Lucie Arnaz to Direct Hazel: A Musical Maid in America

Following a reading last October, Hazel: A Musical Maid in America returns to New York for an Equity Lab, directed by Lucie Arnaz (who also directed the October reading). The invitation-only readings will take place on May 28 and 29 at the Lyric Theatre Performance Space.

Based on Ted Key's Saturday Evening Post cartoon character and the Emmy award-winning television series, Hazel follows a "saucy maid with a wry sense of humor, timeless wisdom, and a heart of gold." Klea Blackhurst (Hello, Dolly!) will star in the title role.

The character first appeared in the Saturday Evening Post in 1943 as a single-panel cartoon and stayed with the magazine until it went out of print in 1969. Hazel was also portrayed by Academy Award winner Shirley Booth on a TV sitcom of the same name, which ran for five seasons.

The new musical's score is composed by Ron Abel, with lyrics by Chuck Steffan and book by Lissa Levin.

"Hazel: A Musical Maid in America is one of the best new musicals I have read in 35 years," said Arnaz in a statement. "I am honored to be asked to guide its first presentation."