Road To Qatar! To Have Reading At Chelsea Studios on 4/18

The Road to Qatar!, a true new musical comedy, will have two staged readings for industry professionals at Chelsea Studios at 1pm and 4:30pm on April 18, 2007.  The book and lyrics are by Stephen Cole and the music is by David Krane. Cole and Krane based the show on their real life experience of being commissioned to write the first American musical to premiere in the Middle East. The reading will be directed by Marcia Milgrim Dodge (Lucille Lortel Nominee for Seussical) and features a cast of five including Rob Bartlett (Little Shop of Horrors, The Imus Show), Mary Birdsong (Martin Short-Fame Becomes Me, Hairspray), Brad Oscar (The Producers, Spamalot), Seth Rudetsky (The Ritz), and Ray Wills (The Producers). 

One day three years ago both Stephen Cole and David Krane (who did not know each other at the time) received an email that read: "We want you write musical. How much?"

This began an unbelievable but true journey that introduced the two "short Jews" to an alien world of camels, deserts and crazy Egyptian theatrical producers.  During the course of this crazy Arab adventure, Stephen and David starred in their own personal Bob Hope-Bing Crosby "road picture" that took them to Dubai, Qatar, London, Bratislava and back to the USA after writing and presenting a huge original musical for the Emir of Qatar and one thousand of his invited guests. When they returned, they had no other choice but to write their story in the only way they knew how: as a musical!  The names have all been changed, but the story is totally true.

Stephen Cole has been represented in New York by After the Fair (Outer Critics Circle Nominee for Best Off-Broadway Musical starring Michele Pawk), The Night of the Hunter (NYMTF starring Beth Fowler and Dee Hoty) and Piano Bar (The Triad).  Hunter and After the Fair both have played regionally and After the Fair was a great hit in London. Stephen has also written Saturday Night at Grossinger's (produced in LA, Long Island, Dallas and Florida), Dodsworth (produced at Casa Manana starring Hal Linden and Dee Hoty), Casper (Pittsburgh CLO and Summer tour starring Chita Rivera) and others.  His books include That Book about That Girl and I Could Have Sung All Night (with Marni Nixon).  He is currently at work with Jack Carter on his memoirs entitled Pissed Off! Stephen's awards include the Edward Kleban Award for his libretto of The Night of the Hunter and a Gilman-Gonzales Falla Commendation for After the Fair.

David Krane is best known as the composer of incidental and dance music for dozens of Broadway shows including the LA CAGE AUX FOLLES revival, the Tony award winning revival of CABARET (Sam Mendes/Rob Marshall), MAN OF LA MANCHA, the new OKLAHOMA! (London/Broadway) for which he composed a new dream ballet for Susan Stroman, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN, THE MUSIC MAN, SHOWBOAT, VICTOR/VICTORIA, & RAGTIME among many others. His TV credits include ONCE UPON A MATTRESS 2005 (Disney/ABC) starring Carol Burnett & Tracey Ullman, the award winning ANNIE (Disney/ABC) for which he received a special citation from the Academy of TV Arts & Sciences Primetime Emmy Awards, MRS. SANTA CLAUS (CBS) with Angela Lansbury, CINDERELLA (Disney/ABC) starring Whitney Houston, the 2003 OSCARS, & THE KENNEDY CENTER HONORS. David is a protegé of Leonard Bernstein and a composition graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music.  His work on the film version of Chicago brought him a Gold Record and he is currently at work with Rob Marshall on the film version of Nine. 

For more information about the industry invited readings please go to www.roadtoqatar.com.