A commercial future for the show, recently seen in a run at the John Houseman Theatre, is being explored, a spokesperson for the production said. Audiences embraced the romantic-comic country score, created and performed by The Red Clay Ramblers.
The company will go into the recording studio March 2. Directed by Michael Bogdanov (Olivier Award-winner for The War of the Roses), Lone Star Love was conceived and adapted by John L. Haber, with music and lyrics by Jack Herrick, and contributions from Michael Bogdanov, Bland Simpson and Tommy Thompson.
Randy Skinner (2001 Tony Award nominee for 42nd Street) choreographed.
"Lone Star Love, an original American musical, transports Shakespeare's immortal John Falstaff to post-Civil War Texas, where he wreaks havoc on the town of Windsor, and in so doing – thanks to a pair of wily women – gets his own comeuppance in spades," according to the producers.
The production, presented by Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, producing director; Rosetta LeNoire, founder) began performances at the John Houseman Theatre on Nov. 23, 2004. Originally scheduled through Jan. 9, 2005, it was extended by popular demand through Feb. 6. Cast members participating in the album include Kevin Bernard, Shane Braddock, Peter Connelly, Stacia Fernandez, Harriett D. Foy, Stacey Harris, Beth Leavel, Joe Mahowald, April Nixon, Drew McVety, Jay O. Sanders, Dan Sharkey, Nick Sullivan, Clarke Thorell, Julie Tolivar, Brandon Williams, Dana Zihlman; and Special Tony Award-winners The Red Clay Ramblers: Clay Buckner, Chris Frank and Jack Herrick.
Joining the Ramblers' band are guest artists Gary Bristol on bass, David Longworth on drums and Emily Mikesell on fiddle.
Tommy Krasker, co-founder of PS Classics with Philip Chaffin, will produce the album. Krasker has received five Grammy nominations for his cast recordings, which include Titanic (for BMG Classics), Floyd Collins (for Nonesuch), Nine and Assassins (for PS Classics), and Sweeney Todd: Live in Concert (for the New York Philharmonic); recent PS Classics albums include the Broadway productions of Stephen Sondheim's The Frogs (in stores now) and Pacific Overtures (expected in stores later this year).
Devoted to the heritage of theatre music and American popular song, PS Classics is distributed by Image Entertainment. For more information, visit www.psclassics.com.
