World Premiere of Bill Russell's UNEXPECTED JOY Opens in July at WHAT

In keeping with its mission to provide an alternative theater experience not found elsewhere in the region, and to advance and preserve the art of the theater for the education and appreciation of the public, Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater proudly presents the world premiere of Unexpected Joy. This world premiere by Bill Russell and Janet Hood is produced in association with Jim Kierstead, Linda & Craig Wielkotz, and Gabby Hanna & Marcy Feller. Casting is by Stephen DeAngelis. Unexpected Joy opens July 21, running Wednesdays-Mondays through August 20.

Unexpected Joy has book and lyrics by Tony nominee Bill Russell (Side Show, Lucky Duck) and music by Janet Hood. It marks the first collaboration between the two since their song cycle Elegies for Angels, Punks and Raging Queens, which was inspired by the AIDS memorial quilt. Russell is a Tony Award nominee for book and lyrics to Side Show, on which he collaborated with Dreamgirls composer Henry Krieger. Russell has also penned book and lyrics to The Last Smoker in America and Kept.

According to the authors, "Unexpected Joy is a new musical about four women - all of them singers, but of various experience and success: Joy, a baby-boomer, her daughter Rachel, Rachel's daughter Tamara, and Lou, the woman Joy is intending to marry. But Joy hasn't told Rachel about her wedding plans and has good reason to be apprehensive. Rachel is married to a successful televangelist and performs regularly on his TV show. And Lou is a self-described lesbian terrorist. When the family comes together for a concert honoring Rachel's father (her mother never married him), the sparks and music fly!"

IF YOU GO:

Unexpected Joy
A World Premiere Musical
Produced by Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater in association with Jim Kierstead
Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell; Music by Janet Hood
July 21 - August 20, 2016
Previews July 21 and 22
Performances Wednesday-Monday at 8:00PM
Sunday July 31, August 7 & August 14 at 3:00PM & 8:00PM
Tickets: $20-$50
Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theater
2357 Route 6, Wellfleet
508-349-9428
www.what.org

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