Briner, Critelli & More Cast In TheatreWorks' TINYARD HILL 7/15-8/16

TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley, launches its 40th Anniversary season with a vibrant world premiere musical, TINYARD HILL, by Tommy Newman and 2009 Jonathan Larsen Award-winning composer Mark Allen. This sparkling, spirited new musical will act as the centerpiece of this summer's 8th Annual New Works Festival (July 15-August 23), which will draw playwrights and composers from across the nation developing their latest works. Set in the sixties with a foot-stompin' country-pop score, TINYARD HILL features cast including Broadway veteran James Moye, acclaimed musical actress Allison Briner, and regional favorites Chris Critelli, and Melissa WolfKlain, with TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley at the helm. TINYARD HILL plays July 15 through August 16 (press opening: July 18) at TheatreWorks at Lucie Stern Theatre in Palo Alto. For tickets and information, the public may call (650) 463-1960 or visit theatreworks.org.

The Vietnam War looming on the horizon seems far away from the small town of Tinyard Hill, Georgia, where young David Kingsley and his father run the local blacksmith shop. Desperate to bring their two hundred year old business, which has become little more than a tourist novelty, into modern times, David is filled with big dreams for the future. But when an out-of-this-world beauty and an out-of-the-blue draft notice arrive within days, his world is turned upside down. This feisty new musical is a winner of the Frederick Lowe Foundation Award and was a hit at the National Alliance of Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals. TINYARD HILL recently received its first developmental production by Red Mountain Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama.

Tommy Newman, originally from Georgia, is a book writer, composer, lyricist and songwriter. He received a Lois Garren Award for composition, and was nationally recognized for his work at Troy University by the American College Theatre Festival at the Kennedy Center, receiving a summer fellowship at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre Center. He graduated from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 2006 with an M.F.A. in Musical Theatre Writing, where he was under the tutelage of renowned artists such as Jeanine Tesori, William Finn, Rachel Sheinkin, Michael John LaChiusa, Mel Marvin, Sarah Schlesinger, and many others. Newman has composed original scores for a number of regionally produced plays and films including the award winning short, Dancing Ground. In addition to TINYARD HILL, Newman has collaborated with composer Mark Allen on the new musical, Band Geeks!.

Mark Allen, also a Georgia native, is an award-winning composer of both film and musicals. He attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts, where he first met and collaborated with Tommy Newman. A 2006 graduate, he holds an M.F.A. in Musical Theatre Writing. He is a recipient of the 2009 Jonathan Larsen Award for Emerging Composers, and won "Best Musical Score" for his orchestrations in the film Viking Saga at the "First Take Film Festival" in Augusta, Georgia. In addition to TINYARD HILL, Allen created the new musical Band Geeks! with Tommy Newman.

TheatreWorks has assembled an exceptional cast for TINYARD HILL, including Allison Briner in her TheatreWorks debut as May Bell Whitehead. She recently played Rosie in the national tour of Mamma Mia!. Other national tours include Les Miserables and Titanic. Off-Broadway credits include Forbidden Broadway and Forbidden Hollywood. She has performed regionally with Actor's Theater of Louisville, Denver Center, Papermill Playhouse, and Berkshire Theatre Festival.

Chris Critelli, makes his TheatreWorks debut as the young and idealistic David Kingsley. Previous roles include "Perfect-Man" in the Off-Broadway production of The New Hopeville Comics at the American Theatre of Actors. Other credits include roles at Irish Classical Theatre, Artpark, and Shakespeare in Delaware Park.

James Moye, who makes his TheatreWorks debut as blacksmith Russell Kingsley, starred as Bob Wallace in the Broadway production of White Christmas, and was also seen in Broadway productions of Urinetown and The Full Monty. Moye is currently performing Off-Broadway at the Lincoln Center in Susan Stroman's much anticipated Happiness, and has performed in national tours of The Drowsy Chaperone as Adolpho and Little Shop of Horrors as Orin.

Melissa WolfKlain makes her mainstage debut at TheatreWorks as the beautiful Aileen Garrett. WolfKlain has appeared in previous TheatreWorks New Works Festival workshops including Caraboo and Asphalt Beach. She recently starred as Polly Baker in Crazy for You and Millie Dilmount in Thoroughly Modern Millie at Broadway By the Bay, and other regional credits include roles at the Pantages Theatre and American Musical Theatre of San Jose.

TheatreWorks founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley, who helmed the company's recent acclaimed production of Caroline, or Change and multi record-breaking World Premiere musical Emma, directs TINYARD HILL.

Kelley earned Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Awards for TheatreWorks' productions of Caroline or Change, Ragtime, Rags, Another Midsummer Night, the West Coast Premiere of Jane Eyre,, and the Sondheim classics Sunday in the Park with George, Pacific Overtures, Into the Woods, and Sweeney Todd. Additionally, he is the recipient of Bay Area Drama-Logue Awards for his direction of Pacific Overtures, Ah, Wilderness!, and Once in a Lifetime, and Back Stage West Garland Awards for his direction of Side Show and Sunday in the Park with George.

Since founding TheatreWorks in 1970, Kelley has directed over 150 productions for the company.

Previews: July 15, 16, 17

Closes: Sunday, August 16

SHOWS: Previews: 8pm
Tuesdays and Wednesdays: 7:30pm
Thursdays and Fridays: 8pm
Saturdays: 2pm, 8pm
Sundays: 2pm, 7pm

Pre-show "How Theatre Works" discussion July 16 at 6:30pm, featuring creators Tommy Newman and Mark Allen in a lively discussion of this World Premiere musical; Post-show Discussion Wednesdays with cast and artistic staff July 22, 29, and August 12; "Visual Voice" audio-described performances are available August 7 and 8 at 8pm, and August 16 at 2pm.

TheatreWorks at Lucie Stern Theatre
1305 Middlefield Rd.

TICKETS: $29 (student)-$67; savings available for students, educators, seniors, and members. A $2 convenience fee will be assessed for online and telephone orders. For tickets, information, and subscription information, the public may call (650) 463-1960 or visit theatreworks.org.