Rachel York Leads AMAS' ME AND MISS MONROE 4/21-23

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Producing Artistic Director), by special arrangement with Chase Mishkin, will present free performances of "Me and Miss Monroe", a new musical with book and lyrics by Charles Leipart, music by William Goldstein, directed by John Rando, starring Rachel York as Marilyn Monroe. The performances will take place on Thursday, April 21st at 3:00pm, Friday, April 22nd at 12:00noon and 4:00pm, and Saturday, April 23rd at 1:00 pm at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 25th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues.

"Me and Miss Monroe" tells the story of Steven, a 16-year-old Bronx High School of Science student in 1962 who inadvertently meets and befriends Marilyn Monroe at the carousel in Central Park as he works on his project for a national science fair. The presentations are part of the ongoing Amas Lab and Workshop Series, a development program for writers, lyricists and composers to develop and advance their new musicals. These four performances are being offered free to the public.

"Me and Miss Monroe" is a wonderful coming-of-age story that explores the combustible possibilities when celebrity, beauty, adolescence, and atomic theory collide," says Donna Trinkoff, Amas's Producing Artistic Director. "We're very fortunate that the exquisite Rachel York joins us to play the beautifully written part of Marilyn Monroe in this lovely new musical", she adds.

"Me and Miss Monroe" is the first collaboration between composer William Goldstein ("Haven", TV's "Fame", "Saving Grace", etc.) and Kleban-winning writer/lyricist Charles Leipart ("Frog Kiss"). Tony-winner John Rando ("Urinetown", "The Wedding Singer", etc.) directs, Christopher Gatelli ("Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown", "South Pacific", etc.) choreographs, Tony-winner William Ivey Long ("Grey Gardens", "Hairspray", "The Producers", etc.) is costume designer and Eric Stern ("Shrek", "Xanadu", etc.) is music director.

The show stars Rachel York ("City of Angels", "Victor/Victoria", etc.) as Marilyn, introduces Jordan Firstman as Steven, and features Will Blum ("Grease", "25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"), Liz Byrne, Joy Hermalyn ("Fiddler on the Roof"), Ilana Levine ("Wrong Mountain", "You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown") Stephanie Martignetti ("Mary Poppins", "A Chorus Line" National Tours), Manna Nichols ("Frog Kiss"), Weston Wells Olson, Kevin Pariseau ("Legally Blonde"), Hayley Podschun ("Pal Joey", "Hairspray"), Tony-winner Michael Rupert ("Sweet Charity", "Falsettos", "Legally Blonde", etc.), J. Robert Spencer ("Next to Normal", "Jersey Boys"), Nathaniel Stampley ("The Lion King", "The Color Purple"), Will Taylor ("A Chorus Line", "42nd Street"), and Remy Zaken ("Spring Awakening").

Theatre programs at Amas are supported, in part, by the National Endowment for the Arts, with public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, celebrating 50 years building strong, creative communities in New York's 62 counties, and by the ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund, the BMI Foundation, the Barbara Bell Cummings Foundation, the Dramatists Guild, the Edith Meiser Fund, the Shubert Foundation, and through the generous support of many individuals.

OFF-OFF BROADWAY THEATRE LISTINGS/FREE EVENTS
"ME AND Miss Monroe", a free staging of a new musical with book and lyrics by Charles Leipart, music by William Goldstein, directed by John Rando, presented by Amas Musical Theatre on Thursday, April 21st at 3:00pm, Friday, April 22nd at 12:00noon and 4:00pm, and Saturday, April 23rd at 1:00pm, at Baruch Performing Arts Center, 25th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues.
TICKETS: FREE
FOR RESERVATIONS EMAIL boxoffice@amasmusical.org or CALL (212) 563-2565
VISIT www.amasmusical.org

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director) -- New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multiculturalism in the performing arts since 1968. Amas ("you love" in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals through the celebration of diversity and minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of inner-city young people. In recent years, Amas has emerged as a leading not-for-profit laboratory for new musicals, including AESOP & COMPANY; SIGNS OF LIFE; WANDA'S WORLD; SHOUT! THE MOD MUSICAL; Lone Star Love; FROM MY HOMETOWN; ZANNA, DON'T!; 4 Guys NAMED JOSE; and STORMY WEATHER: IMAGINING Lena Horne. Amas education programs include the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy, the Immigration Experience for middle and high schools, and Lens on Live Theatre. Visit www.amasmusical.org.

Photo credit: Jan Nargi