The York Theatre Company, James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director, as part of its Developmental Reading Series, Jeff Landsman, Series Coordinator, presents SWING FOR VICTORY! on March 11th at 3:00 PM. The all-new 1940's big band revue is presented in collaboration with the show's conceivers, Lively Arts Productions (James Bedell, Daniel T. Lavender and Michael Ruby). The 45th Street Theatre with Lively Arts will present the show on March 10 at 8:00 PM for industry only as well.
SWING FOR VICTORY! will feature all-new 14-piece orchestrations and four-part vocal arrangements of nearly 60 classic songs by Irving Berlin, the Gershwins, Cole Porter, Johnny Mercer, Rogers & Hart, Dorothy Fields and many more. Some popular favorites include "I'LL BE SEEING YOU," "AS TIME GOES BY," "IN THE MOOD," "SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY," " CHATTANOOGA CHOO CHOO," "IT HAPPENED IN MONTEREY," "ON THE SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET," and many more.
Through laughter and song, SWING FOR VICTORY! tells the story of The Four F's - a fictional, Modernaires-style mixed quartet - as they embark on a marathon performance to bolster the spirits of a group of soldiers under siege. The group strives to entertain the troops while enduring stress, fatigue and a few unexpected surprises on the eve of V-E Day.
Daniel T. Lavender (ETHAN FROME reading at the York Theatre; THE GREATEST HOLIDAY MUSICAL...EVER!; COCKTAILS WITH COWARD, SOAR LIKE AN EAGLE; artistic associate at Northern Stage, Goodspeed, St. Louis MUNY) will direct the show, which boasts an original book by Michael Ruby (LOVE, NY, ETHAN FROME; THE GREATEST HOLIDAY MUSICAL...EVER!). Joshua Clayton (GYPSY Broadway and Encores revival, Encores productions of DAMN YANKEES, FOLLIES) provides original arrangements and orchestrations.
The staged reading also includes Music Direction by Alex LeFevre, Sound Design by David Roy, and Stage Management by Eddie Rabon. The cast features Karyn McNae as Faith, Blair Brown as Fran, Ron Remke as Frank, and Stephen Smith as Phil. All actors appear courtesy of Actors Equity Association.
Tickets are FREE. Reservations can be made at the box office at The York Theatre Company,The Theatre at Saint Peter's Church, 54th Street just East of Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10022, by calling (212) 935-5820 or by going to www.yorktheatre.org. Industry can make reservations for the March 10 concert by emailing info@livelyartsproductions.com.
