CROSS THAT RIVER Runs 10/12-10/18 At TBG Theatre, Part Of NYMF

CROSS THAT RIVER - A New Musical About the Black West - with music, lyrics and original concept by the celebrated jazz vocalist Allan Harris, book and direction by 4-time Emmy winner Andrew Wilk, and choreography by Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie, - an official selection of the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival, at the TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street).

Performances of CROSS THAT RIVER run:

Monday, October 12 at 8:00pm
Tuesday, October 13 at 1:00pm
Wednesday, October 14 at 4:30pm
Friday, October 16 at 8:00pm
Saturday, October 17 at 1:00pm
Sunday, October 18 at 4:30pm

With infectious music ranging from country and bluegrass to soul, blues and rock gospel - CROSS THAT RIVER depicts the sometimes tragic, sometimes humorous life and times of Blue, a run-away slave who escapes to Texas to become one of America's first Black Cowboys.

The cast of CROSS THAT RIVER features: Whitney Bashor (last seen Off-Broadway in THE FANTASTICKS), Brandon Gill ("Sorcerers Apprentice" opposite Nicholas Cage), Soara-Joye Ross (Broadway: LES MISERABLES, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES), Wendy Fox (National Tour of RENT), Joseph Melendez (Broadway: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR), Tony Perry (the World-Premiere of A SHELTER IN OUR CAR), Charles Wallace (Broadway: MISS SAIGON, SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ, etc), and Timothy Warmen (Broadway: original cast of THE WHO'S TOMMY, STEEL PIER)

CROSS THAT RIVER has music, lyrics and an original concept by Allan Harris, book and direction by Andrew Carl Wilk, choreography by Donna McKechnie, musical direction by David John Madore, set and costume design by Anne Patterson, sound design by Timmothy Brannigan, lighting design by Matt Frey, and projection design by Michael Clark.

Composer Allan Harris is a jazz vocalist, songwriter and actor, a three-time winner of the New York Nightlife Award for "Outstanding Jazz Vocalist." Tony Bennett calls him "my favorite singer." CROSS THAT RIVER debuted at the O'Neill Theater Center in July 2008 and has been performed at the Kennedy Center. Mr. Harris' recordings include "Setting the Standard," "It's a Wonderful World," "Here Comes Allan Harris and the Metropole Orchestra," "Love Came, the Songs of Strayhorn," "Long Live the King," etc.

Book writer and director Andrew Wilk has been nominated for 12 Emmy Awards, winning four times. His numerous credits in television as producer, director, writer includes 12 years with National Geographic Channel and PBS broadcasts of George C. Wolfe's "The Colored Museum," "Meeting with Mandela," "Inside the Pentagon" and "Inside the Great Pyramid Live." He has conducted countless musicals and symphony concerts as musical director of Paper Mill Playhouse.

Choreographer Donna McKechnie danced her way into theatre history with her trailblazing performance as Cassie in the original A CHORUS LINE on Broadway, for which she received the Tony Award. Her long list of Broadway credits include: HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS...., A FUNNY THING HAPPENED..., ON THE TOWN, PROMISES-PROMISES and COMPANY.

Photo credit Kerry Long