Carina Morales & James LaRosa Lead THE MELODY LINGERS ON 3/14-5/6

Carina Morales (fresh off a one year stint starring in The Golden Mickeys at Disneyland, Hong Kong) and James LaRosa (who starred opposite Robert Cuccioli in Cy Coleman's Wildcat at the Julia Miles Theatre) will star in Inside Broadway's spring 2011 tour of THE MELODY LINGERS ON - The Songs of Irving Berlin, which will begin on Monday, March 14th and run thru May 6th, touring over thirty NYC public schools throughout Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens. A revue featuring the songs of one of America's most beloved songwriters, THE MELODY LINGERS ON will include such Berlin standards as "Alexander's Ragtime Band," "I Love a Piano," "Puttin' on the Ritz," "Blue Skies" and "Cheek to Cheek" and the production will kick off its tour at P.S. 102K in Brooklyn.

The production, which will be seen by over 15,000 students, will feature direction and choreography from Stephen Nachamie (Gay Bride of Frankenstein and Like You Like It at NYMF, Assistant Director of the Actor's Fund Concerts of Chess and Funny Girl) and musical direction from B.J. Gandolfo (who plays keyboard on the Broadway and national tour of The Lion King and played in the pit for the Broadway productions of Jane Eyre and Annie Get Your Gun). The creative team also includes costume design by Karl Ruckdeschel and set design from Carl Tallent, and Brandon Voight will be the production stage manager.

Inside Broadway's aim is to pass down the rich legacy of America's musical theater to future generations so that the magic, music, and universal themes of the genre are not lost, but rediscovered and made relevant for today's youth. "Bringing a great Broadway musical to the schools is part of what we do at Inside Broadway," says Executive Director Michael Presser. "We've been at it for 29 years, and I'm always amazed at how excited students are as they experience these shows for the first time. This season I'm really looking forward to introducing the music of the great Irving Berlin to new audiences since he is a genuine American master and an important part of the landscape of American theater."

Inside Broadway was established in 1982 at the invitation of Bernard B. Jacobs, the late President of The Shubert Organization, as an effort to create a student ticket program for New York City schools students. Today, Inside Broadway develops and produces touring equity musical productions as well as a wide range of educational programs that allow students to interact with professionals in the field and experience theatre hands-on in the classroom. For more on Inside Broadway, please visit www.InsideBroadway.org.

Programs of Inside Broadway are funded by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, New York City Council, New York City Department of Education, New York City Department of Youth and Community Development, NY State Department of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation, NY State Department of Education, and the NY State Office of Children and Family Services.