Musical Theatre West Announces FIORELLO Reading For 3/11

FIORELLO!, the next staged reading of MUSICAL Theatre West'S REINER READING SERIES will take place on March 11, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. at the University Theater on the CSU Long Beach campus at the 7th Street entrance.

About the show: "FIORELLO! is the story of the rise of Fiorello LaGuardia (1882-1947) before he became a three term mayor of New York. In a time when the crooked political machine known as Tammany Hall was up to its ears in graft, vice and corruption, it took this small, honest man to break their stranglehold on New York City politics. With guts and perseverance the Little Flower put a bright, new shine on the Big Apple. FIORELLO! is a witty sweet valentine to all that is right about the way our government works."

From the creators of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and SHE LOVES ME, composed by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick. Book by George Abbott and Jerome Weidman, FIORELLO! opened on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre in 1959 then moved to The Broadway Theatre in 1961 and closed after 795 performances. It was directed by George Abbott with choreography by Peter Gennaro. The title role was originated by Tom Bosley, who won the Tony Award for Best Actor in 1960.

FIORELLO! is one of only eight musicals ever to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama. This staged reading presents the entire script and score, but with minimal staging and costumes.

FIORELLO! will be directed by Patrick Pearson, and will feature John Massey (Nat'l Tour: Happy Days, A NEW MUSICAL, MTW's THE WIZARD OF OZ, THE FULL MONTY) in the title role. Principal cast members include: David Coolidge (Broadway/National Tour: PARADE) as Floyd; Julie Dixon Jackson (MTW's WINTER WONDERETTES; Regional: SIDE SHOW, YOU'RE A GOOD MAN CHARLIE BROWN) as Marie; Jason W. Webb (MTW's MAN OF LA MANCHA, 1776) as Neil; James W. Gruessing Jr. (Regional: THE PRODUCERS, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE PAJAMA GAME) as Ben; Jeffrey Landman (Broadway: LES MISERABLES and FALSETTOS; Regional: [title of show], ANNIE GET YOUR GUN) as Morris; Shannon Warne, (Nat'l Tour: CAMELOT; MTW's ANNIE Regional: (THE SOUND OF MUSIC, HAVING IT ALL, CAMELOT) as Thea; Shanon Mills Habelow (Nat'l Tour: PETER PAN; Regional: FOOTLOOSE!, …SPELLING BEE, BABY IT'S YOU) as Mitzi and Jennifer Strattan (MTW'S ANYONE CAN WHISTLE, AS THOUSANDS CHEER; Regional: ONCE UPON A MATRESS, NUNSENSE (Garland Award nominee), …SPELLING BEE) as Dora.

Rounding out the ensemble is Sam Cavanaugh, Elena Scarlett Murray, Louis Pardo, Jordan Sidfield, Daniel Wargo, Jessica Wilson and Christopher Van Etten.

MTW's Reiner Reading Series, produced by Michael Betts with associate producer David Lamoureux, focuses on staged readings of classic musicals and forgotten gems and maintains MTW's commitment to celebrate and preserve musical theater as an art form by exposing audiences to works of that might not otherwise be produced on a larger scale. Through the minimalism of the staged reading format, they invite the audience to use their imagination to explore and enjoy the diverse range of musical theatre, both in style and era, including lesser-known shows by noted composers as well as noted shows by lesser-known composers.

Pre purchased general admission tickets start at $25.00 ($30 day of at the door) and are available now through the MTW box office at 562-856-1999, x4 or at www.musical.org.

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