September 16 2005

Rock, Gospel Musical Features a Multicultural, Multi-Ethnic Cast

2005-2006: "Sheba" Casting Announcement

Three Staged Readings: September 27 at 3pm & 6pm; September 28 at 1pm at The Barrow Group Theatre, 312 West 36th Street Reservations: 212-563-2565

NEW YORK, New York: September 16, 2005 – Casting is now complete for the return of the successful Off-Broadway musical SHEBA to New York City as part of the Amas Six O’Clock Musical Theatre Lab and the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Led by Broadway veterans Rob Evan (Jekyll and Hyde) as King Solomon, and Brandy Chavonne Massey (Carolyn or Change, Wicked) as Ni’Caul, the Queen of Sheba, the stellar cast includes Ana Marie Andricain (Beauty and the Beast), Sean Curley (Fiddler on the Roof), Brett Glazer, Kevin Free (From My Hometown) Danielle Greaves (Hairspray), Alan Green, Dequina Moore (Little Shop of Horrors), Lyn Philistine (Nat’l Tour Cinderella), Manley Pope (Rent), Gerard Salvador (Nat’l Tour Mama Mia), Stacey Scotte, Kacie Sheik (We Will Rock You), Peter Matthew Smith (Hairspray), Jodi Stevens (Urban Cowboy), and Bruce Winant (Fiddler on the Roof). SHEBA is directed by Iona Morris, with music direction by Debra Barsha (Radiant Baby).

SHEBA, book and lyrics by Sharleen Cooper Cohen with music by Gary William Friedman, first debuted at the Jewish Repertory Theatre in 1996 where it enjoyed a highly successful run as one of the company’s most popular and thriving productions. SHEBA’s New York debut garnered much media attention and excellent reviews from New York’s top theater critics.

Now SHEBA returns with an updated storyline, exciting new songs and a re-orchestrated, foot-stomping score to engage the new millennium musical theater audience. Prior to a planned 2006 national tour, attendees of the 2005 NY Musical Theater Festival [September 12 to October 2] will have a chance to catch a sneak preview of the revamped SHEBA production at one of the three free one-hour staged readings scheduled for September 27, [3pm & 6pm] and September 28 [1pm] produced by Amas Musical Theatre.

A showcase presentation of the new Pop Rock Gospel Musical took place in Los Angeles in 2004. The new production is notable for its multi-ethnic cast. SHEBA is also noted for its unique community outreach initiatives that bring together the African-American and Jewish communities in support of an uplifting entertainment experience exploring the historic connections between ancient Africa and Judea.

SHEBA has received the overwhelming support of religious communities in both the Jewish and the African-American communities: “Not only am I certain that this production will delight audiences, but it will help foster good will between the Jewish and Afro-American communities,” says Rabbi Marvin Hier, Dean and Founder of the Simon Weisenthal Center, Museum of Tolerance in LA. “The arts have always played a part in giving insight to the diversity of our community as well as that diversity which is common throughout the world. I’m sure that this production will stimulate a meaningful relationship,” comments Bishop Charles E. Blake, pastor of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ. SHEBA has also been awarded Honorable Mention in the Stage Play Script Category of the 2004 Writer's Digest Competition.

Readings will be presented at the Barrow Theatre Group, 312 West 36th Street. For ticket information, contact Amas Musical Theatre (212) 563-2565. For more information about the musical SHEBA, visit www.sharleencoopercohen.com.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director) founded in 1969 by Ms. Rosetta LeNoire, Amas is a 37-year-old performing arts organization grounded in non-traditional, multi-ethnic production, education and casting. Amas is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of original musical works and to the training and encouragement of new musical theatre talent. Amas productions include Lone Star Love, Zanna, Don’t!, From My Hometown, Latin Heat, Langston Hughes's Little Ham, Reunion, Bubbling Brown Sugar, Mama, I Want to Sing, Four Guys Named José…and una Mujer Named María, and Rollin' on the T.O.B.A.

Dedicated to discovering new work and new artists, The New York Musical Theatre Festival celebrates the diversity, creativity, and future of musical theatre. NYMF is a flagship program of the National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and is America’s largest annual musical theatre event. NYMF is produced in association with Cadillac and Virgin Megastores and proudly supported by amNewYork, Village Voice, WB11, Receptasign, King Displays, WNYC, Reuters Financial, Niaterra Design Studio, Rosco Lighting, Scharff Weisberg Inc, Dodger Stages, TheaterMania.com, BroadwayWorld.com, Broadway.com, Izze, Manhattan Living, HX, Zero In Media, Panasonic Astrovision, Next, BroadwayBox.com, HotNYCdeals.com and TheMenEvent.com. For more information, visit www.nymf.org.