Terence Archie, Eddie R. Brown & More Set For York's Upcoming Readings

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces casting for two new musicals (The Harlem Ladies' Knittin' and Bitchin' Society and Lippi), the next offerings in its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series.

The Harlem Ladies' Knittin' and Bitchin' Society
Book, Music and Lyrics by Roger Feuerman
Thursday, August 12, 2010 • 3 PM

The cast of The Harlem Ladies' Knittin' and Bitchin' Society features Terence Archie, Eddie R. Brown, Angelique Cinelu, Lacretta Nicole, Soara-Joye Ross, Timothy Ware and Zakiya Young. The reading is directed by Ben Marshall, with music direction by John Baxindine.

It's Harlem, 1937, and LaVonda, Nichelle and Camille have an itch to bitch! They believe that a peacock of a man, their common ex-lover Julian Saint James, has done crimes against them but didn't do the time. Now they've formed a mutual commiseration society and hatch a plan to lure this "no good despicable so-and-so" to an apartment and put him on trial. Join the Ladies as they call their meeting to disorder and bring out the needles in The Harlem Ladies' Knittin' and Bitchin' Society.

Lippi
Book, Music and Lyrics by Ken Sutherland
Thursday, August 19, 2010 • 3 PM

The cast of Lippi features Philip Bentham, Bradley Campbell, Joe Cooper, Seth Grugle, Tom Grugle, J. Alan Hanna, Jim Johnson, Neil Mowles, Hollis Scarborough, Kristin Spires, Bruce Wermuth and Kim Whalen. The reading is directed by Tod Booth with music direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

Lippi is a larger than life portrayal of a Renaissance man who actually was larger than life. Fra Filipo Lippi, raised and ordained in the church, lived a life of excesses that put him at the foot of the gallows. A fascinating narrative of political intrigue, love and redemption, Lippi is a true story that has yet to be told onstage.

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.

Each year, York's Developmental Reading Series presents between 30 to 40 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors. Reading Series Coordinator Jeff Landsman says, "These readings give writers a unique opportunity to get audience feedback while a show is still in progress." York's 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.

GENERAL INFO:

The Harlem Ladies Knittin' and Bitchin' Society
Thursday, August 12, 2010 • 3 PM

Lippi
Thursday, August 19, 2010 • 3 PM

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

www.yorktheatre.org