The production, which runs through Dec. 15, is the first offering from the fledgling Jaradoa Theater company. Students who have been working with Jaradoa's literacy program are invited to attend the Dec. 5 and 12 matinees of Serenade for no charge. Teenagers involved with BronxConnect, a community-based alternative-to-incarceration program, are also welcome to attend the show for free at the two matinee performances.
The original musical co-stars In the Heights' Joshua Henry and Xanadu's Anika Larsen. Directed by April Nickell, the company also boasts Sara Andreas, Ron Bagden, Anton Briones, Joe Donohoe, Mindy Dougherty, Michael Fielder, Chris Harbur, Amanda Hunt, Adam Kaokept, Nicole Lewis, Mario Martinez, Kelly McCreary, Eileen Rivera, Robb Sapp, Cara Samantha Scherker and Alison Solomon.
The creative team includes Luis Salgado (choreographer), Jared Stein (musical director), Tobin Ost (scenic designer), Andrea Varga (costume designer), Herrick Goldman (lighting designer) and Mike Farfalla (sound designer).
Serenade features book and lyrics by Spelling Bee Tony winner Rachel Sheinkin and music by Nils Olaf Dolven. The collaborators created the musical at NYU's Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program.
The new musical, according to press notes, "follows a young silhouette maker on his odyssey of discovery after arriving in the big city. The musical journey propels him through all the adventures, struggles, and the first flush of love he experiences in this new and strange metropolis." Serenade is the first production of Jaradoa (Just A Roomful of Artists Doing Outreach And) Theater, a new company whose members — including actors, directors, writers and designers — have come together to "promote mercy, beauty, and truth through performance and service."
Remaining show times are Dec. 5 at noon and 8 PM, Dec. 9 at 7 PM, Dec. 10 at 8 PM, Dec. 12 at noon and 8 PM, Dec. 13 at 8 PM, Dec. 14 at 8 PM and Dec. 15 at 2 and 8 PM.
Tickets, priced $18, are available by calling (212) 868-4444 or by visiting www.smarttix.com. Teatro La Tea is located in Manhattan at 107 Suffolk Street, between Delancey and Rivington.
For more information visit www.jaradoatheater.org.
