York Theatre Company Reading Series to Include Works by Elizabeth Swados and More

As part of its May Developmental Reading Series, the York Theatre Company will present staged readings of three new musicals as well as a reading of Nightclub Cantata by Elizabeth Swados in its 40th anniversary year. All readings will take place at the York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's.

The Sparkley Clean Funeral Singers (May 8) features a book by Lori Fischer with music and lyrics by Lori Fischer and Don Chaffer. The production will be directed by Martha Banta with musical direction by Don Chaffer. The show's cast is set to include Lori Fischer (It Ain’t Nothin’ But the Blues), Julie Foldesi (Newsies), Reathel Bean (Caroline, or Change), and Dan Domingues (The Mother of Invention), with stage directions read by Stevie Hernandez.

Featuring music and lyrics by Bonnie Lee Sanders and Ellen Schwartz with a book by Bonnie Lee Sanders, Ellen Schwartz, Arthur Writ, and Bianca Leigh, Come Up ‘N’ See Me (May 18 and 19) will be directed by Crystal Chapman. Tom Bozell (Swiss Family Robinson), Robert Fowler (Beauty and the Beast), George Dvorsky (York’s Closer Than Ever), Debbie Gravitte (Jerome Robbins' Broadway), Tanya Haglund (Oklahoma!), Jerome Harmann-Hardeman (Dirty Dancing), Jem Jender, Dana Moore (Fosse), Philip Taratula (The Hound of the Baskervilles), and Tommy Vance complete the cast.

Desperate Measures (May 12 and 15), a new Western musical loosely based on Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, will feature Lora Lee Gayer (Holiday Inn), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (York’s Dear World), Lauren Molina (Rock of Ages), Lennie Watts (The Drowsy Chaperone), and Nick Wyman (Catch Me If You Can). Bill Castellino directs the show, which boasts book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg and music by David Friedman. Music direction is by Eugene Gwozdz.

Finally, Bill Castellino will direct Elizabeth Swados' Nightclub Cantata (May 23 and 24), with music direction by Eric Svejcar.

The York's Developmental Reading Series presents over 30 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors throughout the year, a vital part of the writing process. The strong commitment to developing new work is an important part of what makes the York unique in the musical theatre community.

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