The York Theatre Company’s Winter 2018 Musicals in Mufti series, which presents musicals performed in simply staged, book-in-hand concert formats, will celebrate the work of the late Broadway composer Jule Styne.
The series will kick off with the 1968 Best Musical Tony winner Hallelujah, Baby!—with music by Styne, lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, and book by Arthur Laurents—January 27–February 4, 2018. This presentation marks the New York premiere of a revised version that Laurents created for productions at the George Street Playhouse and Arena Stage in 2004 and 2005, respectively, with additional lyrics by Amanda Green. Gerry McIntyre is set to direct.
Bar Mitzvah Boy—with music by Styne, lyrics by Tony and Oscar winner Don Black, and book by Jack Rosenthal, as adapted by David Thompson—will follow February 10–18. The limited run marks the New York premiere of a new version first presented in London in 2016, with a book adapted by Thompson and new songs with lyrics by Black, using previously unheard Styne melodies. Annette Jolles directs.
The season concludes February 24–March 4 with Subways Are for Sleeping, with music by Styne and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Stuart Ross will direct.
Casting and further creative team members will be announced at a later date. Casting for the Mufti series is by Geoff Josselson.
“We are delighted to feature the work of the incredible Jule Styne in our latest Mufti series, and to be working with Margaret Styne on putting it all together,” said York Producing Artistic Director James Morgan in a statement. “Jule is one of the true leading lights of the Golden Age of Broadway and, while we have done a number of his shows in the series (Fade Out, Fade In, the original version of Hallelujah, Baby!, and Darling of the Day twice—both times to sold-out houses), this is the first time we have dedicated an entire series to this master composer.”
In conjunction with the Musicals in Mufti series, The York will present two multimedia presentations by Charles Troy: The Creation of Gypsy on January 29 and The Creation of Funny Girl on January 30, both at 7:30 PM.
The York will also present an evening of song celebrating the composer’s further catalog with The Music of Jule Styne set for February 13 at 7 PM.
The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter’s has its entrance on East 54th Street, east of Lexington Avenue. Tickets may be purchased online at YorkTheatre.org, by calling (212) 935-5820, or in person at the box office at The York Theatre Company.
Patti LuPone in the 2008 revival of Gypsy
