New Group artistic director Scott Elliott directs the new musical featuring music by Andy Monroe, a book by Michael Zam and lyrics by Jack Lechner. The production officially opens May 10 for a run through May 29 at Theatre Row. (Previews were originally slated to begin April 10 toward a May 6 opening night, but were delayed to accommodate star Sieber's filming of a television pilot.)
Based on Savage's book "The Kid: What Happened After My Boyfriend and I Decided to Go Get Pregnant," the musical The Kid tells "the true story of what happened when sex columnist Dan Savage and his boyfriend decided to create a family," according to New Group notes. "Step one: Convince an adoption agency and homeless teenage mom that two gay men are the perfect parents for her child. Step two: Convince themselves."
Sieber will play the character of Dan Savage opposite Jill Eikenberry (Enter Laughing, "L.A. Law") as Dan's mother, Lucas Steele (Othello) as Dan's boyfriend Terry, Jeannine Frumess (Burn) as the birth mother Melissa and Michael Wartella (Oliver Twist, Seussical) as the birth father Bacchus.
The ensemble also features Susan Blackwell ([title of show]), Ann Harada (Avenue Q, 9 to 5), Brooke Sunny Moriber (The Wild Party, Parade), Kevin Anthony (The Wiz), Tyler Maynard (The Little Mermaid) and Justin Patterson (Young Frankenstein.
Sieber earned Tony Award nominations for his turns as Sir Galahad/The Black Knight/Prince Herbert's Father in Spamalot and as the 4-foot-5-inch Lord Farquaad in Shrek. Other credits include Beauty and the Beast, Chicago, Triumph of Love, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Into the Woods. The authors of The Kid garnered the 2009 BMI Foundation Jerry Bock Award for Best New Musical. The tuner marks The New Group's first musical theatre venture since co-producing Avenue Q.
Rosie O'Donnell will host a conversation on "The Modern Family: A Discussion of Gay Adoption" April 18. The Kid lyricist Jack Lechner will take part in the event along with special guests Terry Boggis of the LGBT Cultural Center and photographer/adoptive parent Josh Lehrer.
Tickets to The Kid at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenue), are available by calling (212) 279-4200. For more information, visit thenewgroup.org.
