Ryan Scott Oliver's ROPE Set for Pace New Musicals Program

Pace University's School of Performing Arts will present a staged reading of Award- winning composer- lyricist Ryan Scott Oliver's new work, ROPE as a part of their Pace New Musicals Program, January 27th- 31st, 2016 in Schaeberle Studio Theatre at Pace University.

ROPE, commissioned by Beth Williams and Grove Entertainment, is set in New York City, 1864 and according to press notes, "tells the story of Clay (played by Zack Zaromatidis), a gang-thief determined to find life's fortune alone; and Szajda ("Shy") (played by Ethan Carlson), a ghostly Jew with an Irish accent, blind but possessing a remarkable power. Yet they become tied at the waist with a length of rope, stuck together on a desperate quest through a war-torn America. Clinging together with this charmed rope that allows the blind Shy to see through the eyes of Clay, the two young men must escape the vicious gangs of New York and push a path into the heart of the Civil War, where they find the greatest battle of all must be between themselves, brother and brother."

The show is the second in Oliver's "Dogs Trilogy" of folk operas about American desperation in war-time. The nearly sung-through piece follows the first musical in the trilogy, the World War II-set We Foxes - currently being workshopped at Goodspeed Opera House.

The staged reading will be directed by Amy Rogers, the director of musical theatre at Pace's School of Performing Arts and music directed by Rodney Bush. The cast will feature Zack Zaromatidis as Clay and Ethan Carlson as Shy. Rounding out the cast will be Chris Isolano, Saidu Sinlah, David Park, Mary Claire Miskell, Bethany Perkins, Aury Krebs, Hanako Greensmith, Ian Fairlee, Jonathan Miller, Linnea Sumner, and Ryan Hotes.

Other members of the creative team include assistant director Kaleb Tank, lighting designer David Shocket and production stage manager Giles Horne. Solomon Hoffman, Jeremy Yaddaw, and Oliver provide arrangements.

Performances of ROPE will be Wednesday, January 27th through Saturday, January 30th at 7:00pm and Sunday, January 31st at 2:00pm in Schaeberle Studio Theatre at Pace University (41 Park Row, 10th Floor).

Tickets for ROPE can be reserved via Brown Paper Tickets by following this link. pnm2016.brownpapertickets.com

For more information on Pace School of Performing Arts, visit pace.edu/performingarts.