Shanley (who penned both the lyrics to Krieger's music and the show's libretto) also directed the world premiere at New York City Center Stage I. Romantic Poetry is billed as a "crackpot musical romance," according to MTC. "Connie of Woodmere has just married Fred of Newark, but her exes are back in the picture and not sure they approve of the union. Mary of Greenpoint climbs Frankie of Little Italy's fire escape with amorous erotic intent — but things go awry as she reaches for her dream. They are all mad and they are all sane and they are all creating Romantic Poetry."
The cast includes Jeb Brown, Jerry Dixon, Ivan Hernandez, Mark Linn-Baker, Patina Renea Miller and Emily Swallow.
Here is a look at the opening-night festivities at New York City's Beacon Restaurant:
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| Mark Linn-Baker | Jerry Dixon |
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| Ivan Hernandez | Emily Swallow |
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| Patina Renea Miller | Jeb Brown |
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| John Patrick Shanley and Henry Krieger |
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| Mario Cantone and Kim Cattrall |
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| Marina Squerciati and date Eli |
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| MTC artistic director Lynn Meadow, Henry Krieger, John Patrick Shanley and MTC executive producer Barry Grove |
All photos by Gregory Kalafatas.
