Casting Announced for AGE OF INNOCENCE And PLAY IT COOL, Includes Boggess, Anderson, Ragusa & More

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces casting for The Age of Innocence and Play it Cool, the next offerings 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 be obtained by visiting yorktheatre.org to make reservations online or by calling 212-935-5824 x24. Reservations are no longer accepted via email. Reservations for The Age of Innocence and Play it Cool are full and now being accepted for the waitlist only.

The Age of Innocence
Based on the novel by Edith Wharton
Music by Ted Kociolek
Book and Lyrics by Walter Holland and Ted Kociolek (From an idea by Walter Holland)
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 • 7:30 PM

The cast of The Age of Innocence features Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid), Edwin Cahill (Lovemusik), Linda Cameron, Deborah Cardona, Kerry Conte, Jack Doyle (Young Frankenstein), William Thomas Evans (A Tale of Two Cities), Joy Franz (Into the Woods), Michael Halling (A Tale of Two Cities), Michael Hunsaker, Stacey Scotte, Scott Schafer (Ragedy Ann), Michelle Ragusa (Young Frankenstein), Melanie Vaughan (Ring of Fire).

When Newland Archer, a young attorney engaged to the loving but conventional May Welland, encounters her European cousin, the beautiful and mysterious Countess Olenska, his life is transformed. Set against the backdrop of Old New York and illuminated by a ravishing, melodic score, this story of forbidden love and repressed passions is the most romantic of romances.

Play it Cool
Conceived by Larry Dean Harris
Book by Martin Casella and Larry Dean Harris
Music by Phil Swann; Lyrics by Mark Winkler
Thursday, October 22, 2009 • 3 PM

The cast of Play it Cool features Nancy Anderson (Wonderful Town), Sally Mayes (She Loves Me), Michael F. McGuirk (An Evening at the Carlyle), Javier Muñoz (In The Heights) and Josh Strickland (Tarzan).

Play It Cool is centered on Mary's Hideaway, a fictional jazz club, circa 1953. Inspired by the period's film noir, this jazz musical examines laws governing gay and lesbian clubs of the time; when women weren't allowed to bartend and men couldn't dance with other men; when every glance had a double meaning, every word was an innuendo and everything had to be done to strict code. Set against a sexy Hollywood backdrop, Play It Cool looks at the people of the time who had the guts to break the rules...along with the ones who were only too happy to
play along with them.

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 productions of 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 early 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.

Photo credit: Walter McBride

 

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