The York Theatre Company's Jule Styne celebration continues February 10–18 with its Musicals in Mufti presentation of Bar Mitzvah Boy.
With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Tony and Oscar winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard), and book by Jack Rosenthal (Yentl), as adapted by David Thompson (The Scottsboro Boys), the 11-performance run is directed by Annette Jolles with music direction by Darren R. Cohen.
The cast is comprised of Ben Fankhauser (Newsies, York’s Saturday Night) as Harold, Julie Benko (Fiddler on the Roof) as Lesley Green, Neal Benari (Aida) as Rabbi Sherman, Ned Eisenberg (Law and Order: SVU) as Victor Green, Tim Jerome (The Phantom of the Opera) as Grandad, Peyton Lusk (Falsettos) as Eliot Green, Casey Watkins (A Christmas Story) as Denise, and Lori Wilner (A Catered Affair) as Rita Green.
Based on Rosenthal's award-winning 1976 BBC1 teleplay of the same name, Bar Mitzvah Boy is a bittersweet musical comedy about a young Jewish Londoner who runs away from the Bar Mitzvah into which his parents have poured their efforts and money.
Originally produced at Her Majesty’s Theatre in 1978, Bar Mitzvah Boy is Styne’s only musical written expressly for London; this presentation marks the New York premiere of a version first presented in London in 2016, with a book adapted by Thompson and new songs using previously unheard Styne melodies and lyrics by Black.
The creative team also includes lighting designer Graham Kindred, production manager Kevin Maloof, production stage manager Shanna Allison, and assistant stage manager Chris Steckel. Casting director is Geoff Josselson, CSA.
Read: MUSICALS IN MUFTI WINTER SEASON WILL FEATURE 3 JULE STYNE MUSICALS
The York Theatre Company’s Musicals in Mufti series presents musical theatre gems performed in simply-staged, book-in-hand concert formats.
Tickets can be purchased online at YorkTheatre.org. The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter’s has its entrance on East 54th Street, east of Lexington Avenue.
