NYMF's Baby Case to Feature Melissa Van Der Schyff, Anika Larsen and More

By Adam Hetrick
05 Jun 2012

Melissa van der Schyff
Melissa van der Schyff
Photo by Joseph Marzullo/WENN

Melissa van der Schyff, Anika Larsen, Tom Riis Farrell and Michael Thomas Holmes will be part of Baby Case, a musical about the 1927 abduction of the Lindbergh baby, which will receive its New York debut in July as part of the the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Michael Ogborn (Box Office of the Damned, Café Puttanesca) penned book, music and lyrics to the musical that received its 2001 world premiere at the Arden Theatre Company in Philadelphia. It earned four Barrymore Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score. A recent March workshop tested a revised version of the musical.

Jeremy Dobrish (Rated P for Parenthood), who also helmed the recent New York reading, will direct the July 16-22 NYMF run at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Much of the March workshop cast returns for the NYMF staging.

In addition to van der Schyf (Bonnie & Clyde, Big River), Larsen (Xanadu), Farrell (Chicago, Coram Boy) and Holmes (Oklahoma!, The Producers), the cast will include Eugene Barry-Hill (The Lion King, Ain't Misbehavin'), Jason Collins (Annie, Signs of Life), Matthew G. Myers (Messiah Rocks, Jesus Christ Superstar), Patricia Noonan (Pride and Prejudice, Death Takes a Holiday), Will Reynolds (Mamma Mia!), Kurt Zischke (Signs of Life, Whistle Down the Wind).

Here's how it's billed: "In 1927, publicity-shy Charles Lindbergh, Jr. makes the first non-stop, solo flight across the Atlantic and becomes a great American hero, the envy of millions… until his infant son is kidnapped, setting off the first true media circus of modern times! Baby Case gives a kaleidoscopic look at a nation gripped by gossip and hypnotized by the strobe of flash bulbs as one family's personal tragedy spirals into a national obsession and a murder trial morphs into sensationalized, headline entertainment."

Denise Puricelli will musical direct with choreography by Warren Adams. The design team includes Martin Lopez (set and costume design) and Zach Blane (lighting design).

Baby Case is produced by Charlie Fink, Michael Ogborn, Robert Soslow, Juliana Schauerman, Dorothy Flynn, Caroline Castagno, Glenn Gunderson, Kathy Lou Leone, Diane Santillo and Anne Makara.

NYMF memberships are on sale now. Members can book NYMF tickets beginning May 15. Single tickets go on sale June 15.

Visit NYMF.org.