By Andrew Gans
29 Oct 2004

A new musical comedy about love in the age of corporate scandal officially opens at Theater Three Oct. 30

The New Jersey Trapezoid, featuring book, music and lyrics by Tom Kleh, began previews Oct. 28 and will play through Nov. 14 at the theatre on West 43rd Street. Directed by Jeff Edgerton with musical direction by Linda Dowdell, the musical is set in Aug. 2004 in New Jersey.

The new musical, according to production notes, concerns "Horace T. Calthrop and his corporate buddies, [who] are scouting beachfront property in New Jersey to build a pirate-themed amusement park. But their dreams and schemes of huge profits are brought to a halt by a hotshot investigative reporter, Craig Weatherby, who catches the scent of their illegal maneuvers. Before they can settle the dispute, they are surprised and captured by the crew of a ghost ship that disappeared in the Bermuda Triangle in 1804, but has reappeared in the New Jersey Trapezoid. The ship’s captain, Tobias Quick – equal parts pirate and paramour – takes a liking to Craig’s girlfriend, Amy Slocum, and sends the crew and its captives into turmoil with his relentless wooing. When the treasure goes missing, both corporate exec and cutthroat learn they speak the same language."

The cast of The New Jersey Trapezoid comprises Edward Anthony, Rachael Bell, Mick Bleyer, Brett Essenter, Jeff Farber, Alberto José Fernandez, Tim Douglas Jensen, Logan Lipton, Jeanne Tinker, Matthew Trombetta, David Weitzer, Erin Williams and Jamaal Wilson. Writer Tom Kleh is also an actor and cartoonist. His artwork has appeared in the Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker and The Spectator.

Tickets, priced at $15, are available by calling (212) 868-4444 or by visiting www.smarttix.com. Theater Three is located in Manhattan at 311 West 43rd Street. For more information visit www.newjerseytrapezoid.com.