Wednesday, July 11, 2007

A York Theatre State of Mind!




-Do you know which parts of HELLO DOLLY were written by Strouse and Adams?

-Do you know the great musicals by Joe Stein that deserved to run as long as FIDDLER?

-Do you know how Elaine Stritch is wearing her hair these days?

I know the answers to every single one of these fascinating questions (and so many more)... all because of my time working behind the scenes at the YORK THEATRE COMPANY.

The greatest living musical theatre artists pass through their doors. BRAND NEW worthy shows are produced every season. And fantastic overlooked musicals of the past are given another shot!



The York Theatre is, without a doubt, one of the most exciting theatre companies in New York. And I have known this since long before I became a part of it.



My adored cast albums of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG and THE "IT" GIRL came from a place called the York Theatre Company. I knew they did a "Mufti" series of great Broadway shows that were rarely revived. I had to check this place out!!!!!

The journey began.

I saw a show called MUSICAL OF MUSICALS- THE MUSICAL. It was a fantastic new show, rivaling FORBIDDEN BROADWAY in its style of insider theatre humor. It was my first time at the York, and I wanted to learn more.



As a student of musical theatre, I have been allowed to study at the York for the past year. I have seen rare musicals, learned from legends, and watched Jim Morgan nurture new shows, such as ASYLUM and THAT TIME OF THE YEAR.



BUSKER ALLEY was given a grand style benefit starring Glenn Close and Jim Dale! Great Broadway talents of today such as Nancy Anderson, Robert Cuccioli, Cheyenne Jackson, and Marla Schaffel have lent their talents to York shows. Theatre Historian John Kenrick was brought aboard to do a series of one- of- a- kind talks on topics in Musical Theatre. Sold- out readings of works in progress were performed to cheering crowds.



This was the same place that received a Drama Desk Award, and Time Magazine had listed the York's Mufti production of DARLING OF THE DAY as one of the Top Ten Theatrical Events of 2005.



Just like any theatre in NYC with this kind of backstage talent, there are plenty of exciting anecdotes and stories--- of things that occur onstage and off!

So welcome to the place where you can learn all about the York Theatre. Walking into our annual NEO concert last month, I saw Ana Gasteyer and Seth Rudetsky chatting over sandwiches. Robert Lopez and Ann Harada were discussing their hosting duties for the evening in the wings. And in the green room, Matt Cavenaugh and Jenny Powers were practicing their respective showstoppers for the concert. ONLY AT THE YORK, KIDS.



Get the scoop here.

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