JERRY'S GIRLS Begins Performances Tomorrow at York Theatre Company

Light the Candles! Get the Ice Out! Blow the Bugle! The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Interim Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, presents the special Summer 2017 Musicals in Mufti presentation of the hit Broadway revue Jerry's Girls, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and concept by Larry Alford, Wayne Cilento, and Jerry Herman, featuring the greatest songs for women from such immortal musicals as Mame, Hello Dolly!, Milk and Honey, Mack and Mabel, A Day in Hollywood/A Night in the Ukraine and La Cage Aux Folles. The limited engagement of Jerry's Girls begins TOMORROW for 12-performances only, August 5 - 13, 2017 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is Sunday evening, August 6, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

Jerry's Girls is directed by York favorite Pamela Hunt (Berlin to Broadway with Kurt Weill), with music direction by Eric Svejcar (Marry Harry) and features Tony Award nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q), Christine Pedi (Spamilton), and Stephanie Umoh (Ragtime).

Jerry's Girls is a captivating tribute to that all-American master of song, Jerry Herman, which brings the larger-than-life women of his shows center stage: matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi of Hello, Dolly!, exuberant Auntie Mame Dennis of Mame, the benignly eccentric Countess Aurelia of Dear World, screen legend Mabel Normand of Mack and Mabel, and the flamboyant ZaZa of La Cage Aux Folles. It affectionately celebrates his special gift for writing songs that capture the true spirit of the American musical theatre. The all-female cast reminds us of how Jerry Herman has given voice to some of the most iconic show-stoppers ever written for Broadway. A winner of Tony, Grammy, Olivier, and Drama Desk Awards, Jerry Herman is truly the master tunesmith of our time.

After an initial nightclub run and a successful national tour, Jerry's Girls was presented on Broadway at the St. James Theatre in 1985. It was directed by Larry Alford and choreographed by Wayne Cilento and starred Broadway legends Dorothy Loudon, Chita Rivera, and Leslie Uggams. "A brilliantly lively and scintillating evening," said The New York Times. "Warm, witty, lively and terrific!" stated The Associated Press. "A show of tremendous musicality and great wit," declared Variety.

James Morgan, York's Producing Artistic Director, said, "After our sold-out presentations of Dear World and Milk and Honey in the Mufti Series earlier this year, we decided that nothing would make the world happier than an entire evening spent with Jerry's Girls. We are thrilled to be able to offer an additional performance for this perfect summer escape!"

The York Theatre Company's acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series of musical theatre gems, performed in a simply-staged, book-in-hand concert format, celebrates its twenty-second historic year of shows from the past that deserve a second look. Mufti means "in street clothes, without the trappings associated with a full production."

Jerry's Girls plays the following 12-performance schedule: Saturday, August 5 at 2:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m., Sunday, August 6 at 2:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, August 9 at 7:00 p.m., Thursday, August 10 2:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., Friday, August 11 at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, August 12 at 2:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. and Sunday, August 13 at 2:30 p.m and 7:00 p.m.

Tickets are on sale now for York Theatre Company Members only. Tickets for Jerry's Girls are priced at $45-$50 ($31.50 for Members - a savings of up to 35%). Tickets may be purchased online at www.yorktheatre.org, by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), Monday through Friday (12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.).

Continuing summer events at The York include the ongoing lobby exhibition "SCENIC DESIGNS BY James Morgan: A Rather Random Retrospective Celebrating 40+ Years at The York Theatre Company and Elsewhere." All works in the exhibit are available for purchase and to be autographed.

News of past shows that premiered at The York Theatre Company: the critically acclaimed musical Yank, which received its Off-Broadway debut at the York in 2010, has just opened to rave reviews in London. And, it was recently announced, the original York Theatre/Off-Broadway cast of the hit musical Cagney, which received its New York premiere in 2015 and subsequently transferred to the West Side Theater, will begin performances in the fall in Los Angeles.

York Theatre Company offers the York! Membership Program, an exclusive membership package for as low as $75.00-with elite benefits that include up to 35% off tickets to York Theatre Productions, exclusive Member pre-sale opportunities, 50% off on all lobby concessions, 20% off on all lobby merchandise, in addition to special Member-only receptions. The York also offers a York Plus! Membership Program with additional perks, including complimentary tickets to Mainstage productions and invites to several VIP-only presentations throughout the season.

York Memberships can be purchased online at www.yorktheatre.org/membership, or by visiting the York Theatre Company Box Office (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), or by calling the Box Office at (212) 935-5820 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).

For additional information, please visit www.yorktheatre.org.

The York Theatre Company is the only theatre 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. For over four decades, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of Producing Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused 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 35 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, including its acclaimed revival of Closer Than Ever (2013 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Revival); commercial transfers of such York premieres as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir (Tony Award Nomination for actress Judy Kaye), and Jolson & Company, and revivals of Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd (four Tony Nominations including Best Revival) have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs. Recent New York premieres have included Marry Harry, A Taste of Things to Come, and Rothschild & Sons. News of past shows that premiered at The York Theatre Company: the critically acclaimed musical Yank, which received its Off-Broadway debut at the York in 2010, has just opened to rave reviews in London. And, it was recently announced, the original York Theatre/Off-Broadway cast of the hit musical Cagney, which received its New York premiere in 2015 and subsequently transferred to the West Side Theater, will begin performances in the fall in Los Angeles.