A rep for producers Junkyard Dog Productions (Randy Adams and Sue Frost) and Larry Hirschhorn said March 22 that the New York City premiere of Make Me a Song: The Music of William Finn will be postponed until the 2007-2008 theatre season.
"Scheduling conflicts" are to blame.
The theatrical revue, conceived and directed by Rob Ruggiero, was scheduled to begin previews on April 6 and to open on April 19 at The Zipper Theatre (336 West 37th Street).
Make Me a Song had its world premiere production in August 2006 at TheaterWorks in Hartford, CT. The production, directed by Ruggiero, featured Sandy Binion, Joe Cassidy, Adam Heller, Sally Wilfert and John DiPinto on piano.
Finn is the two–time Tony Award winner for the groundbreaking musical Falsettos, currently represented on Broadway with The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Make Me a Song features classics from these shows as well as selections from Romance in Hard Times, Elegies and the yet to be produced The Royal Family. Make Me a Song was to be the first commercial enterprise from the new partnership of two major figures from resident American musical theatre: Sue Frost was associate producer for Goodspeed Musicals for many years, and Randy Adams helped run TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, CA, as managing director 1984-2006. Both of those not-for-profit theatres (and both players) are known and respected for their commitment for seeking out and developing new musicals. Their Junkyard Dog Productions is based in New York City. There are a number of shows on their plate.
Director Ruggiero has been the associate artistic director at TheaterWorks in Hartford for 13 years, and has directed over 30 productions there, including The Exonerated and the highly successful Ella (also co-conception) starring Tina Fabrique. The latter is playing a number of regional theatres this season. His work has been seen at a number of other regional theatres including Pittsburgh Public Theater, Barrington Stage Company, and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, where he directed the critically acclaimed production of Take Me Out, which recently won four Kevin Kline Awards, including one for Best Director of a Play.
For refund information, go to point of purchase. Visit www.zippertheatre.com.
