Musical Theatre West Presents One-Night-Only Concert Version of KISMET Tonight

Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer, has announced a one-night-only concert version of the acclaimed, rarely produced musical KISMET, presented by Musical Theatre West at the University Theatre on the CSULB campus tonight, June 30 at 7 p.m. KISMET is presented as part of the Reiner Reading Series, which presents concert-style versions of some of Broadway's forgotten gems.

KISMET follows one fateful, fabulous day as a beggar-poet and his daughter cross paths with a wicked wazir, a sly temptress, and a handsome prince, all part of a larger magical journey and exotic adventure. Songs include "Stranger in Paradise," "Baubles, Bangles, and Beads," and "Not Since Ninevah," with a Middle Eastern-flavored score based on music by Alexander Borodin. KISMET has a book by Charles Lederer & Luther Davix, with music adapted by Robert Wright & George Forrest, and lyrics by Robert Wright & George Forrest.

The cast of KISMET includes Chris Warren Gilbert as The Poet (Reiner Reading Series' 110 In The Shade), Melissa Fahn as Lalume (Glinda in Wicked on Broadway), Madison Claire Parks as Marsinah (MTW's Oklahoma!) Robert Hoyt as The Wazir (MTW's Mack & Mabel), Marc Benard as Omar (CREDIT?), and Caleb Shaw as The Caliph (Reiner Reading Series' The Secret Garden). The rest of the cast includes Jonathan Arana, Amy Glinskas, Jordan Lamoureux, William Martinez III, Ayme Olivo, and Jennifer Wilcove. KISMET is directed and choreographed by Daniel A. Smith, with musical direction by Daniel Thomas. The show is produced by David Lamoureux and Michael Betts as part of Musical Theatre West's Reiner Reading Series.

KISMET will be performed one night only tonight, June 30 at 7 p.m. General Admission tickets are $25 ($30 day of performance) and are available online at www.musical.org or by calling the box office at 562-856-1999 x4. Shows in the Reiner Reading Series are performed at the University Theatre at California State University, Long Beach, located off 7th Street at East Campus Drive. Parking is available for $5 in Lot 7.

The Reiner Reading Series presents concert-style versions of some of Broadway's forgotten gems, featuring their full scripts and scores while using minimal sets and costumes. Celebrating and sharing the whole spectrum of musical theatre, the series is sponsored by Ken & Dottie Reiner with additional funding from The Ackerman Family/Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Now in its 60th anniversary season, Musical Theatre West is Southern California's premier musical theatre company. Under the leadership of Executive Director/Producer Paul Garman, the company has garnered numerous awards and accolades for its work presenting the entire spectrum of musical theatre (including 82 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Award nominations over the past eleven seasons with a 2012 Best Musical win for Forbidden Broadway: Greatest Hits, Volume II, and the LADCC Margaret Harford Award for Sustained Excellence in the Theatre).

Musical Theatre West mainstage performances are at the 1,070-seat Richard and Karen Carpenter Performing Arts Center on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. Season Tickets are available now and can be purchased through the MTW Box Office at (562) 856-1999 x4 or online at www.musical.org. Single Ticket prices start at $40.00, with low-priced last row seating available.

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