Robert Cuccioli and Luba Mason Star in Wildcat 12/19

Tony® nominee Robert Cuccioli will reunite with his Jekyll and Hyde co-star Luba Mason forone night only in the Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh musical Wildcat, presented December 19 in Manhattan to benefit the Actors Fund.

Wildcat, with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, and book by N. Richard Nash, tells the story of a frontier woman named Wildcat Jackson (Mason) who arrives in a bordertown in the American southwest with dreams of striking oil, and tricks foreman Joe Dynamite (Cuccioli) into helping her. Not-for-profit Theatrical Gems produces the first New York revival of the show since 1961.

The event will be held at The Julia Miles Theatre at the Women's Project, 424 West 55th Street on Sunday, December 19 at 7:00 PM. Theatrical Gems Artistic Director Jacob Shoesmith-Fox directs, with musical direction by Steven H. Taylor. Additional casting will beannounced shortly. Wildcat was Cy Coleman's first musical.

It opened on December 16, 1960 and is best remembered for being the sole Broadway appearance of comedienne Lucille Ball, although the cast also featured Keith Andes, Paula Stewart, Edith King, and a young Valerie Harper (Rhoda) in the dance ensemble. Audiences adored Ball and flocked to see her in person.

Unfortunately, when Ball started to become ill and miss performances, the producers could not afford to keep the show open without her.

Wildcat closed on June 3, 1961 after two hiatuses and 171 performances.Tickets are $25 and can be reserved by emailing tickets@theatricalgems.org.

Tickets will bepurchased at the door. Proceeds benefit the Actors Fund.To raise funds for this and future projects, Theatrical Gems is also producing a cabaret titled Real Men Wear Pink and Sing Showtunes at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre, 61 Christopher Street, on Saturday, November 6 at 9:30 PM.

Tickets are $15 plus a two drink minimum and can be reserved online at www.theduplex.com or by calling (212) 255-5438. The Actors Fund is a nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment.

The Fund is a safety net, providing programs and services for those who are in need, crisis or transition. Theatrical Gems strives to educate audiences about the past, present, and future of theater. Through the entertaining and engaging presentation of popular classics, new works, and under-appreciated relics, we hope to expand horizons and tastes with the goal of preserving these works of art for future generations of theatergoers.

Theatrical Gems is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit arts service organization. For more information, visit: www.theatricalgems.org.