Directed by Sheryl Kaller, with book and lyrics by Durang and music by Peter Melnick, the staging features Rachel deBenedet (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Jennie Eisenhower (Arden's Baby Case), Michael M. Malone (Val on "All My Children"), David McDonald (Les Miserables), Orville Mendoza (Roundabout's Pacific Overtures), Michele Ragusa (Ragtime) and Michael Rupert (Ragtime, The Happy Time, Falsettos).
Previews began Oct. 19. Performances continue to Nov. 20.
"Mixing together farce, camp and tongue-in-cheek wit, Adrift in Macao is a funny and irreverent musical parody of film noir," according to PTC notes. "Complete with intrigue, silliness and a playfully melodic score, this new musical spins the tale of five quirky characters stranded in a Casablanca-like locale in the Far East."
Christopher Durang is known for his caustic, absurdist-flavored comedies, including Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All For You, Betty's Summer Vacation, Baby With the Bathwater, The Actor's Nightmare, Beyond Therapy and more. His new play, Miss Witherspoon was seen this fall at McCarter Theater and opens Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons later this season. PTC produced Durang's The Vietnamization of New Jersey in 1982.
Composer Peter Melnick has written for film and musical theatre. His works for the stage include Ester Play The Palace, a musical based on the Purim story with books and lyrics by Sherman Yellen; Chinese Cabaret, a musical theatre piece mounted as part of the 1993 Los Angeles Festival; and Sextet, a dance piece choreographed by Twyla Tharp that premiered at New York's City Center in 1993. His film credits include award-winning independent features "Call Waiting" and "West of Here"; "L.A. Story," the Steve Martin comedy; "The Only Thrill" starring Diane Keaton and Sam Shepard; Horton Foote's "Convicts" with Robert Duvall and James Earl Jones; "Only You" starring Helen Hunt and Kelly Preston; and "Artic Blue," the Peter Masterson film starring Dylan Walsh and Rutger Hauer. Adrift in Macao's creative team includes Christopher Gattelli (choreographer); Fred Lassen (music director); Michael Starobin (orchestrator); Thomas Lynch (set designer); Willa Kim (costume designer); Paul Gallo (lighting designer); and Peter Fitzgerald (sound designer).
For ticket information, call Philadelphia Theatre Company at (215) 985-0420 or (866) 985-0420, or visit www.phillytheatreco.com.
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Philadelphia Theatre Company is Philadelphia's "only non-profit professional theatre dedicated exclusively to producing regional and world premieres of works by contemporary American playwrights." Its producing artistic director is Sara Garonzik.
