Lindbergh Musical Baby Case, Starring Will Reynolds, Melissa Van Der Schyff and Anika Larsen, Debuts at NYMF July 16

By Adam Hetrick
16 Jul 2012

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

Will Reynolds, Melissa van der Schyff and Anika Larsen star in Baby Case, a musical about the 1927 abduction of the Lindbergh baby, which begins its New York debut July 16 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, directs 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 Reynolds (Mamma Mia!), van der Schyff (Bonnie & Clyde, Big River) and Larsen (Xanadu), the cast includes Tom Riis Farrell (Chicago, Coram Boy), Michael Thomas Holmes (Oklahoma!, The Producers), 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), Kurt Zischke (Signs of Life, Whistle Down the Wind) and Hannah Elless (Godspell).

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 musical directs 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.

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