicals, CAP 21, and the Weston Playhouse.

Limited ticket availability for We Foxes, only.

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Reservations can be made by visiting the website at www.yorktheatre.org, or by calling the York Theatre Company Box Office at (212) 935-5820 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).

The York Theatre Company offers the 54th Street Membership Program, an exclusive membership package for as low as $54.00 - with elite benefits that includes a 30% discount on tickets to York Theatre Productions (2 per membership), exclusive member pre-sale opportunities, 50% off on all lobby concessions, 20% off on all lobby merchandise, in addition to special member only receptions.

York Memberships may be purchased online at www.yorktheatre.org/membership, or by calling the York Theatre Company Box Office.

For additional information, visit www.yorktheatre.org.