'Watch the Birdie' has Reading in Philadelphia

Sex. Marriage. Pasta. Babies. The American family is just as wonderfully dysfunctional as it was back in the "good old days." "Watch the Birdie" with a jazzy and tuneful score by Charles Gilbert (Assassins, Gemini, the Musical) tackles the truths and trials of American family life with heart, humor and sincerity. In today's social, economical and political landscape Gilbert's songs hold up a revealing and powerful mirror in the face of what lies at the foundation of our culture – family, a timely and pitch perfect show for mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. Following our sold out inaugural performance of FRESH: New Musicals. Stripped. this past June, the Philadelphia Music Theater Works is proud to present a staged reading of Philly composer, Charles Gilbert's "Watch the Birdie." Gilbert's candid and insightful revue about the mixed blessings of contemporary family life comes to the Philadelphia Music Theater Works this August 8th & 9th at 8PM at the Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5.

The Philadelphia Music Theater Works Artistic Director Jeremiah Downes directs this new staged reading production of "Watch the Birdie" with music and lyrics by Charles Gilbert and a book by Conrad Bishop and Elizabeth Fuller, the versatile writer-performers who are the founders of the nationally acclaimed theater company The Independent Eye, currently in residence in California.

"It's an absolute joy to bring Watch the Birdie to the stage." said Jeremiah Downes "Charlie and I have shared years of creative collaboration and friendship, he's a hometown artist whose work is distinctly unique and charming, it's just a perfect fit. Not to mention, our stellar cast who will breathe a new life into this touching and well-crafted revue. It's going to be a truly memorable and affecting night in the theater!"

It was first performed at the Douglas Fairbanks Theater in New York and the Philadelphia Arts Bank Theater in the spring of 1998. "Watch the Birdie" is adapted from material which has proven its worth in other settings. A cabaret revue of many of these songs, performed by the composer along with actors D'Arcy Webb and Gary Pagano, was enthusiastically received when it was performed in New York, Philadelphia and Delaware in 1993 and 1994; Douglas Keating of The Philadelphia Inquirer praised those songs for their "biting, insightful lyrics." The sketches are selected from over 60 short scenes which The Independent Eye produced for radio under the title "Family Snapshots" which were aired by NPR stations across the country. The revue was first performed at the Douglas Fairbanks Theater in New York and the Philadelphia Arts Bank Theater in the spring of 1998. Watch the Birdie runs August 8-9, 2008 at the Walnut Street Theatre Studio 5. Tickets are priced $18 and are available at the door and online at www.phillymusictheater.org.

The cast of "Watch the Birdie" include a first rate roster of Philadelphia actors, with Claudia Carlsson, Michael Doherty, Sheira Feuerstein, Alex Keiper, Stearns Matthews and Jason Michael. And, with musical direction by Resident Music Director, Christopher Ertelt and musical staging by Nancy Berman Kantra.

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