Emma, Musical That Puts Jane Austen's Heroine in Modern-Day Connecticut, Gets NYC Readings Sept. 20

By Kenneth Jones
20 Sep 2004

Emma, a new, modern-day musical version of Jane Austen's classic novel, gets two Sept. 20 reading presentations as part of The New York Musical Theatre Festival.
Patricia Birch directs the piece by composer-lyricist-librettist Stephen Karam. Presentations are 4:30 PM and 8 PM Sept. 20 at The 45th Street Theatre (Primary Stages).

Emma is the winner of the Director's Choice Award, a juried selection process headed by John Rando. The presentations are sponsored by NMTN Broadway USA.

According to the announcement: "No Cliff's Notes necessary! This modern, musical version of Jane Austen's 'Emma' is slick, sexy, and set for scandal.  Determined to help her protégé — a gay orphan and part-time janitor — Emma Woodhouse navigates her way around the small, conservative community of Highbury, CT, and finds herself turning everything upside-down in the process.  With plot twists around every corner, this musical is quirky, fresh, and funny."

The Sept. 20 cast includes Karl Kenzler (Dinner at Eight, The Caretaker),  Marty Thomas (Wicked), Michael Longoria (Hairspray), Leslie Kritzer (Hairspray, Urinetown national tour, Fanny Brice in Paper Mill's Funny Girl), Blair Ross (42nd St.), Michelle Dawson (Ragtime, Show Boat), Colin Hanlon (Rent), Tim Jerome (La Boheme, Me and My Girl, Grand Hotel, Cats), Robyn Kramer (Urinetown national tour), Chad Ackerman (Miss Saigon national tour), Nick Collins, Rebecca Bellingham, Sarah Coogan,  Kristen Beil, Nick Austin and Emily Whyte.

Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.nymf.org/emma or by calling (212) 352-3101.

For more information about the show, visit  www.stephenkaram.com.