The York Theatre Company production of Carmelina, part of the 25th anniversary Musicals in Mufti season dedicated to the works of Alan Jay Lerner, begins performances at the Off-Broadway venue January 26 and continues through February 3. Opening night for the 11-performance run is January 27.
Under the direction of Michael Leeds and music direction of David Hancock Turner, the eight-member cast features Andréa Burns (In the Heights) in the title role, Antonio Cipriano (Jagged Little Pill) as Roberto/Guitarist, MaryJoanna Grisso (West Side Story) as Gia Campbell/Hostess, Evan Harrington (Chicago) as Walter Braddock/Waiter, Anne L. Nathan (Once) as Rosa/Cook, Timothy John Smith (Candide) as Steve Karzinski/Waiter, Joey Sorge (A Bronx Tale) as Vittorio Dela Marta/Eduard, and Jim Stanek (Fun Home) as Carlton Smith/Waiter.
Carmelina has music by Burton Lane, lyrics by Lerner, additional lyrics by Barry Harman, and book by Joseph Stein and Lerner.
The musical, which is set in an Italian village, concerns Carmelina, who has raised her teenage daughter to believe her father was an American who died heroically in World War II—all the while collecting child support checks from three American soldiers, each of whom thinks he is the girl’s father. Complications arise when all three soldiers show up at the same time for a reunion.
The version of Carmelina presented by the York is a revised one created by Joseph Stein, Burton Lane, and Lerner protégé Barry Harman for The York in 1996, then further revised for a second Mufti presentation ten years later.
The production team includes lighting designer Stephen O’Shea, production manager Kevin Maloof, production stage manager Shanna Allison, and assistant stage manager Julianne Menassian. Casting is by Geoff Josselson, CSA.
The York Theatre Company’s Musicals in Mufti series presents musical theatre gems in a simply-staged, book-in-hand concert format.
Burns will soon be seen at 59E59 as Judy Holliday in the new play Smart Blonde, which begins previews March 16.
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(Updated January 26, 2019)
