February House, which brings to life a host of bohemian intellectuals, artists and icons of the 1940's, is playing its premiere engagement at the Long Wharf Theatre through March 18. Davis McCallum (Water By the Spoonful, Elliot: A Soldier's Fugue, Sex Lives of Our Parents) directs the co-production between Long Wharf and the Public. February House has a book by Bockley and a score by Kahane.
The current Long Wharf cast will repeat their work for the Off-Broadway run, which will run May 8-June 10 at the Public.
Julian Fleisher portrays George Davis, who helped found the Brooklyn commune known as February House, located at 7 Middagh Street in Brooklyn Heights. Also featured are Stanley Bahorek (Spelling Bee, See Rock City) as Benjamin Britton with Kacie Sheik (Hair) as Gypsy Rose Lee, Erik Lochtefeld (Metamorphoses, Candide) as W.H. Auden and Kristen Sieh (Gatz, "Boardwalk Empire") as Carson McCullers.
Completing the cast are Ken Barnett (Wonderful Town, The Green Bird) as Peter Pears, Ken Clark (La Cage aux Folles) as Reeves McCullers, Stephanie Hayes (Eurydice) as Erika Mann and A.J. Shively (La Cage aux Folles) as Chester Kallman.
Based on the Sherill Tippins biography "February House: The Story of W.H. Auden, Carson McCullers, Jane and Paul Bowles, Benjamin Britten and Gypsy Rose Lee, Under One Roof in Wartime America," the musical incorporates elements of classical operetta, jazz, musical comedy and modern folk-pop. Here's how the creators bill February House: "Bringing together some of the greatest and most colorful minds of a generation, including W.H. Auden, Carson McCullers, Benjamin Britten, and Gypsy Rose Lee, George Davis tries to create his own utopia in a small house in Brooklyn Heights in the 1940s. The artists discover new ideas exploding at every turn as they find love, friendship and their own artistic voices in a time of war."
February House has scenic design by Riccardo Hernandez, costume design by Jess Goldstein, lighting design by Mark Barton, sound design by Leon Rothenberg and musical direction by Andy Boroson. Danny Mefford is choreographer.
For tickets phone (212) 967-7555 or visit Public Theater. The Public Theater is located at 425 Lafayette Street in Manhattan.
