Acclaimed at NYMF, Musical Satire Smoking Bloomberg Will Have NYC Reading April 22

By Kenneth Jones
April 14, 2009

Smoking Bloomberg, the topical musical comedy about New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's ban on smoking tobacco in public places, will get a Manhattan reading April 22.

Transport Group and producer Jennifer Maloney (Spring Awakening, Rock of Ages) will present the reading as part of TG's Dark Night Series, at 7 PM at The Connelly Theatre, currently home to TG's world premiere, Being Audrey, at 220 East 4th Street between Avenues A and B. Admission is $19. Proceeds support the not-for-profit Transport Group, the Off-Broadway company whose mission includes classics and new work.

The musical is by David Cornue, Sam Holtzapple, Warren Loy and Chris Todd. It was seen in an earlier staging in the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Smoking Bloomberg is billed as "a hilarious new musical satire about a Korean dry cleaner who seeks her revenge on Mayor Bloomberg when his smoking ban ruins her business." The "highly irreverent show explores the loss of personal freedoms in modern-day America, targeting the Left, the Right, and everyone in between." Smoking Bloomberg was the winner of both the NYMF Best of Fest Award and the AnyMinuteNow Next Big Musical Competition.

The writers told Playbill.com that the show is currently in development as an animated film, and is also now seeking producing partners for an Off-Broadway or Broadway run.

The reading cast includes Minglie Chen (Avenue Q), Jose Llana (…Spelling Bee), James Donegan (Forbidden Broadway), Davis Duffield, Milena Govich ("Law & Order"), Bridget Harvey, Ed Juvier, Francis Kelly, Michelle Starrs, Bronwyn Stayoch, Debargo Sanyal and Michael Todd. Musical director is Dan Feyer. Francis Kelly directs.

For tickets visit www.transportgroup.org. Industry members may inquire at smokingbloomberg@newcoreproductions.com. For more information visit www.smokingbloomberg.com.