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The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces casting for Wrapped, the next offering in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series. As always, these readings are open to the general public and admission is free, but reservations are suggested and can only be obtained by visiting www.yorktheatre.org to make reservations online or by calling 212-935-5824 x24.
Wrapped Book, Music and Lyrics by Craig M. Nehamen and Dennis A. Nehamen Thursday, March 11, 2010 • 3 PM
The cast of Wrapped features James Alexander, J. Cameron Barnett, Chad Carstarphen, Malik Hammond ("Nurse Jackie"), Jenè Hernandez (365 Days/365 Plays, Public Theater), Chauncy Johnson (The Color Purple), Alano Miller (Broke-ology), Jen Ryan (Tartuffe), Leonard Sullivan, and DeWanda Wisen ("Spinning Into Butter"). Directed by Greg Cicchino, Music Direction by Craig M. Nehamen.
Wrapped is a hip-hop musical that carries you into the soul of a struggling man: one part artist, three parts husband and father. Broken by the cold-hearted music industry and left hopeless in satisfying any of his wishes for his family, Benny crafts an unthinkably noble plan that unfortunately never stands a chance at success. When all goes awry, he's left fighting hard with a spirit twice as inspired to try to put things back together for himself and his family.
The York Theatre Company was nominated for five 2009 Drama Desk Awards, four Lucille Lortel Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Drama League Awards for its productions of Enter Laughing, The Musical and My Vaudeville Man! last season. York Theatre Company is one of the only companies in the city committed to developing and producing new Musical Theatre Works and rediscovering musical gems from the past. Winner of a special Drama Desk Award for developing and producing new musical theatre, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike for almost four decades. Under the guidance of Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on new musicals in its Mainstage Series-most of them world, American or New York premieres-by some of the field's most esteemed creators and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers.
Each year, York's Developmental Reading Series presents between 30 to 40 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors, all free of charge and open to the public. Reading Series Coordinator Jeff Landsman says, "These readings give writers a unique opportunity to get audience feedback while a show is still in progress and gives audiences an active role in the creative process." York's current mainstage production, Yank!, as well as past mainstage productions Souvenir and The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) were first developed in the Developmental Reading Series, where the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit Avenue Q also made its first appearances. The Developmental Reading Series is made possible in part by The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation, New York State Council on the Arts and NYC Department of Cultural Affairs.
