York Theatre Company's STORYVILLE Begins Performances Today

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director) presents the New York premiere of Storyville, a New Orleans musical, with book by Ed Bullins, music and lyrics by Mildred Kayden, direction by Bill Castellino, choreography by Mercedes Ellington and music direction by William Foster McDaniel.

Performances begin today, Monday, July 15, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. for a limited engagement through Saturday, August 17, 2013 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is Tuesday, July 23, 2013 at 7:00 p.m.

The cast features two-time Tony Award nominee Ernestine Jackson, with D.C. Anderson, Cory Bretsch, Karen Burthwright, Kyle RoBert Carter, Dameka Hayes, Michael Leonard James, Leajato Robinson, Clifton Samuels, Christopher Spaulding, Carl Wallnau, Debra Walton, NaTasha Yvette Williams, and Zakiya Young.

New Orleans, 1917: Something happened that changed the American Songbook forever. The time, Mardi Gras; the place, Storyville-two blocks from the French Quarter. Saloons, gambling joints and brothels set the scene for a new kind of music. Some say it was the beginning of jazz. People fell in love, a world disappeared, and the music moved upriver.

Directed by Bill Castellino with choreography by Mercedes Ellington, Storyville is the tale of what happened in that red light district, allowing jazz to become one of America's gifts to the world. Written by playwright Ed Bullins (The Taking of Miss Janie-Obie, Drama Desk Award; What the Winesellers Buy) with music and lyrics by Mildred Kayden (Ionescopade, Call the Children Home) and musical direction by William Foster McDaniel.

The Storyville creative team includes James Morgan (set), Nicole Wee (costumes), Michael Gottlieb (lights) and Janie Bullard (sound). The Production Stage Manager is Elis Arroyo.

The performance schedule for Storyville is as folllows:

July 15 - July 22: Monday - Friday at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. & 8:00pm.

Beginning July 24 through August 17: Monday - Wednesday at 7:00 p.m., Thursday and Friday at 8:00 p.m., and Saturday at 2:30 p.m. & 8:00 p.m.

Tickets are priced at $67.50 and are available by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the box office at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), Monday through Friday (12:00 - 6:00 p.m.).

For additional information, visit the www.yorktheatre.org

Photo Credit: David Loughner/York Theatre Company