By Ernio Hernandez
29 Oct 2008

Manhattan Theatre Club celebrated the Off-Broadway opening of John Patrick Shanley and Henry Krieger's new musical comedy Romantic Poetry Oct. 28.

Shanley (who penned both the lyrics to Krieger's music and the show's libretto) also directed the world premiere at New York City Center Stage I.

Romantic Poetry is billed as a "crackpot musical romance," according to MTC. "Connie of Woodmere has just married Fred of Newark, but her exes are back in the picture and not sure they approve of the union. Mary of Greenpoint climbs Frankie of Little Italy's fire escape with amorous erotic intent — but things go awry as she reaches for her dream. They are all mad and they are all sane and they are all creating Romantic Poetry."

The cast includes Jeb Brown, Jerry Dixon, Ivan Hernandez, Mark Linn-Baker, Patina Renea Miller and Emily Swallow.

Here is a look at the opening-night festivities at New York City's Beacon Restaurant:

Mark Linn-Baker		Jerry Dixon

Ivan Hernandez		Emily Swallow

Patina Renea Miller		Jeb Brown

John Patrick Shanley and Henry Krieger

Mario Cantone and Kim Cattrall

Marina Squerciati and date Eli

MTC artistic director Lynn Meadow, Henry Krieger, John Patrick Shanley and MTC executive producer Barry Grove

All photos by Gregory Kalafatas.