PETRIFIED Stage Reading Set for Cap21 Studios, 5/19-20

A staged reading of a new musical "Petrified," is scheduled for private performances at Cap21 studios May 19th and 20th. Part comedy, part drama, part satire with a lot of heart, "Petrified" is the story about a middle-American family trying to keep their lives together during this century's Great Recession.

Book and lyrics by Joel Adlen, music and additional lyrics by Leonard Moors. Stage Direction by Terry Berliner, Musical Direction by Kristen Rosenfeld.

The cast features Gavin Lodge (Broadway: "Spamalot," and "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert"), Jamie Kolnick (Off-Broadway: "Wanda's Monster" and "The Velveteen Rabbit"), Meg Pryor (Off-Broadway: "Hair," Kissy Simmons (Broadway: "Lion King"), Ben Roseberry (Broadway: "Lion King," National Tour: "Rent"), Gael Schaefer (Off-Broadway: "Counsellor-at-Law" NYMF's "Emma"); and Michael Barattini, Annie Dow, Callie Falk, Justin Lawrence, Max Perlman, and Jackie Washam.

Fran and Ray are trying to keep their family together. Their home is on the brink of foreclosure, Ray's employment prospects are nil, and their adult daughter, Katie, a barista and canvasser with a master's degree, is in financial straights. Desperate to pay the mortgage, Ray liquidates his portfolio. Instead of using the money to help, he splurges it all. As Ray heads toward a breakdown, Fran desperately try to find a way to pull him through as Katie tries to overcome her own 20-something obstacles. It will take perseverance and a "helluva" lot of love for this family to rise above the challenges of the new century's Great Recession.

For more information, visit www.petrifiedmusical.com.