Harrison, Kritzer and Rooney Open Warhol Musical POP! at Yale Rep Dec. 3

By Adam Hetrick
December 3, 2009

The new musical POP!, a look into the life of the late iconic artist Andy Warhol, officially opens at the Yale Repertory Theatre Dec. 3 following previews that began Nov. 27.

Mark Brokaw (After Miss Julie, Cry-Baby, This Is Our Youth) directs the world premiere that will run through Dec. 19. POP! has book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs.

Randy Harrison, known for his roles on "Queer as Folk" and Wicked on Broadway, stars as Warhol with Leslie Kritzer (A Catered Affair, Rooms, Funny Girl) as attempted Warhol murderer and feminist writer Valerie Solanas, Brian Charles Rooney (Allies, Bedbugs!!!, Threepenny Opera) as transsexual Warhol film star Candy Darling, Doug Kreeger (Rooms, The Visit, Thrill Me) as Warhol film star Ondine, Cristen Paige (How Now, Dow Jones, The Visit) as Warhol's muse Edie Sedgwick, Danny Binstock as poet and long-time Warhol assistant Gerard and Emily Swallow (High Fidelity, Romantic Poetry) as Factory regular Viva.

Press notes for POP! read: "Who shot Andy Warhol? The fabulous drag queen Candy Darling hosts a happening whodunit musical in which the famous — and infamous — denizens of Warhol's legendary Factory all have motives to pull the trigger. But the pop art icon unravels an even bigger mystery as he confronts not only the prime suspects, but also his art and his own greatest creation: himself."

Denis Jones choreographs with musical direction by Lynne Shankel. The design team includes Valérie Thérèse Bart (scenic design), Ying Song (costume design), Kevin Adams (lighting design), David Budries (sound design), Yal Yarden (projection design), Bruce Coughlin (orchestrations) and Catherine Sheehey (dramaturg).

POP! was previously developed as part of the inaugural season at the Yale Institute for Music Theatre in June. Brokaw serves as the artistic director of the Institute, a joint venture between the Yale School of Drama and the Yale School of Music that seeks to develop the work of graduate and recent post-graduate students.

Tickets are available by visiting YaleRep, by calling (203) 432-1234 or by visiting the Yale Rep box office (1120 Chapel Street).