Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey artistic associate and the current director of The National Players with The Olney Theatre Center, Jason King Jones, will direct the March 4 invitation-only concert readings.
Very Very — a collaboration between Brooklyn-based artists and show co-creators Jay Leibowitz and Zac Lasher with director Jones — will feature Anna Ty Bergman (Off-Broadway's Red Hot Broadway), Jordan Coughtry (Amadeus at Shakespeare Theatre of NJ), Blake Pfeil (Man of La Mancha at The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey), Dani Marcus (Jane Austen's Emma at The Old Globe), Cedric Lamar (member of The Life and Times Of band), Katie Fabel (Irish Rep's It's a Wonderful Life, The 1964 Live Radio Play), Roger Weisman, keyboardist Zac Lasher, bassist Dan McNaney, drummer Sparkie Sandler, guitarists Kevin Griffin and Vin Stanton, Jordan Coughtry, James Michael Reilly, Jay Leibowitz, Andy Paterson and Susan Elizabeth Maris.
The new work, according to press notes, "tells the story of Rosalind and Orlando, two young lovers who flee the tyranny of home only to reunite in a sexually charged and confusingly passionate exile."
The show features 28 original songs adapted from Shakespeare's original text infused with various genres of modern rock. The songs blend Lasher's (former member of the progressive rock band U-Melt) compositional style and Leibowitz's lyrics, which deconstruct Shakespeare's original text, while quick scenes — written in plain and playful stage banter — bridge moments between the music.
Very Very has been in development since April 2012 and has been seen at The Deconstructive Theatre Project and Fresh Ground Pepper NYC. Industry members can make a reservation for the 3 PM presentation at VeryVeryRockShow.com. For more information, email [email protected] or call (917) 364-3050. Standing room and late seating will be available at the door for the 8 PM presentation.