Andrea Marcovicci & More Set For York's MUFTI Concerts, Begins 9/10

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) has announced preliminary casting for its upcoming Musicals in Mufti Concert Series-the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances taking place in September and October 2010.

Coco (September 10-12, 2010) will feature cabaret legend Andrea Marcovicci (Any Given Day) in the title of role of Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel. Joining Marcovicci will be Jessica Grové (Sunday in the Park with George) as Noelle; Tony nominee Charles Kimbrough (Accent on Youth) as Louis Greif; and Kristine Nielsen (Love, Loss and What I Wore) as Pignol. Directing Coco will be Mark Kaufmann, with music direction by Michael Horsley.

The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd will feature 2010 Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu (Zero Hour), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime) and Josh Grisetti (Enter Laughing, The Musical) in the roles of Sir, The Negro and Cocky, respectively. Tony nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge (Ragtime) will direct with Ethyl Will as music director for the concert performances running October 1-3, 2010.

I Remember Mama (October 8-10, 2010) will be directed by Michael Montel with Mark Hartman as Music Director.

I Love My Wife (October 22-24, 2010) will be directed by Carl Andress with music direction by Matt Castle.

Complete casting and creative teams for all four Muftis will be announced shortly.

Each show will play five performances: Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2:30 & 8 PM, and Sunday at 2:30 & 7:30 PM. Audience talkbacks will follow all matinees. Tickets are priced at $39.50. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.yorktheatre.org or call the York's Box Office at 212-935-5820.

‘Mufti' (pronounced MUFF' tee) means "in street clothes; without the usual trappings" and each show in the Series is presented script-in-hand, with minimal staging. To date, the York has presented over 75 Mufti concert revivals of musical theatre gems from Broadway, Off-Broadway and London, celebrating great writers from the world of musical theatre; entire Series have celebrated Joseph Stein, Richard Rodgers, Larry Grossman and George Abbott. AM New York recently declared the Musicals in Mufti Series as "increasingly essential."

The York Theatre Company is the only theater in New York City - and one of very few in the world - dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals and preserving neglected, notable shows from the past. Over the past two seasons, York productions have been nominated for some 23 Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League Awards (and its productions of Yank! A WWII Love Story and Enter Laughing, The Musical have both been announced for Broadway transfers). For over four decades, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and neglected classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. 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. Over 30 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York productions as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, and acclaimed revivals of Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs.

GENERAL INFO:

2010 Musicals in Mufti Concert Series:

Coco
Book and Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner
Music by André Previn
Suggested by incidents from the life of Gabrielle ("Coco") Chanel
September 10-12, 2010

The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd
Book, Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley
October 1-3, 2010

I Remember Mama
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Martin Charnin
Book by Thomas Meehan
Additional Lyrics by Raymond Jessel
Based on the play by John Van Druten
October 8-10, 2010

I Love My Wife
Book and Lyrics by Michael Stewart
Music Composed and Arranged by Cy Coleman
October 22-24, 2010

Tickets: $39.50 at www.yorktheatre.org or 212-935-5820

York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's
Enter on 54th Street Just East of Lexington
E or M train to Lexington Avenue or 6 train to 51st Street

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