'Mud Donahue & Son' Dances into NYMF Oct. 2-7

The New York Musical Theatre Festival presents the world premiere of Mud Donahue & Son, a new musical with book by Jeff Hochhauser, based on Jack Donahue's "Letters Of A Hoofer To His Ma," with music by Bob Johnston and lyrics by Johnston & Hochhauser, directed by Tony Award-nominated Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Performances will run October 2 - 7 only at the 45th Street Theatre.

"Mud Donahue & Son is a new musical based on the letters of a spirited young hoofer who runs away from home and his indomitable mother for the glamour of vaudeville! Jack, a passionate kid who would rather dance than breathe, is bursting out of his skin to realize the talent that he knows is inside him. Mud, an equally passionate woman, would rather die than have her son go into something as trivial as Vaudeville," describe press notes.

Mud Donahue & Son stars Shonn Wiley and Karen Murphy, with choreography created by Lynne Taylor-Corbett inspired by the eccentric tap greats of vaudeville. Design team includes James Morgan (sets), DAVID TOSER (costumes), Jason Kantowitz (lighting). Douglas Oberhamer will serve as Musical Director.

The show is being presented by special arrangement with The York Theatre Company, where Mud Donahue & Son received its first staged reading as part of the York's Developmental Reading Series.

Performances will be Tuesday, October 2 at 8PM; Wednesday, October 3 at 1PM; Thursday, October 4 at 8PM; Friday, October 5 at 8PM; Saturday, October 6 at 4:30PM; and Sunday, October 7 at 1PM.

The 45th Street Theatre is 354 West 45th Street (between Eighth and Ninth Aves). Single tickets to Mud Donahue & Son go on sale to the general public on September 1, through Theatermania.com at 212-352-3101 or 866-811-4111.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is the enormously popular three-week celebration that features the works of the newest generation of musical theatre writers and takes over midtown each fall with a slate of more than 30 full productions and some 100 special events, including readings, workshops, concerts, parties, seminars and master classes.  The largest musical theatre event in the world, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has, in three short years, presented a total of 99 new musicals, many of which have gone on to subsequent productions at Off-Broadway and regional theatres around the country.  For more information, visit NYMF's web site at www.nymf.org or visit www.muddonahueandson.com.