Gonzalez, Vaughn, Etc. Join Musical Atrainplays, Aug. 2

More performers--including Mandy Gonzalez, Kevin Del Aguila and Melanie Vaughan--and more writers have joined the cast of theAtrainplays.  The series will return to Off-Broadway, with the latest incarnation, theAtrainplays vol. XXI, performing on Wednesday, August 2nd, 2006 at 8:00PM at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues). 

"theAtrainplays are a celebration of New York, created by six teams while traveling the entire route of the A train, from 207th Street & Broadway to Far Rockaway and back.  On Tuesday evening, August 1st, four librettists will hop on the A train at 207th Street and begin writing the books for four 15-minute musicals, all set on the A train.  Before each of the teams begins their journey, they pick a number between 3 and 5 to set the number of characters, then they choose headshots from a blind draw to determine who is in each piece. 

When the librettists reach the Far Rockaway stop, they randomly select, through another blind draw, their collaborative lyricists, composers, directors and choreographers, who have been awaiting their arrival at a nearby McDonald's with two playwrights joining them and just beginning their journey.  Two directors will meet the creators of the now finished plays at 207th Street and they all proceed to Columbus Circle where they meet the pre-selected pool of actors, decipher their scribbles, copy the scripts and begin rehearsals.  They have until show time the next day, Wednesday night, August 2nd at 8:00PM to develop these works into six exciting new musical experiences to be shared with the audience at New World Stages, on the set of the hit Off-Broadway musical Altar Boyz," state press notes.
 
theAtrainplays, vol. XXI will be produced by Lawrence Feeney, Project 400, and The Off-Broadway Brainstormers; they originated in 2002 at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of Theatre.

Performers scheduled to appear in theAtrainplays vol. XXI include Ashlie Atkinson (Fat Pig), Jeb Brown (Ring of Fire), Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Tony Award nominee, Avenue Q), Del Aguila (Altar Boyz librettist, Jacques Brel... understudy), Natalie Douglas (6-time MAC Award winner), Jenny Fellner (Mamma Mia!), Ryan Duncan (Altar Boyz), Tracy Jai Edwards (Hairspray), Lawrence Feeney (My Super Ex Girlfriend), Rob Gallagher (Les Misérables), Eric Michael Gillett (Kiss Me, Kate), Gonzalez (Lennon, Dance of the Vampires), La Tanya Hall, Cady Huffman (Tony Award winner, The Producers), Donovan Patton ("Blue's Clues"), Christine Pedi ("The Sopranos"), Michael Pemberton (Not About Nightingales), Rene Ruiz (Toxic Audio), Kate Shindle (Cabaret), Michael West (Forbidden Broadway), Vaughan (Ring of Fire, Sunday in the Park with George) and Doug Wert (Fiction).

The creative team includes writers Liz Amberley, David Grimm, Michael Lazan, Stephen O'Rourke, Craig Pospisil and Erica Silberman, lyricist-composers Gaby Alter, Brian J. Nash, Brandon Patton, and Jeremy Schonfeld, directors David Brind, Edie Cowan, Michael Dulling Susan Einhorn, and Barry McNabb, and choreographers Tricia Brouk and Dwight Edwards.
 
Tickets for the one-night-only event benefiting the Off-Broadway community are $50 for the performance, $100 for premium seats, and $20 for the post-show benefit party with the cast and creative team. Tickets can be purchased on-line through www.telecharge.com, by telephone at 212-239-6200, or in person at New World Stages Box Office, located at 340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues.