York's Musicals in Mufti Continues With THE GAME OF LOVE, Now thru 5/13

York Theatre Company celebrating the legendary librettist and lyricist Tom Jones with Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival, concludes the spring series with the New York premiere of The Game of Love, with book and lyrics by Tom Jones, music by classical composer Jacques Offenbach, and arrangements & additional music by Nancy Ford. The Game of Love is based The Anatol Plays by Arthur Schnitzler.

The limited engagement plays 5 performances only tonight, May 11 through May 13 at The York Theatre at Saint Peter’s (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Directed by West Hyler, and with Music Direction by Nancy Ford, the cast features Tom Aulino (On the Town), Erin Davie (Curtains, A Little Night Music), Janet Dacal (In the Heights, Wonderland), Santino Fontana (Sons of the Prophet, Billy Elliot), Jillian Louis (York’s I’m Getting My Act Together…), Ramona Mallory (A Little Night Music), Steve Routman (La Bete), Robb Sapp (Wicked, Shrek), and Glory Crampton (The Fantasticks) who has replaced previously announced Elizabeth Loyacano,

The Game of Love, based on The Anatol Plays by Arthur Schnitzler, is a deliciously romantic musical about the frivolities and foibles of love that takes place in 19th-century Vienna. At the center of the piece is Anatol (Santino Fontana) a playful Lothario, whose rendezvous with five unique women unfold over the course of this sensuous, melodic romp. New York premiere!

The performance schedule for The Game of Love is: Fridays at 8:00 p.m., *Saturdays at 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., and *Sundays at 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. (*Talkbacks follow all matinee performances).

Tickets are priced at $39.50 and are available online at www.yorktheatre.org, by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre at Saint Peter’s (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), Monday through Friday (12:00 -6:00 p.m.).

York’s acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances has presented over 80 shows from the past in simply-staged concert format. Mufti means: “in street clothes,” without the trappings associated with the original productions.

Musicals in Mufti: The Tom Jones Festival launched the spring series with The Show Goes On, a portfolio of theater songs by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt, directed by Pamela Hunt, and featured Tom Jones, Graham Rowat, Stephanie Umoh and Susan Watson; followed by Roadside, with Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones and Music by Harvey Schmidt, direction by David Glenn Armstrong and featured Ryan Alexander, Erick Devine, Janine DiVita, Jamie LaVerdiere, Daniel C. Levine, Ed Watts and Nick Wyman. The third in the series was the New York premiere of Harold and Maude, with Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones and Music by Joseph Thalkin, based on the screenplay by Colin Higgins with direction by Carl Andress The cast featured original Harold and Maude cast members Donna Lynne Champlin and Donna English, with Matt Dengler as Harold, Cass Morgan as Maude and Steve Routman, The fourth in the series was Colette Collage, Book & Lyrics by Tom Jones and Music by Harvey Schmidt, directed by Michael Montel with music direction by Robert Felstein. The cast featured Tony nominee Christine Andreas in the title role with Jo Ann Cunningham, Peter Land, Patrick Lane, Anne Markt, Bill Nolte, Vanessa Reseland, Nicholas Rodriguez, Carrington Vilmont, Sasha Weiss and Scott Willis.

York Theatre Company recently announced the first New York City revival of the classic Off-Broadway hit Closer Than Ever with Lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Music by David Shire. Performances begin Tuesday, June 5, 2012 for a limited run through July 14, 2012 at The York Theatre at Saint Peter’s (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Under the direction of Mr. Maltby, and with music direction by Andrew Gerle, the cast will feature Broadway veterans Jenn Colella (Urban Cowboy, High Fidelity), George Dvorsky (The Scarlet Pimpernel), 2011 Tony nominee Christiane Noll (Ragtime, Jekyll & Hyde) and Sal Viviano (The Full Monty).

The York Theatre Company is the only theater in New York City—and one of very few in the world—dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals and preserving neglected, notable shows from the past. For over four decades, York’s intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and neglected classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of Producing 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 35 cast recordings from The York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York premieres as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, and its acclaimed revivals of Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs.

For more information, please visit www.yorktheatre.org.