Cocktails with Coward Revue Opens July 19th at Don't Tell Mama

Grab your highballs for an evening of swellegant sophistication: COCKTAILS WITH COWARD, the all-new, divinely witty, deliciously irreverent musical revue makes its New York debut this July! Fresh from a critically acclaimed New England run, this high-spirited, high-class, highly entertaining song and dance soiree revitalizes the wit and witticisms of "The Master" with some savory new twists. It's one part classic melody, two parts top-notch talent – garnished with a splash of contemporary glamour.

"An excellent night of theatre," says Nicola Craig of the Vermont Times Argus. "No stone remains unturned, and no subject goes unscathed in this inventive mix of Coward's satire and Lavender's breezy concept and direction."

COCKTAILS WITH COWARD honors the life and times of Noël Coward, one of the 20th Century's foremost dramatists and king of deco sophistication by intimating the audience to him through some of his most celebrated characters: Elyot Chase (of PRIVATE LIVES), Judith Bliss (HAY FEVER), Elvira (BLITHE SPIRIT), and Tony (STAR QUALITY). These classy, sassy and sexy personalities rendezvous in hopes of a martini-laden encounter with their creator, Noël Coward. When he is inexplicably detained, they gossip, dish and perform some of Coward's most entertaining music.

What follows is an evening that has been described as not only "pure joy" and "delightful entertainment," but also "a sparkling portrait of gay culture in the 1930's." And although the music and lyrics may be over sixty years old, the show takes a decidedly young, urbane and contemporary twist: Designed as a paene to the "private lives" of the socially elite gay circles of the mid-Twentieth century, the show musically "lifts the latches" on the closet doors that in some circumstances remain tightly shut even today. A young, sexy group of actors are joined by some seasoned Broadway pros to make this evening a special blend of old and new.

In addition, this exciting celebration of Noël Coward has caught the eye of the renowned Noël Coward Society of America and will be featured in an upcoming forum and panel discussion with Ken Starrett (President of the Noël Coward Society), Tony Award winner Jim Dale (BARNUM), and COCKTAILS WITH COWARD director Daniel T. Lavender. For Lavender, the fact that the X/Y generation is finally catching up to what the sassy, gay cosmopolites of the 1930's knew (just how divine Noël's words and music really are!) is nothing short of astonishing, but long overdue.

Says director Lavender of the project: "There's humour and irony everywhere – and it's OK to laugh at life – because it's usually the only true emotion…[I'm] not advocating callousness and irresponsibility, but there is a deeply sophisticated and important message here: Noël Coward lived – he knew the secret was to tinkle away at a showtune when the world was crumbling around him. Isn't it about time for us to get the message and tap our toes along?"

COCKTAILS WITH COWARD plays at Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street). Via Subway, take the A/C/E/1/2/3/9/N/R/Q/W trains to 42nd Street/Times Square. Performances are July 19 – 27 at . Tickets are $15, with a two drink minimum. Tickets, performance times and information are available at 212.757.0788. Or go online to www.donttellmama.com