Akers, Balgord, McDermott Lead Cast Of SHIP OF FOOLS Presented 5/12 In NYC

Casting has been announced for a "first look" at select scenes and songs from the new musical adaptation of Katherine Anne Porter's classic novel, Ship of Fools, which will be presented May 12th to industry at a private residence in Manhattan. Pam Tate pens the book and score, and Tate and Erv Raible share duty on the lyrics. Hubert "Tex" Arnold is the musical director and arranger. David Glenn Armstrong will direct the presentation.

Tony Award nominee and international cabaret sensation Karen Akers (Nine, Grand Hotel) plays the role of La Condesa, the tragic Cuban matriarch facing deportation to the Canary Islands.

Linda Balgord (The Pirate Queen, Passion, Cats, Norma Desmond in the national tour of Sunset Boulevard) plays the rich and lonely American socialite Mary Treadwell.
Rita Gardner, the legendary original star of The Fantasticks who appeared most recently on Broadway in The Wedding Singer and Morning's at Seven, will play the role of Frau Schmitt.
Tony Award nominee and Theatre World Award winner Mark Jacoby (Ragtime, Show Boat, John Doyle's revival of Sweeney Todd) plays the ship's lovelorn doctor, Wilhem Schumann.

Sean McDermott (Falsettos, Miss Saigon, Starlight Express) returns to the east coast to play David Scott, an American painter head-over-heels in love for whom the cruise is an exercise in celibacy.

Also appearing in the presentation will be Mac and Backstage Bistro Award winner Lorinda Lisitza, Jefferson Award winner Cindy Marchionda, Heather Milner, and cabaret and recording star Todd Murray.

Pam Tate, an award-winning playwright and songwriter who has released two CDs of her original music, has two pictures above her computer - one is a photograph of Katherine Anne Porter, and the other is a copy of the famous Hieronymus Bosch painting, Ship Of Fools.
Tate commented: "The ship of fools is an allegory dating from the 15th century, depicting a vessel populated by human inhabitants who are deranged, frivolous, or oblivious - seemingly ignorant of their own direction. Our musical takes place in 1933 aboard a German cruise ship which is sailing home from Mexico, and on which the passengers love and hate with the same passions and prejudices that cause the world to drift blithely unaware into World War II.
Porter's novel reveals universal truths about humanity's schemes and dreams, about our pettiness and our generosity, our intolerance and our love. Above all, it reminds us that we are all searching for a safe harbor, a place to call home."

Co-lyricist Erv Raible is the Executive Director of Cabaret & Concert Artists, and an in-demand NYC-based cabaret coach, director, publicist, consultant and talent representative. Raible is a multiple Backstage Bistro and Mac Award winner and has presented over 4,000 performers to the public in his career.
Music director Tex Arnold has written orchestrations for the Lincoln Center American Songbook Series, Carnegie Hall tributes, and the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists series. He was also the musical director for the acclaimed off-Broadway production of Pete ‘n' Keely.

David Glenn Armstrong's recent off-Broadway directorial credits include the first revival of Bock & Harnick & Stein's The Body Beautiful (for which he also co-produced the original cast recording starring Brad Oscar and Cady Huffman) and the Drama Desk-nominated (mis)Understanding Mammy - The Hattie McDaniel Story starring Capathia Jenkins.
Porter's Ship of Fools was previously adapted into a 1966 Academy Award-winning film directed by Stanley Kramer starring Vivien Leigh, Jose Ferrer, Simone Signoret, Lee Marvin, George Segal and Elizabeth Ashley.
For more information about Ship Of Fools, visit the website at www.shipoffoolsthemusical.com.