Carvajal, Dietz, et al. Set for MERTON OF THE MOVIES Reading, 4/27

"MERTON OF THE MOVIES" a new Musical Comedy by Donald Brenner and Doug Katsaros will receive a private, invitation-only presentation on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:00 P.M.

Directed by Brenner with musical direction by Katsaros, "MERTON OF THE MOVIES" will feature Josh Grisetti ("Enter Laughing"), Celina Carvajal ("Rooms"), Ryan Dietz ("Forum" - Paper Mill), Erik Liberman ("LoveMusik"), Liz Larsen ("Hairspray"), Ashley Fox Linton ("Wicked"), Stephanie Hepburn ("Orphan Train"), Robert Kalman ("Walenberg"), Jason Strong and Martin Van Treuren ("Jekyll and Hyde").

Based on the novel by Harry Leon Wilson (which was subsequently adapted into three separate motion pictures, a radio play and a Broadway play), "MERTON OF THE MOVI ES" concerns Merton Gill, a naive store clerk from Simsbury, Illinois who arrives in Hollywood in the rollicking era of silent movies, determined to be a serious motion picture actor. But an exuberant starlet together with a conniving director hoodwink the innocent lad into unwittingly becoming the silver screen's newest comedy sensation.

Doug Katsaros, along with co-composing the recent viral "Spidey Project," conducted and arranged Broadway's "Footloose," orchestrated "The Rocky Horror Show," arranged "The Life," co-wrote and orchestrated "A...My Name Is Alice," co-wrote Hal Prince's "Diamonds," conducted and appeared in Cy Coleman's "Exactly Like You," composed "Just So," Orphan Train," Abie's Island Rose," and co-orchestrated and programmed "Altar Boyz." He is also the composer of the official theme song for the 150th anniversary of the Statue of Liberty. He has played, arranged and orchestrated for Rod Stewart, Elton John, Kiss, Aerosmith, Peter Paul & Mary, Donny Osmond, Judy Collins, Gloria Estefan, Sinéad O'Connor and a host of others, and yes, he is the man who wrote, "By Mennen."

Donald Brenner directed the New York Musical Theatre Festival production of "The Most Ridiculous Thing You Ever Hoid," Sherman Yellen's "December Fools" (Abingdon Theatre), "A Tale of Two Cities" (Mint Theatre) and the world premiere of "Beyond Gravity" (New Jersey Rep). He also Assistant Directed City Center Encores! "The Boys From Syracuse."

For more information contact MertonOfTheMovies@gmail.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos