The other staged concert readings in the series will be Ernest in Love (March 20-April 1) and Irene (April 17-29). (Irving is unavailable to star in those productions.)
Irving won a Tony Award for his role in Irene and starred on Broadway in The Happy Time.
In The Happy Time, which debuted on Broadway in 1968, Robert Goulet played "a world-traveling photographer who returns home and tempts his godson with dreams of escape and no responsibility," according to press notes. Irving originally played the brother of Goulet's character, but in this concert he will play the father of the two brothers.
Originally, Irene had book by James Montgomery (based on his play) with music by Harry Tierney and lyrics by Joseph McCarthy and ran for 675 performances from 1919-1921. For the Broadway revival in which Irving starred, which ran for 13 previews and 594 performances from 1973-1974, the book was revised by Hugh Wheeler and Joseph Stein from an adaptation by Harry Rigby, and had additional songs by Charles Gaynor and Otis Clements.
Ernest in Love, which was presented Off-Broadway in 1960, is based on Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest, with book and lyrics by Anne Croswell and music by Lee Pockriss. Songs include "Mr. Bunbury," "Metaphorically Speaking" and "A Handbag is Not a Proper Mother." Irving made his Broadway debut in the chorus of Oklahoma!. His other Broadway credits include Along Fifth Avenue, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Two's Company, Can-Can, Bells Are Ringing, Call Me Mister, An Evening With Richard Nixon and... (Drama Desk Award), I Remember Mama, The Pirates of Penzance and Me and My Girl (Tony nomination).
Musicals Tonight!, founded by Mel Miller in 1998, has presented 37 staged concerts of classic musicals. Irving has starred in the Musicals Tonight! presentations So Long, 174th Street, That's the Ticket, The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd, The Chocolate Soldier and Me and My Girl.
The McGinn/Cazale Theatre is located at 2162 Broadway, at 76th Street in Manhattan. For tickets, priced $20, call (212) 868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.
