The writers created last season's Musical Theatre Lab premiere of The Burnt Part Boys.
Featuring book and direction by Joe Calarco (Shakespeare's R & J), with music by Chris Miller and lyrics by Nathan Tysen, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick features Charlie Brady (BSC's The Burnt Part Boys), Matt Caplan (Broadway's High Fidelity and Rent), Obie Award winner Donna Lynne Champlin, Caroline McMahon (Off-Broadway's My Life with Albertine), Drama Desk nominees Lynne Wintersteller (Closer Than Ever) and Michael Winther (Songs from An Unmade Bed).
In the musical, "Six people get lost in a phantasmagorical world inspired by Chris Van Allsburg's famous children's book. Equal parts Pirandello, Beckett and musical comedy, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is a wild ride through wonder, fear, and the imagination."
Performances play through Sept. 1 at BSC's Stage II space, The Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue in Pittsfield.
The production is designed by Brian Prather, with costumes by Guy Lee Bailey, lighting by Kat Fleishhacker and Garrett Herzig, and sound by Daniel A. Little. Tom Kitt (High Fidelity composer) is musical director, Sara Sahin is assistant director and Jamie Thoma is production stage manager. Chris Miller (music) and Nathan Tysen (lyrics) are the recipients of the 2007 Kitty Carlisle Hart Award at the Vineyard Theatre, the 2006 Richard Rodgers Award, the 2004 Darryl Roth Creative Spirit Award, a 2004 Frederick Loewe Foundation Grant, a 2003 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Grant, and the ASCAP Max Dreyfus Award for outstanding new voice in musical theatre. Together they wrote The Burnt Part Boys, with librettist Mariana Elder. It was produced at Barrington Stage Co.; was an American Theatre Critics New Play Award finalist; and will open Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre in winter 2008.
Tickets are $25-$30. Musical Theatre Lab shows play Tuesday through Friday evening at 7:30 PM, Saturday at 4 and 8 PM. For information, call (413) 236-8888, or visit www.barringtonstageco.org.
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Following The Mysteries of Harris Burdick is Songs by Ridiculously Talented Composers and Lyricists you probably don't know but should, Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 at Barrington Stage, 30 Union Street.
Directed by Michael Perreca, it's a reprise of last summer's hit. Narrated by William Finn, "this is a Labor Day weekend celebration of extraordinary new songs," according to BSC. "Finn shares with the audience what makes a good lyric, why some work and others don't Ñ you'll feel as if you're in a master class in songwriting taught by the master himself." Tickets are $35.
