Sense & Sensibility, the new musical originally developed in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop in New York - which has nurtured Broadway shows such as Avenue Q, Ragtime, and A Chorus Line - will get an industry reading at Playwrights Horizons on November 16. The musical most recently had a development reading at the Berkshire Musical Theater Workshop this past May.
The musical - like the famous Jane Austen book and movie starring Kate Winslet and Emma Thompson of the same title -tells the story of the Dashwood sisters, as different as two sisters can be. Elinor is reserved, self-possessed, and rational to a fault. Marianne is wildly romantic, emotionally uninhibited, and disdainful of half-measures. Bound by their love for each other but torn by their conflicting notions of ideal love, they struggle with their suddenly reduced circumstances and the intense pressure to marry well. Ecstasy, deception, dashed hopes, and near-tragedy lead them to a greater understanding of each other and finally put them within reach of true and lasting happiness.
Kristin Maloney (The Streets of New York, Musical of Musicals) plays Elinor Dashwood and Jessica Grové (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sunday in the Park with George, Les Misérables) will play Marianne Dashwood in the upcoming staged reading at Playwrights Horizons.
The Musical features a book and lyrics by Jeffrey Haddow (Scrambled Feet, Chekhov in Yalta) andmusic by Neal Hampton (The Chimes). Much of the material was developed in the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, and in May, 2009 the show was chosen as the first presentation of the newly-formed Berkshire Musical Theatre Workshop in Lenox, MA. Sam Scalamoni (Beauty and the Beast, Summer Stock), the director, and Kat West, the stage manager of the BMTW event, are reprising their roles for the November 16th reading. Brian Hertz (Radio City Music Hall) is music directing, and the presentation is being produced by Besch Solinger Productions.
Stephanie Klapper Casting assembled cast, which also includes Jim Stanek (Lestat, Little Women), Dan Kohler (Blue Man Group), Nora Mae Lyng (Into the Woods, Cabaret), J.B. Adams (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), Michael Sharon (The Fantasticks), Jillian Louis (Tarzan), Patti Perkins (The Full Monty), Allison Cimmet (A Tale of Two Cities), Jamison Stern (By Jeeves), David Arthur, and Michele McConnell.
More information on the show and the reading can be found at http://senseandsensibilitymusical.com.
