York Theatre Company's fall 2002 season of Musicals in Mufti, the popular line of underappreciated musicals in concert readings, wraps up Nov. 15-17 with New Girl in Town, Bob Merrill's 1957 musical version of Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie.
New Girl in Town was a star show for Gwen Verdon, who played the prostitute Anna, who falls for Chris. George Abbott penned the book, and Bob Fosse choreographed.
Michael Montel directs this concert revival, which has Mary Ann Lamb (Contact, Fosse) as Anna, Peter Gerety as Chris, Steve Wilson as Mat, Kathleen Doyle as Marthy, Jane Summerhays as Pearl, with Carla Woods, Brandon Andrus, David Elledge, Kenneth Cavett and Christina Morrell. Jack Lee is musical director.
The score includes the musical numbers "On the Farm," "Roll Yer Socks Up," "Flings," "When I Valse," "It's Good to be Alive," "Sunshine Girl," "Look at 'Er" and more.
Both Verdon and Thelma Ritter won the Tony Award for Best Actress for the show (a rare tie). Mufti and York's mainstage shows are presented at The Theatre at St. Peter's in the Citicorp Center at 54th and Lexington in Manhattan. For information, call (212) 935-5820 or visit www.yorktheatre.org.
— By Kenneth Jones