Anne L. Nathan Joins Cast of The Times! at Sonnet Repertory Theatre

Broadway Mama Anne L. Nathan, from THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, RAGTIME, the Tony-winning revival of ASSASSINS and the national tours of LES MISERABLES and ASPECTS OF LOVE, joins the cast of THE TIMES! This musical, by Joe Keenan and Brad Ross, is the main feature at Sonnet Repertory Theatre's BARD'S BACKYARD, an annual summer workshop series of new and revised works presented as enhanced staged readings.

The Book and Lyrics are by five-time Emmy-award winner, Joe Keenan, the farce specialist responsible for crafting many of the most critically acclaimed episodes of TV's FRASIER. Joe's latest project, OUT OF PRACTICE, is A New Television series for CBS debuting this fall. Kelsey Grammer directed the pilot and the series stars Henry Winkler and Stockard Channing. The Music is by Brad Ross whose work has been produced by The Kennedy Center and Off-Broadway, and performed by major symphony orchestras across the country including The Philadelphia Orchestra, The San Diego Symphony and The Milwaukee Symphony. Additionally, Brad's R&B songs have been recorded by Gene "The Duke of Earl" Chandler and Jean Carne.

THE TIMES was awarded a Richard Rodgers Development Grant, which led to a workshop at Manhattan Theatre Club and a fully-realized production at the Long Wharf Theatre. Joe Keenan went on to achieve Hollywood success and THE TIMES went on hiatus until Sonnet Rep's 2005 BARD'S BACKYARD was chosen as the vehicle for its revival. It's an extraordinarily brave, funny, and quite profoundly moving and modern musical, boasting a delightful score, witty book and lyrics, and highlighting a poignant story about a couple's courtship and marriage under the spotlight of the New York Times.

Featured in the cast are: Jordan Leeds (Currently starring in and an original cast member of I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE. Also of Broadway's SUNSET BOULEVARD, FALSETTOS, and LES MISERABLES, original cast member), Jennifer Ferrin (Jennifer Munson on AS THE WORLD TURNS, 2005 Daytime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Younger Actress), Kevyn Morrow (West End's RAGTIME, 2004 Olivier Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical. Also of Broadway's THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, original cast, DREAM, original cast, SMOKEY JOE'S CAFÉ, original cast, the DREAMGIRLS revival, A CHORUS LINE, closing cast as Richie, and LEADER OF THE PACK), Lisa Brescia (Broadway and National Tour of AIDA, and the JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR revival. Brescia also sang with The Mamas & The Papas for five years, in concert with Steven Lutvak and appears on the BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY recording), Bill English (TWENTIETH CENTURY on Broadway with Alec Baldwin and Anne Heche), and Michael Arkin (BOY GETS GIRL and LA TERRASSE at MTC, THE UNEASY CHAIR at Playwright's Horizons, and THE DEVILS at NYTW and SEX AND LONGING at Lincoln Center). Also featured in the cast: Robyne Parrish.

Sonnet Rep will jump-start BBY05 with three intricate and boisterously funny one act plays by KEVIN BREWER, an award-winning local playwright. This special event, Tuesday, July 12 at 8pm, will be followed by a champagne reception celebrating BBY05.

THE TIMES
Wednesday, July 13 thru Friday, July 15 at 8pm

Saturday, July 16 at 2pm & 8pm / Sunday, July 17 at 7pm
The Blue Heron Arts Center, 123 East 24th Street (Between Park Avenue S. and Lexington), NYC

Tickets are $15 (TDF accepted, group, student and senior discounts available).

Reserve online at www.theatermania.com or call the Sonnet Rep box office at (212) 560-2432.

Sonnet Repertory Theatre, Inc. is dedicated to Classic Theatre for the Modern Planet. As a non-profit organization, SRT seeks to promote classic theatre to a contemporary audience by producing insightful and relevant interpretations, while also providing diverse and challenging opportunities to its core Acting Company. Dedicated to the cultivation of new works during its summer season, SRT strives to bridge the gap between the old and the new, looking for commonalities that illuminate the human experience. Through the development of Classics in the Classroom, SRT aims to entertain and educate young people by enticing them with great classic theatre.