By Andrew Gans
27 Jun 2008
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| Jenn Colella and Michael Winther in rehearsal for Goodtime Charley. |
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| photo by Ben Strothmann |
The York Theatre Company's production of Goodtime Charley, part of the acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series, begins its weekend of performances June 27.
Directed by Michael Montel, the little-seen musical will play the Off-Broadway venue through June 29. Lawrence Yurman is musical director.
The cast boasts Jenn Colella as Joan and Matt McGrath as Charley with Angela DiCicco, Bryn Dowling, William Thomas Evans, Jonathan Hammond, Stephen Mo Hanan, Ana Nogueira, Scott Robertson, Christianne Tisdale, Alysha Umphress, Michael Winther and Nick Wyman.
Goodtime Charley features music by Larry Grossman, a book by Sidney Michaels and lyrics by Hal Hackady. Originally seen on Broadway in 1975, Goodtime Charley, according to press notes, "tells the story of easygoing milquetoast Charley, the monarch of France, whose country is controlled by corrupt officials — until the simple peasant girl Joan appears. She befriends Charley, dons armor, and leads the French army to victory, until her relationship with Charley succumbs to intrigue and distrust. Legendary figures come to life in this touching story of friends torn apart by the forces of history."
Charley will play five performances: Friday at 8 PM, Saturday at 2:30 and 8 PM, and Sunday at 2:30 and 7:30 PM. Audience discussions will follow the matinees.
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"Mufti" means "in street clothes, without the usual trappings."
The series of semi-staged performances will also include a new Larry Grossman revue (July 11-13) featuring songs penned by Grossman for Broadway musicals, television, revues, cabaret acts and a presidential inauguration.
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| Jenn Colella and Matt McGrath rehearse for Goodtime Charley.
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| photo by Ben Strothmann |
