Photo Flash: THE SHAGGS Opens at Playwrights Horizons

Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director, Tim Sanford; Managing Director, Leslie Marcus) and New York Theatre Workshop (Artistic Director, James C. Nicola; Managing Director, William Russo) just opened THE SHAGGS: PHILOSOPHY OF THE WORLD, a new musical with book by Joy Gregory; music by Gunnar Madsen; lyrics by Ms. Gregory and Mr. Madsen; and story by Ms. Gregory, Mr. Madsen and John Langs. Directed by Mr. Langs, the limited engagement will play through Sunday, July 3 at Playwrights Horizons Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street).

The cast of THE SHAGGS features Tony Award nominee and Obie Award winner Peter Friedman (Ragtime, PH's Circle Mirror Transformation, After the Revolution and The Heidi Chronicles), Kevin Cahoon (Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Lortel nomination for Roundabout's The Foreigner, front man for the band Kevin Cahoon and Ghetto Cowboy), Annie Golden (Assassins and People Be Heard at PH, Broadway's Xanadu and The Full Monty, Jeannie in the film Hair), Steve Routman (on Broadway in La Bête and Broadway, Off-Broadway in The Fantasticks and Shmulnik's Waltz), Emily Walton (PH's Saved, on Broadway in August: Osage County) and, making their New York City stage debuts, Jamey Hood, Cory Michael Smith and Sarah Sokolovic.

Set in Fremont, New Hampshire in the late ‘60s, THE SHAGGS is based on the true story of a working class dad (Mr. Friedman) who has a vision of rock n' roll destiny for his three talentless daughters (Ms. Hood, Ms. Sokolovic and Ms. Walton), convinced they're his family's one-way ticket out of hardship and obscurity. But the girls have ideas of their own - and as their father's ambition turns to obsession, the price of familial obligation becomes all too clear.

The production features choreography by Ken Roht, scenic design by Mimi Lien, costume design by Emily Rebholz, lighting design by Geoff Korf and sound design by Darron L West. Orchestrations and vocal arrangements are by Gunnar Madsen and musical direction is by Aaron Gandy. Production Stage Manager is Lori Lundquist.

With THE SHAGGS, Playwrights Horizons and New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) continue their commitment to developing unique and ground-breaking new musicals. At Playwrights Horizons, these include Grey Gardens, James Joyce's The Dead, Floyd Collins, Assassins, Once on This Island and Sunday in the Park with George, and at NYTW these include Rent; The Seven; Bright Lights, Big City; and Songs From an Unmade Bed. This production marks the first time the two award-winning theaters have co-produced together.

The performance schedule for THE SHAGGS is Tuesdays at 7PM, Wednesdays through Fridays at 8PM, Saturdays at 2:30 PM & 8PM and Sundays at 2:30 PM & 7:30 PM. Single tickets, $75, may be purchased online via TicketCentral.com, by phone at (212) 279-4200 (Noon-8pm daily), or in person at the Ticket Central Box Office, 416 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues). There will be an added performance on Monday, June 6 at 8PM.

Playwrights Horizons' season productions are generously supported by The Harold and Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. The set and costume design of THE SHAGGS is generously supported by the Tobin Theatre Arts Fund. Playwrights Horizons is supported in part by public funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. In addition, Playwrights Horizons receives major support from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, Time Warner Inc., the Charina Endowment Fund and the Peter Jay Sharp Foundation.

New York Theatre Workshop receives public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Lead support for NYTW productions is provided by the Fund for the City of New York/Open Society Foundations, the Ford Foundation, the Tony Randall Theatrical Fund, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation and The Shubert Foundation.

Photo Credit: Jeff Prout