Free Distant Thunder Readings, With Anthony Crivello, Ryan Duncan, Courtney Reed, Presented Feb. 28-March 1

By Andrew Gans
28 Feb 2013

Courtney Reed
Courtney Reed

Amas Musical Theatre presents free staged readings of the new musical Distant Thunder Feb. 28 at 4 PM and March 1 at 1 PM and 4 PM at The Players Theatre.

The new musical features music and lyrics by Chris Wiseman and Shaun Taylor-Corbett, book by Lynne Taylor-Corbett and Shaun Taylor-Corbett and additional music and lyrics by Robert Nassif Lindsey. Music director is Michael Moricz.

Directed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett, the cast comprises Anthony Crivello, Leslie Alexander, Spencer Batiste, Danny Bernardy, Ryan Duncan, Christine LaDuca, Shayna Jackson, Michael Murnoch, Marissa Quinn, Paul Pontrelli, Courtney Reed and Johann Robert with Grammy-nominated Native-American flutist Joseph Firecrow.

Distant Thunder, according to press notes, "tells the present-day story of attorney Darrell Walters, a young half-Blackfeet-half-white outsider raised in Chicago, as he returns to his tribe seeking reconciliation with his father and unwittingly sets off a firestorm of crisis."

"Distant Thunder is a wonderful and important opportunity to explore some of the consequences today of the near eradication of Native American nations and cultures," said Amas artistic producer Donna Trinkoff in a previous statement. "And this is doubly important for Amas because Distant Thunder is the very first new musical with a Native American focus in our 45 years exploring and celebrating minority perspectives."

The Players Theatre is located at 115 MacDougal Street. Tickets are free and are available online at amasmusical.org, via email at boxoffice@amasmusical.org, and by calling (212) 563-2565.