Amas Presents THE COUNTESS OF STORYVILLE 10/17-18

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) will present free staged readings of "The Countess of Storyville", a new musical with music by Martin Sylvestri, lyrics by Joel Higgins, book by R. M. Cohen, directed by Michael Bush. The readings will take place on Monday, October 17 at 6:00pm, and Tuesday, October 18 at 3:00pm and 7:00pm, at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street.

"The Countess of Storyville" tells the mystery-laden tale of "Countess" Willie Dupree, a celebrated Parisian prostitute, on the occasion of her 1910 return to New Orleans, the city of her birth, where her mother was executed for murder years earlier. Dupree is about to open a sumptuous new bordello in the Storyville red light district, the demimonde saturated in race and revolution, sex and secrecy, and voodoo.

"The Countess of Storyville" offers audiences a sweeping narrative of a fascinating era, a radiant score, and some very spicy characters", says Amas Artistic Producer Donna Trinkoff. "I have been a fan of Joel Higgins and Martin Sylvestri ever since their wonderful "Johnny Guitar - The Musical" played Off-Broadway several years back. Add R. M. Cohen's taut storytelling and Michael Bush's expert direction and this will be a show to savor."

The cast includes Tony Winner Lillias White ("The Life", "Fela"), Lawrence Clayton ("Bells Are Ringing", "The Civil War"), Nikki Crawford ("Spamalot" Las Vegas), Allen Fitzpatrick ("Memphis", "42nd Street", etc.), Wendy Fox, Jeremiah James, Wendy Fox, John Herrera, Christine LaDuca, Jamie LaVerdiere ("The Pirate Queen", "Urinetown" national tour), Forrest McClendon ("Scottsboro Boys" Tony nominee), Doreen Montalvo ("In the Heights"), Jay Sullivan ("Jerusalem"), and Mark Zimmerman ("West Side Story", "A Catered Affair"). Music Direction is by Jason DeBord.

The presentations are part of the ongoing Amas Six O'Clock Musical Theatre Lab, a development series for writers, lyricists and composers to mount staged readings of their new musicals free to the public. The Amas Six O'Clock Musical Theatre Lab is 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 Lucille Lortel Foundation, the Edith Meiser Fund, the Shubert Foundation, and through the generous support of many individuals.

OFF-OFF BROADWAY THEATRE LISTINGS/FREE EVENTS
"The Countess of Storyville", a free staged reading of a new musical written by R. M. Cohen, Joel Higgins and Martin Silvestri, directed by Michael Bush, music direction by Jason DeBord, presented by Amas Musical Theatre as part of The Amas Six O'Clock Musical Theatre Lab, on Monday, October 17 at 6pm, and Tuesday, October 18 at 3pm and 7pm, at The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal Street
TICKETS: FREE
FOR RESERVATIONS EMAIL boxoffice@amasmusical.org or CALL (212) 563-2565
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