13th Street Rep's THEATER BOYS Holds Album Release Party Tonight

The 13th Street Repertory Theater will host a cast-album release celebration tonight, October 16th, following the evening performance of ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa's musical comedy "Theater Boys." Those attending the release party will be able to purchase copies of the premiere recording of the show--two days before it officially goes on sale at CDBaby, Amazon, iTunes, and other retail outlets--at half the regular suggested retail price.

The high-spirited musical comedy--which is playing this Fall at the 13th Street Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC) l in repertory with Deffaa's long-running "One Night with Fanny Brice"-- originally opened at the Kaufman Theater as part of the Fresh Fruit Festival. Edith O'Hara, the 97-year-old founder/artistic director of the 13th Street Rep--and a great champion of Deffaa--brought the show to her theater, where it is currently playing (and has just been extended). The album includes artists from both productions. Deffaa wrote book, music, and lyrics for "Theater Boys." Richard Danley serves as the show's musical director.

The album features Andrew Lanctot, David Cronin, Matt Nardozzi, Jonah Mayor, Zack Riopelle, Ricky Schroeder, Cody Dericks, Keith Anderson, Matt ZanFagna, Chris Giordano, Brian Nalepka, and Skye Steele, with choreography and tap-dancing by Tyler DuBoys. "We have a nice mix of seasoned pro's and promising newcomers," Deffaa notes.

Ricky Schroeder, for example, is from the 'Kinky Boots' national tour and 'Naked Boys Singing,' Off-Broadway. The wonderful Matt Nardozzi has been in two Broadway shows, assorted films, and has won the national 'Young Artists Award.' I've admired Brian Nalepka since he was on Broadway in 'Crazy for You'; Skye Steele has worked with artists ranging from Vince Giordano to Rufus Wainwright. Keith Anderson has impressed wherever I've seen him perform, whether at the Kennedy Center or Off-Broadway in New York.

"We also have up-and-coming artists like David Cronin--who won a 'best-in-festival' acting award in our festival debut; Hofstra's Cody Dericks, who is--along with Anna Holmes, Deanna Giulietti, and Jack Saleeby--one of the best musical-theater players I've seen in college productions in recent years; Zack Riopelle, a young standout from Fiorello LaGuardia High School--New York's "Fame" high schooll; and Matt ZanFagna, who's moving from 'Theater Boys' to a featured role in my next show, 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue,' which is currently in rehearsals. And everyone loves young Andrew Lanctot's work in the show--we hear compliments on his pure, true voice at the theater after the show, night after night."

The album--which also features a surprise cameo contribution by an unbilled Tony Award-winning Broadway star--was recorded by Slau Halatyn at Be-Sharp Studios in Astoria. Howard Cruse, the internationally acclaimed cartoonist/graphic novelist, created the cover artwork. It's being released by Original Cast Records, which has released several hundred cast albums--including the cast albums for such previous shows of Deffaa's as "One Night with Fanny Brice," "Irving Berlin's America," "The Seven Little Foys," and "The Johnny Mercer Jamboree."

For more information on "Theater Boys," please visit: www.13thstreetrep.org.