Notes from New York Returns

Notes of New York write to us as follows:

REBECCA THORNHILL, STEPHEN WELLER, ASHLEIGH GRAY & OLIVER TOMPSETT star in NOTES FROM NEW YORK at the TRAFALGAR STUDIOS on SUNDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2004

Following its recent success on Independence Day at the Arts Theatre, Notes from New York, the West End's first and only platform for contemporary US musical theatre, will return on Sunday 19 September at the newly opened Trafalgar Studios.It features the work of the multi-award-winning grandson of musical theatre legend Richard Rodgers, Adam Guettel (Floyd Collins, Myths & Hymns), Tony Award nominee Michael John LaChiusa (The Wild Party, Marie Christine, Hello Again) and New York's best kept musical theatre secret, John Bucchino (The Lavender Girl, Myths & Hymns).

Staged in an intimate cabaret setting, the September edition of Notes from New York will feature a number of UK and European premières, including songs from Adam Guettel's new musical The Light in the Piazza, none of which have previously been performed outside of the US, selections from Michael John LaChiusa's much-loved but rarely performed repertoire and an introduction to the work of John Bucchino, whose songs have been recorded by Barbara Cook, Patti LuPone and Liza Minelli to name only a few. Ethereal, enigmatic and esoteric in the extreme, the work of these three composers is presented in a show celebrating adventure, exploration and living the dream.

Swapping one US city for another, the critically acclaimed Olivier Award nominee Rebecca Thornhill, currently strutting her stuff as murderous villain Roxie Hart in the hit musical Chicago on the Strand, will headline the September show, in which she will be joined by Stephen Weller, best known for his heart-rending portrayal of the title role in Cameron Mackintosh's Martin Guerre, along with newcomer Ashleigh Gray, who recently made her professional debut as Kim in the UK tour of Taboo, and Oliver Tompsett, who is currently in the cast of the newly reopened Mamma Mia at the Prince of Wales Theatre.

Adam Guettel, grandson of musical theatre legend Richard Rodgers and son of Mary Rodgers, wrote the music and lyrics for Floyd Collins and Myths & Hymns. He is the recipient of the Stephen Sondheim Award (1990), the Obie Award (1996), the Lucille Lortel Award (1996), and the ASCAP New Horizons Award (1997). His newest musical, The Light in the Piazza received its world première at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle in 2003 and was recently presented in Chicago at the Goodman Theatre earlier this year.

Michael John LaChiusa wrote the music and lyrics for Hello Again, First Lady Suite, The Petrified Prince, Chronicle of a Death Foretold, Marie Christine and The Wild Party. He won an Obie Award in 1994 for his work on Hello Again and First Lady Suite and has been nominated for five Tony Awards throughout the course of his career. His most recent musical R Shomon, adapted from a series of Japanese short stories, received its world première in July this year at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in the US.

John Bucchino wrote the songs for the musicals Urban Myths and The Lavender Girl, a one-act piece included in an evening of short musicals called 3hree, originally presented by Harold Prince. He is currently working on a musical revue of his songs entitled It's Only Life, which is co-conceived and directed by Daisy Prince, who created the original US production of the perennially popular Jason Robert Brown's Songs for a New World.

Produced by Neil Eckersley, Notes from New York is directed by David Randall, with associate direction and musical staging by co-founder of the series, Paul Spicer.

For more information on Notes from New York, visit
www.notesfromnewyork.co.uk

VENUE Trafalgar Studios, Whitehall, London SW1

BOX OFFICE

0870 060 6632 (24hrs)

Online booking available at www.notesfromnewyork.co.uk and www.ticketmaster.co.uk

PERFORMANCE

Sunday 19 September - 7.30pm
TICKET PRICES
£25.00, £20.00, £15.00, £10.00
Limited number of Premium Seats: £30.00

2004-08-16 08:37:02