2006-2007: Magpie

March 9 - April 1 at The Players Theatre
RAJENDRA RAMOON MAHARAJ DIRECTS "MAGPIE"
NEW LATIN-FLAVORED MUSICAL
with Music by GARY WILLIAM FRIEDMAN,
Lyrics by EDWARD GALLARDO and
Book by STEVEN M. JACOBSON

Directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, the fully-staged developmental production has a book by Steven M. Jacobson, music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Edward Gallardo (with additional lyrics by Stevie Holland).

MAGPIE features Ronny Mercedes (Tino) and Jessica Fields (Maggie) as teenage lovers in the fast-paced world of New York City’s bike messengers. They have the same problems as a lot of young people. And more. Love, family pressures, ethnic differences and jobs are much harder when you also have to manage your meds. Written by the composer of THE ME NOBODY KNOWS, MAGPIE is steeped in the Latin rhythms of the city.

“We are thrilled to bring this vibrant new musical to its next stage of development” said Donna Trinkoff, Amas Producing Artistic Director. “After two enthusiastically received readings in our Amas Six O’Clock Musical Theatre Laboratory Series, MAGPIE is now ready for a full Amas Mainstage developmental production. The musical’s themes are both timeless and relevant.”

The 11 member cast also includes J. Cameron Barnett, Kimberly Reid Dunbar (“Guys and Dolls”), Jene Hernandez, Dennis Holland (“The Music Man”), Gary Lindemann, Joseph Melendez (“Jesus Christ Superstar”), Michael Murnoch (“Hair”), Julian Rebolledo and Natalie Toro (“Les Miserables”).

Directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, with Jana Zielonka as Musical Director, MAGPIE has set design by John Pollard, lighting by Japhy Weidman, costumes by Leslie Bernstein, and sound by Danny Erdberg,

Composer Gary William Friedman is best-known for the OBIE Award-winning, TONY nominated musical THE ME NOBODY KNOWS. His other theatre credits include PLATINUM, TAKING MY TURN (also seen on PBS Great Performances) and SHEBA. In addition to many classical works and movie scores, he served as Music Director for TV's "The Electric Company", writing numerous songs including the popular Spider Man Theme Song.

Lyricist Edward Gallardo wrote book and lyrics for SELENA FOREVER, CARMEN LIBRE and FANTASMA; book for THE PETRIFIED PRINCE; book for the award-winning SIMPSON STREET, and lyrics for THE APPRENTICESHIP OF DUDDY KRAVITZ (with music by Gary William Friedman).

Director Rajendra Ramon Maharaj is the recipient of four AUDELCO Awards and the Woodie King Jr. Award for direction and choreography. He is also the recipient of both the NEA and TCG Directors and New Generations Grant. Regional theaters include Freedom Theater, Crossroads, ATL, St. Louis Black Rep, ASF, Arkansas Rep and Prince Musical Theatre. He is an Artistic Associate of the Lark Play Development Center and Artist in Residence at Amas Musical Theatre. He is also the founding Producing Artistic Director of Rebel Theater.

Amas Musical Theatre has been a pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since it was founded in 1968 by legendary actress and visionary Rosetta LeNoire. Amas (“you love” in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals, the celebration of minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and to the training and encouragement of inner city young people. In recent years, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Donna Trinkoff, Amas has emerged as one of America’s leading incubators of new American musicals. Since 1998, Amas has produced a nearly unbroken string of Amas Mainstage shows that have moved to expanded touring, regional and commercial productions after their Amas appearances. These include: SHOUT!, Rollin’ on the T.O.B.A, Reunion: A Civil War Musical, 4 Guys Named Jose … and Una Mujer Named Maria, Langston Hughes’s Little Ham, Zanna, Don’t!, Latin Heat, From My Hometown, and Lone Star Love or the Merry Wives of Windsor, Texas.

MAGPIE was presented this fall as part of The New York Musical Theatre Festival.

MAGPIE will be presented Wed-Sat at 8 PM with matinees Saturday at 3 PM and Sunday at 3 PM except the April 1 Sunday matinee which will be at 2 PM. Tickets are $20 with $12 for Students/Seniors, and $15 each for Groups of 10 or more. For reservations call Theatermania at (212) 352-3101 or www.theatermania.com.