'The Jack of Tarts' New Musical Debuts at La MaMa Jan.31

The debut production of The Jack of Tarts, a bittersweet musical, opens January 31, 2008 at La MaMa E.T.C. (74 A East Fourth Street, First Floor Theatre, between Second Avenue and Bowery) and runs through February 17, 2008.

The Jack of Tarts features a book by Chris Tanner and Eric Wallach, with music by Paul Johnson.  Directed by Eric Wallach.

"The Jack of Tarts - a bittersweet musical – is set in a kingdom by the sea known as Tartannia where life is centered around the consumption of pleasurable tarts.  Amidst the devastated land of Tartannia the Queen of Tarts (Lance Cruce) and her castle still stands.  The Jack of Tarts (Chris Tanner) has been bred to inherit the throne but a terrorist named Agnes (Michael Lynch) is blowing the house of cards down.   Julie Atlas Muz plays Annabel Lee the brazen hemophiliac turned martyr," explain press notes.

The design team includes Garry Hayes (set), Becky Hubert (costume), Paul Jepson (lighting), Erick Paiva Nouchi (video).

Show times are Thursday - Sunday at 8PM and Sundays at 2PM, Tickets $18.

With music by New Orleans-native Paul Johnson, The Jack of Tarts is a musical that offers a southern spin on an East Village-born fairy tale that reflects the world around us in outrageous color. For more information, videos and music samples, check out the land of Tartannia online at www.myspace.com/thejackoftarts.