The York Theatre Company, the voice of intimate musical theatre in New York City, announced one-third if its 1999-2000 season, which begins Nov. 23 with Taking a Chance on Love, a revue of the lyrics of John Latouche.
Expected in the show, devised by Erik Haagensen, are songs from Candide, The Golden Apple, Cabin in the Sky and more. "Lazy Afternoon" (with composer Jerome Moross) is one of Latouche's better known songs, along with this revue's title number, from Cabin in the Sky.
Performances will play Nov. 23, 1999 to Jan. 2, 2000.
Lyricist-librettist John Treville Latouche was born in Richmond, VA, in 1917. He wrote lyrics to existing music by Chopin, and teamed with Duke Ellington for Beggar's Holiday (1946) which York will present in concert form Oct. 1-3 in its Musicals in Mufti series.
Other Latouche shows include From Vienna (1939), Banjo Eyesand The Lady Comes Across (both with Duke in 1941), Rhapsody (1944, music by Fritz Kreisler), Polonaise (1945, music by Chopin), The Vamp (1955, music by James Mundy). Under consideration for openings on Feb. 15 and April 11 are the following world premieres:
• The Snow Goose, with book and lyrics by Stephen Cole and music by Matthew Ward, "based on Paul Gallico's bittersweet fable about a disabled artist, a young girl and a graceful bird" set during World War II.
• Postcards on Parade, with book and lyrics by Kenward Elmslie ("The Grass Harp") and music by Steven Taylor, "an absurdly funny love story which takes a phantasmagoric look at the quirky world of postcards and postcard collectors."
• Betting on Bertie, a Jeeves-and-Wooster musical with lyrics by P.G. Wodehouse (who created the famous butler and rich-boy boob), adapted by Walter Willison and Douglas Holmes from an unfinished script by Wodehouse and Guy Bolton and music by Kismet writers Robert Wright and George Forrest.
York Theatre Company, known for its small-cast shows (Little by Little) and intimate theatre space, performs in the Theatre at St. Peter's Church, Citcorp Center, 619 Lexington Avenue at 54th Street. Call (212) 935 5824.
-- By Kenneth Jones
