Enter Laughing: The Musical Begins Performances Tonight, 9/3

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will begin performances of ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL on Wednesday September 3rd.  Opening Night is set for September 10th. This limited engagement runs through October 12; all performances will be at the company’s home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street).

ENTER LAUGHING has a book by Fiddler on The Roof’s Joseph Stein and music and lyrics by “Taxi” creator Stan Daniels. Based on the early life of comedian Carl Reiner and the hit play by Broadway master Joseph Stein, ENTER LAUGHING tells the hilarious story of a stage-struck, woman-struck teenager who blunders his way into manhood via show biz.

Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid) directs a cast that includes Josh Grisetti (“The Knights of Prosperity,” Spamalot Las Vegas) as David Kolowitz, “L.A. Law’s” married couple Jill Eikenberry (Moonchildren, Watch on the Rhine) and Michael Tucker (The Goodbye People, Moonchildren) as Mother and Father, Paul Binotto (Dreamgirls) as Don, Ray DeMattis (Little Shop of Horrors) as Forman, Erick Devine (Seussical) as Pike, Betsy DiLellio (The Baker’s Wife), Janine LaManna (Seussical) as Angela, Gerry McIntyre (Once on This Island, Anything Goes) as Don, Robb Sapp (Johnny Guitar, Zanna, Don’t) as Marvin, Emily Shoolin (Nerds://A Musical Software Satire) as Wanda, Allison Spratt (Curtains, Cry-Baby) as Miss B. and George S. Irving (countless Broadway shows since the original production of Oklahoma!, including Me and My Girl, On Your Toes, Irene, among many others), here recreating his original role of Marlowe. Matt Castle (Company) is the Music Director and will perform the role of Roger. 

ENTER LAUGHING will have scenic design by James Morgan, costume design by David Toser and lighting design by Chris Robinson.

Joseph Stein won the Tony Award and the Drama Critics Circle Award for best musical for Fiddler on the Roof. His other musicals include Zorba (Tony nomination, Drama Critics Circle Award), The Bakers Wife (Olivier Award), Rags (Tony nomination), Irene, Juno, Take Me Along, The King of Hearts, and So Long, 174th Street. He also co-authored, with Alan Jay Lerner, the musical Carmelina and, with Will Glickman, the shows Plain and Fancy and Mr. Wonderful. His plays are Enter Laughing, Before the Dawn and (with Will Glickman) Mrs. Gibbons’ Boys. 
Stan Daniels won eight Emmys during his long television career, including three as co-creator and executive producer of “Taxi” and three as a writer on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” He also wrote for The Dean Martin Show, The Bill Cosby Show and Phyllis.

Stuart Ross wrote and directed the long-running musical Forever Plaid. He also created and directed its two sequels, The Sound Of Plaid, and Plaid Tidings. Mr. Ross wrote the book and co-wrote the lyrics for The Public Theatre’s Radiant Baby directed by George C. Wolfe (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, Lucille Lortel Award nominations, Best Musical).  On Broadway Stuart co-wrote the book (with Barry Keating) to the Tony nominated musical Starmites as well as The Radio City Music Hall Easter Show. Off-Broadway he wrote A Leap Of Faith (a one-woman show for Faith Prince), The Heebie Jeebies, Not-So-New Faces, Tea With Bea and Fun With Dick And Jane: The Musical.

Following Enter Laughing will be the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical, My Vaudeville Man!, the story of a son born to tap dance and a mother hell-bent on stopping him. Karen Murphy (soon to be seen on Broadway in 9 to 5) and Shonn Wiley (seen in No No Nanette at Encores!) star in a musical based on the life of legendary eccentric tap dancer Jack Donahue, directed and choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett.  Performances begin November 7.

The York Theatre Company (winner of a special Drama Desk Award for developing and producing new musical theatre) is the only theater in New York City—and one of very few in the world—dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals, as well as preserving gems from the past.  For almost four decades, York’s intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and rarely seen classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike.  Under the guidance of Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on new musicals in its Mainstage Series--most of them world, American, or New York premieres—by some of the field’s most esteemed creators, and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers. Over 30 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York productions as The Musical of Musicals –The Musical!, Souvenir, Captain Louie, Jolson & Company, and acclaimed revivals of Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs. York’s Musicals in Mufti Series, which offers rarely seen works from the past, has presented more shows than any other musical theatre concert series in the world, and is the first series to present works from on Broadway and Off-, as well as from London’s West End. The York’s Developmental Reading Series, which presents over 40 free readings of new musicals every year, was the incubator for the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Avenue Q, among many other significant shows.

Photo Credit Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

 

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