Morgan James News

1959 was a heck of a good year for Broadway overtures.  The majestic trumpet fanfare and lowdown bump and grind of Gypsy's is generally regarded as the best in musical theatre, but there was also the rousingly rhythmic curtain-raiser to Fiorello! and, my personal favorite, Philip J. Lang's beautiful interpretation of Bob Merrill's music for Take Me Along, which touches on so many moods of the show while continually building the toe-tapping climax of The catchy title tune.

On Monday, March 10th The York Theatre Company presented Amanda Green's 'Does This Song Make My Ass Look Fat?' as part of its NEO Spotlight Series.

On Monday, March 3, the award-winning York Theatre Company proudly inaugurated its NEO Spotlight Concert series with an evening showcasing the songs of two emerging writers in musical theatre.

The Drama Desk will shine the spotlight on some of New York theater's leading behind-the-scenes creative talents at the organization's first special Panel of the new year on Thursday, January 31, 2008, 5:30 to 7:30 PM at BMI, 320 West 57th Street, 3rd Floor.

The Irish Repertory Theatre will begin previews of Joseph Stein and Robert Russell's unabashedly romantic, Take Me Along, with lush, moving American music and lyrics, written by Tony Award nominated Robert Merrill on Wednesday, February 20, 2008. The production will open on Thursday, February 28, 2008.

The Drama Desk will shine the spotlight on some of New York theater's leading behind-the-scenes creative talents at the organization's first special Panel of the new year on Thursday, January 31 at 5:30-7:30PM at BMI

Busker Alley, the Broadway bound musical starring Tony winner, Jim Dale, will be celebrated at a glorious luncheon and theatrical presentation aboard the Cunard Liner Queen Mary 2, on Friday, November 30

The York Theatre Company presented the 16th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 12 to Broadway playwright Joseph Stein. The Award culminates York's yearlong celebration of Stein with the Fall 2006 and Fall 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series - the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances.

The York Theatre Company presented the 16th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 12 to Broadway playwright Joseph Stein. The Award culminates York's yearlong celebration of Stein with the Fall 2006 and Fall 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series - the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances.

The York Theatre Company presents The Baker's Wife as the fourth and final show in the Fall 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series - the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances. This Series celebrates the work of playwright Joseph Stein. Remaining performances are Saturday October 27 at 8PM and Sunday, October 28 at 2:30PM & 7:30PM at the Theatre at Saint Peters.

On Friday, October 12, The York Theatre Company opened The Body Beautiful, the third of the four shows in the Fall 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series

Tommy Tune attended the closing NYMF performance of Mud Donahue & Son, starring Shonn Wiley and Karen Murphy, at the 45th Street Theater. Following the performance, a party was held at John's Pizzeria.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, in association with Melanie Herman, will present the World Premiere of Mud Donahue & Son, a new musical with book by Jeff Hochhauser, based on Jack Donahue's 'Letters Of A Hoofer To His Ma,' with music by Bob Johnston and lyrics by Johnston & Hochhauser, directed by Tony Award nominated Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Swing!), as part of the 4th Annual NY Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Performances will run today through October 7 only, with two additional performance added to accommodate the demand for tickets.

Enter Laughing: The Musical, the second of four shows in the York Theatre's Musicals in Mufti series, opened September 28, with its final performance tonight, Sunday September 30 at the Theatre at Saint Peters

NYMF presents the world premiere of Mud Donahue & Son, a new musical with book by Jeff Hochhauser, with music by Bob Johnston and lyrics by Johnston & Hochhauser, directed by Tony Award Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Performances will run October 2 - 7 only. Two additional performances were added to accommodate the demand for tickets: Thursday, October 4 at 4:30PM and Friday, October 5 at 1PM.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival presents the world premiere of Mud Donahue & Son, a new musical with book by Jeff Hochhauser, based on Jack Donahue's 'Letters Of A Hoofer To His Ma,' with music by Bob Johnston and lyrics by Johnston & Hochhauser, directed by Tony Award-nominated Lynne Taylor-Corbett. Performances will run October 2 - 7 only at the 45th Street Theatre.

The York Theatre Company is presenting The Day Before Spring, with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe

The York Theatre Company's I and Albert, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams and book by Jay Presson Allen, plays June 29, 39 and July 1 at the Theatre at Saint Peters

Nell Benjamin's adaptation of Gilbert and Sullivan's classic operetta translates the piece into American musical comedy

The York Theatre Company presents It's a Bird...It's a Plane…It's Superman, the first of the four shows in York's Summer 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series -- the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances.