New Group artistic director Scott Elliott staged the new musical featuring music by Andy Monroe, a book by Michael Zam and lyrics by Jack Lechner. The production began performances April 16 for a run scheduled through May 29 at Theatre Row's Acorn Theatre.
Based on the memoir "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 stars as Dan 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). Jane Brockman and Zachary Berger serve as understudies.
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 design team features Derek McLane (set), Jeff Mahshie (costume), Howell Binkley (lighting) and Ken Travis (sound). Music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations are by Dominick Amendum. Musical direction is by Boko Suzuki. Musical staging is by Josh Prince. The production features animation by Jeffrey Scher.
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.
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.
