Photo Flash: Jessica Burrows, Matt Bogart and More at American Theater Group's HIMSELF AND NORA Opening

American Theater Group's first musical theater presentation at its new home at UC-PAC"s Hamilton Stage in Rahway, New Jersey, Jonathan Brielle's Himself and Nora opened Saturday April 27, 2013 to an SRO audience. BroadwayWorld has photos from the starry opening, including Jessica Burrows, Matt Bogart, Leslie Uggams and more!

Presented by special arrangement with Tritone Productions LLC, Himself and Nora tells the story of the romance between Himself - the brilliant and hard drinking Irish novelist James Joyce and the earthy chambermaid Nora Barnacle who became his lover, his partner and his muse for 29 years. Matt Bogart (Jersey Boys) stars as Himself (James Joyce) and Jessica Burrows (Zhivago) stars as Nora in thisbawdy and funny, uplifting, and melodic new musical directed by Michael Bush with book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Brielle. Also featured are David Arthur, Cole Burden and LiAnne Marie Dobbs.

Musical Director is James Sampliner, choreographer, Kelli Barclay, Scenic Design, Michael V. Moore, Costume Design, Cat Tate Starmer, Sound Design, Brad Berridge, Casting, Stephanie Klapper Casting, Production Stage Manager, Marci Skolnick, Assistant Director/ Choreographer Emily Morgan, Production Supervisor, StEve Cohen, Assistant Stage Manager, Jesse Vacchiano and General Manager, Theatre Management Associates.

Co-Producing Artistic Directors at American Theater Group James Vagias, Rick Sordelet and Joseph Mancuso first saw the musical in New York when it was presented by the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival , Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Executive Director & Producer.

American Theater Group is an ambitious new performing arts company launched in 2012 that offers musicals and spoken plays, a new musical reading series and theater education at the newly built Hamilton Stage. Its focus is on producing new and classical works, primarily by American Playwrights, with an emphasis on the development of new works and the rediscovery of undeservedly neglected older ones. It is truly fitting that ATG's first offering is not only by a new voice on the American musical theater stage but a resident of Tewksbury, New Jersey, Jonathan Brielle.

American Theater Group will aim to make theater's glorious possibilities accessible to the diverse surrounding community of Rahway and the region, and to maintain a nurturing environment for playwrights, actors and theatrical designers and technicians to develop and hone their works.

American Theater Group's home is the new intimate new 199-seat Hamilton Stage at 360 Hamilton Street in Rahway New Jersey. Hamilton Stage is governed and operated by the Union County Performing Arts Center. Tickets to all American Theater Group events can be purchased at the UC PAC Box Office.

Photo Credits: John Wegorzewski and Christina Wilson

Jessica Burrows

Matt Bogart and Jessica Burrows star as James Joyce and Nora Barnacle

Grahame Pratt, Leslie Uggams, Director Michael Bush

Maria DiDia and husband Doug Salmon

Jessica Burrows

Jonathan Brielle and Leslie Uggams

Matt and Jessica Bogart

Joseph Mancuso, Rick Sordelet, Matt Bogart, Jessica Burrows, James Bagias, Jonathan Brielle and Michael Bush

LiAnne Marie Dobbs and Matt Bogart

David Arthur

LiAnne Marie Dobbs

Cole Burden

The Cast: Cole Burden, David Arthur, Matt Bogart, Jessica Burrows and LiAnne Marie Dobbs

Aldo Scrafono, Michael Bush and Jonathan Brielle

Samson Steinman (UPAC Executive Director), Jim Vagias (ATG Co-Founder), Joe Mancuso (ATG Co-Founder) and Rick Sordelet (ATG Co-Frounder)

Rick Sordelet (ATG Co-Founder), Samson Steinman (UPAC Executive Director), Jim Kennedy (former Rahway Mayor) and Lori Kennedy

Penny Fuller, Jonathan Brielle and Cherrie King

Nick Paleologos (NJSCA Executive Director) and Sondra Fishinger (UCPAC Board President)

Kelli Barclay (choreographer)

Jonathan Brielle and Leslie Uggams

John Wegorzewski, Jane Tucker and Lutfi Yitmaz

John Schreiber (NJPAC President and CEO) and Jonathan Brielle

Joe Mancuso (ATG Co-Founder), Rick Sordelet (ATG Co-Founder), Matt Bogart, Jessica Burrows, Jim Vagias, Jonathan Brielle and Michael Bush

Hamilton Stage

Danni Rumsey (UCPAC PR Manager) and Richard Bryant (FOH President)

Christian VanKipp and Jessica Burrows

Mary Warner and Andy Millette

Aldo Scrofani, James Sampliner and Jonathan Brielle

Edward Callaghan and Robin Skye

Robin Skye and Cole Burden

Jonathan Brielle, Cole Burden, David Arthur, Michael Bush, Matt Bogart, Jessica Burrows and LiAnne Marie Dobbs