Berlin, a Musical About the Famed Airlift, Plays New Venue in NYC Sept. 10-27 | Playbill

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News Berlin, a Musical About the Famed Airlift, Plays New Venue in NYC Sept. 10-27 The characters and events of the Berlin Airlift come to life in a world premiere musical, Berlin, at Off Broadway's new venue, Theatre 315, Sept. 10-27.

O Productions presents the new musical by composer lyricist-librettist Erik Orton, to play at Theatre 315 on West 47th Street.

Based on "historical events and participants in the Berlin Airlift, Berlin is the story of the united efforts between Americans, Germans and their Allies to preserve the city as a foothold of freedom" after Soviet rule in post World War II East Germany, according to production notes. "At once a love story and an epic account of the political and heroic efforts to sustain the German people during the Soviet blockade of Berlin, the new musical explores the exciting and compelling true stories of the individuals that made history."

Writer Orton spent his childhood years in West Germany, where his father worked at the same Air Force bases utilized during the Berlin Airlift.

Directed by Jamibeth Margolis, the cast includes Richard Todd Adams (Little Fish) as Soviet Military Governor Vladimir Sokolovsky; Jeff Austin (national tour of City of Angels) as German politician Ernst Reuter; Marie Barlow; William Broderick as American Gen. Lucius Clay; Mark Campbell; Norris Chappell; Alison Cimmet; Shannon Cook; Bridget Crawford; Ayler Evan; Brian Golub; Christopher Graves; Chris Alan Hall as American Lt. Morgan Hansen; Joe Konicki (Jerome Robbins' Broadway); Jayne Ackley Lynch; Edward Prostak (Broadway's Oliver!); Nicole Riding (national tour of Les Misérables) as German Stephanie Hertzfelt; Tregoney Shepherd (Broadway's Les Misérables); Michael Sinclair and Lucy Sorensen.

In addition, the show features special guest appearances via video footage of Winston Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech and President Harry S. Truman's "Marshall Plan" speech to Congress. Berlin has choreography and musical staging by Jody Ripplinger, and musical direction by Rick Bertone. Designers are Doug Ellis (set), Edward Pierce (lighting), Tony Angelini (sound) and Brenda Phelps (costume).

Writer-composer Orton co-authored the book for Savior of the World, playing seasonally at Salt Lake City's new 900-seat Conference Center Theatre; co wrote the book, lyrics and music for The Drummings, a full-length musical featured at the Washington D.C. National Theatre Helen Hayes gallery in 1998, and was selected as a finalist in the David Merrick American Musical Competition in 1999. He served as music assistant to Stephen Flaherty during the initial workshop of Seussical the Musical. Orton graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Music and a minor in Theatre and Media Arts. He lives in New York City with his wife and three daughters.

Director Margolis served as assistant director to Jerry Zaks on Jules Feiffer's new play, A Bad Friend, at Lincoln Center Theatre. She recently directed workshops and readings of Owl Creek: A New Musical.

For ticket information, call (212) 279-4200 or order online at www.ticketcentral.com. The show's official website is www.berlinthemusical.com.

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Theatre 315 is located one block from Times Square, at 315 West 47th Street, just west of Eighth Avenue). The space is part of the Times Square Ministries owned and operated by The Salvation Army. The building includes a state-of-the-art 99-seat theatre, rehearsal space, dressing rooms and support offices. The building was dedicated in a ceremony on June 8, 2003.

 
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