Sheryl Kaller directs and Christopher Gattelli choreographs the work that began previews Jan. 23 for a limited engagement through March 4 at 59E59 Theaters. Musical direction is by Fred Lassen. Featuring a book and lyrics by Durang set to Melnick's music, the film-noir musical parody is set in a world that spans "from the opium dens of China to the lowlife bars of New York [where] the leading lady can always get a job singing in nightclubs no matter how she sings, and the leading man is always mysterious and can't go home for murky reasons he won't explain."
The ensemble of seven features Tony Award nominee Alan Campbell, Will Swenson and the Barrymore Award-winning cast of Macao at the Philadelphia Theatre Company: Rachel de Benedet, Orville Mendoza and Michele Ragusa. They are joined by Jonathan Rayson and Elisa Van Duyne.
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At left (from top): Composer Peter Melnick and book writer-lyricist Christopher Durang; Michele Ragusa, Rachel de Benedet and Elisa Van Duyne; choreographer Christopher Gattelli and director Sheryl Kaller; Orville Menoza and Will Swenson; Lauren Kennedy and husband Alan Campbell; Julie Halston, Casey Childs, Charles Busch; Robert Klein and Kathleen Chalfant; Marsha Norman; Tony Roberts and Penny Fuller.
photos by Aubrey Reuben