Lawrence, Etc. Join Shindle in NYMF's Sympathy Jones

The full cast and crew has been announced for the world premiere of the new musical Sympathy Jones, which will debut at this year's New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF).  Megan Lawrence, who received a Tony nomination for her scene-stealing portrayal of Gladys in Roundabout's revival of The Pajama Game, will play 'Kitty Hawk', opposite the previously announced Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde).  The musical is written by newcomers Masi Asare (music and lyrics) and Brooke Pierce (book), directed by Sarah Gurfield and choreographed by Christine O'Grady. It will play six performances at the Julia Miles Theatre (424 West 55th Street) September 24 – October 4, 2007.

In addition to Lawrence and Shindle, the cast of Sympathy Jones includes the talents of Thursday Farrar (Aida), Nicole Lewis (Rent),  Amanda Ryan Paige (The Great American Trailer Park Musical), Charlie Pollock (Urinetown), Tony Chiroldes (The Capeman), Christopher Carl (Mamma Mia!) and Glenn Peters (American Dreams).

"The musical tells the story of Sympathy Jones, an overqualified receptionist at a prestigious intelligence agency, who dreams of becoming a super spy.  When Sympathy is passed over – yet, again – for a promotion to agent, she decides to take matters into her own hands and steals a top-secret file.  She quickly sets out to stop evil mastermind Katherine 'Kitty' Hawk, the leader of the Secret Coalition for Revenge, Assassination, Terrorism, Counterintelligence and Heists (S.C.R.A.T.C.H.).  From gadgets to henchmen and bombs to bombshells, the quirky heroine braves it all and, in the process, discovers there is more to being a spy than putting on a catsuit in this funny and heartwarming musical adventure," state press notes.

Sympathy Jones will be part of NYMF's Next Link Project, and is one of only 18 shows selected from over 400 entries.  The full cast and design team will be announced shortly.

Hailed as "the Sundance for musical theatre," the New York Musical Theatre Festival (Kris Stewart, Founder & Executive Director; Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Executive Producer) has premiered 99 new musicals since its inception in 2004.  The largest musical theatre event in the world, NYMF 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.  NYMF has been the launching pad for more than a dozen commercial productions in its three-year history, generating off-Broadway runs for Altar Boyz, The Big Voice: God or Merman?, Captain Louie, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Gutenberg! The Musical!, Shout! The Mod Musical and [title of show].

Sympathy Jones will play the following performance schedule: September 24 at 8:00 p.m., September 25 & September 27 at 1:00 p.m., September 29 & October 1 at 8:00 p.m., and October 4 at 4:30 p.m.  Membership packages for the New York Musical Theatre Festival go on sale on August 1, 2007.  Single tickets for Sympathy Jones go on sale September 1, 2007 and can be purchased by visiting www.nymf.org. 

Photo of Megan Lawrence by Linda Lenzi