Matthew Passion Opens Off-Broadway, April 2

Matthew Passion, a new play (with music) by Phil Hall that began previews Thursday, March 29th Off Broadway at American Theatre of Actors' Chernuchin Theatre (314 West 54th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues), will open Monday, April 2, 2007 at 8PM.

Press notes state, "Matthew Passion tells the story of the passion of Christ; the story of Matthew Shepard being picked up at a bar in Laramie, Wyoming, beaten and left for dead on a hillside; and the story of a middle-aged HIV positive survivor who has outlived his life expectancy.  Although the three stories take place in three different locations, and are thousands of years apart, they all reflect one another and converge in the final scene."

Phil Hall composed the score for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and vocally arranged Sophisticated Ellington at Carnegie Hall for Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops. On Broadway, he conducted Play Me a Country Song and was associate conductor for the Broadway revival of Mame, starring Angela Lansbury. He has been a conductor/musical director at The Kennedy Center, St. Louis MUNY, Michigan Opera Theatre, Paper Mill Playhouse, Atlanta's Theater of the Stars, Houston's Theatre Under The Stars, Seattle's Fifth Avenue Theatre, Kansas City Starlight and Indianapolis' Starlight Theatre. He also appeared in the Mira Sorvino-produced, Griffin Dunne-directed film Lisa Picard Is Famous.

The cast of Matthew Passion includes Jeff Applegate, James Royce Edwards (Altar Boyz), Jimmi Kilduff, Timothy John Mandala, Chad McCallon, Craig Ramsay, Andrew Redeker, Matt Shepard, Jay Sullivan. There are also 6 musicians. The show is directed by Steve Stringfellow and features choreography by Jacob Brent. Scenic design is by Michael Anania; with costume design by Jimmy Johansmeyer; lighting design by Jerome J. Hoppe, Jr.; sound design by David Ferdinand / One Dream Sound Corporation; photography and poster by David Vance with graphic design/poster by James Donegan; production photos by David Morgan, and production stage management Harold Goldfaden.

Matthew Passion will play a limited run through April 8, Wednesday–Saturday at 8PM; Sunday at 3PM; with special performances this Sunday, April 1 at 7:30PM; opening night Monday, April 2 at 8PM and Saturday, April 7 at 2PM.  Tickets are $18 and available by calling SmartTix, (212) 868-4444. For more information, visit www.matthewpassion.com.

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