Melissa Errico, Sarah Miller Lead York's Noel Coward Prize Concert

York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) announces two December events; the concert and reception awarding the York Theatre Company Noël Coward Prize, celebrating individual musical theatre talent, to Barry Wyner (Calvin Berger); as well as a special party celebrating the release of the Original Cast Recording of the 2011 York Mainstage production, The Road to Qatar! A few remaining seats to the Coward Prize are available at no cost. For more information please call 212-935-5824 (x212).

This year’s recipient of the York Theatre Company Noël Coward Prize is Barry Wyner for his musical, Calvin Berger. A one-night-only concert of selections from Calvin Berger and the Noël Coward catalog will be presented on Friday, December 16th. In honor of the talents of Sir Noël Coward, who often served as the writer/composer/lyricist for his musicals, the York Theatre Company– with the endorsement of the Noël Coward Foundation –administers the Noël Coward Prize to a promising librettist/composer/lyricist whose work best exemplifies the “triple threat” standards set by Coward. A cast recording of Calvin Berger will soon be released by Sh?K?Boom Records and the show will be licensed by Tams-Witmark in early 2012.

Performers for the Noël Coward portion will include: Tony nominee Melissa Errico (The Sound of Music), Sarah Miller (Noël Coward’s Bitter Sweet) and Steve Ross (I Won’t Dance). Performers of the selections from Calvin Berger will include: Nick Blaemire (Godspell), David Hull (How to Succeed…), Dana Steingold (Encores! Anyone Can Whistle) and Krystal Joy Brown (York’s Falling for Eve).

On Monday, December 19th, the York will be hosting a special CD release party celebrating the Original Cast Recording of The Road to Qatar! The event will include performances from the show by original York cast members James Beaman, Bill Nolte, Sarah Stiles, and the creative team, Stephen Cole (Book and Lyrics) and David Krane (Music). The cast and creatives will also be on hand for CD signings. The event is BYOC (Bring Your Own Camel).

The York Theatre Company is the only theater in New York City—and one of very few in the world—dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals and preserving neglected, notable shows from the past. Over the last two seasons, York productions and artists have been nominated for a combined 19 Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Outer Critics Circle, Drama League, Off-Broadway Alliance, AUDELCO and Callaway Awards (and its productions of Yank! A WWII Love Story and Enter Laughing, The Musical have both been announced for Broadway). For over four decades, York’s intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and neglected classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of Producing Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on new musicals in its Mainstage Series—most of them world, American, or New York premieres—by some of the field’s most esteemed creators, and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers. Over 35 cast recordings from York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, and commercial transfers of such York premieres as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir, Jolson & Company, and its acclaimed revivals of Sweeney Todd and Pacific Overtures have all showcased the importance of the York and its programs.