The York Theatre Company Rises Like a Phoenix
The invaluable York Theater is dedicated to the development of new musicals and the recreation of musical classics.
In January 2021, a city water main broke on Lexington Avenue flooding St. Peter’s Church and, in its bowels, The York Theater. Through the facilitation of Executive Director Evans Haile, a temporary home has been secured – the Theatre at St. Jean, East 76th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues.
The venue is splendid, with several public entrances to a larger stage, sufficient area to store scenery, dressing rooms, and an additional 30 seats in great condition. Entering through the front of the church, audience takes an elevator down to a gracious, winding lobby of light, polished wood.
There’s an in-house grand piano (and another has been offered so the York may have the use of two!). Producing Artistic Director James Morgan, 47 years into his tenure, thinks what’s now a large concession area could be used as the box office. One gets the feeling that everyone can exhale in the space.
Because St. Jean has a contract with The Hewitt School, access must be scheduled around needs of the latter. Morgan isn’t unduly concerned. The York will rehearse elsewhere and start performances earlier. Nothing if not resilient, he faces the new season with energy, optimism, and determination.
On September 2, 2021 The York’s Developmental Reading Program will resume with Dear Pen, a musicalization of The Odyssey (Pen is Odysseus’ wife, Penelope) by Peter Kellogg (co-author with David Friedman of the rollicking Desperate Measures which moved Off Broadway after The York), and Steve Weiner (Einstein’s Dreams produced at 59E59). The show is framed by Penelope’s correspondence. A successful reading of Weiner/Kellogg’s musical The Rivals (from Sheridan) was previously presented by the theater. Morgan hopes to give Dear Pen a full production in the future.
Also on that docket of possibilities is Dear Edvard, Steven Shoenberg’s musical theater piece hybrid about Edvard Munch (painter of The Scream) which, after its reading, Morgan hopes to mount Mainstage next year or the following one. Tenderly, a celebration of Rosemary Clooney, is a possibility for next summer. And Alan Govenar’s (Paris in Texas) new musical Stompin’ at The Savoy, based on the life of Norma Miller who lived across the street from the ballroom in Harlem and learned all the dance steps from watching shadows on her curtains. Govenar knew Miller towards the end of her life.
As always, whether The York mounts a chosen piece as a Mainstage will depend on funding and now on Actors Equity dictates. Under these strained circumstances, Morgan is hoping individual angels might step up to back a production. A Mufti, he tells me, might cost $20,000 to $50,000 to produce and market, depending on its size. The contribution would be completely tax deductible. “We’re not for profit,” the artistic director tells me, “very not for profit.”
When commercial producers are involved, they want to know how much they can make. Morgan tells them there are no guarantees. “It may take off, be wonderful, and go elsewhere, but really the production with us should be looked at as a stepping stone for the future of a show.” Having said that, Desperate Measures, Cagney, The Musical of Musicals, Souvenir, Midnight at the Never Get, A Taste of Things to Come, Unexpected Joy, Texas in Paris, Jolson and Company, Yank! all went on to other theaters.
“We’ve never done a show because there was money attached but have had to limit or reduce productions we couldn’t afford,” Morgan reflects. Productions are not star-driven as a rule, though Tyne Daly, Jason Alexander, Richard Kind, Lee Roy Reams, and Judy Kaye have lent star power, among others. The York prides itself on “giving a chance to young people in all aspects of theater so their work will be seen in a way that gives them a leg up in the business,” he tells me. Founder Janet Walker established that precedent.
Mark Your Calendars
October 18, 2021, in honor of The York’s 50th Anniversary (it’s actually 52 years), the theater will present a one night only concert performance of Blue Roses, a musical based on Tennessee Williams’ The Glass Menagerie. The piece, first presented as a reading in 2010, is written by performer Mimi Turque and long-time composer Nancy Ford. Blue Roses will be directed by Austin Pendleton who’s shepherded the play through several productions. Both Ford and Pendleton have established history with The York. The musical will feature Anita Gillette, Piper Goodeve, Jeff Kready, and Howard McGillin.
November 24, 2021 marks the first Mainstage production, Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood, an all-singing, all-dancing celebration with undoubtedly illuminating/entertaining script by Barry Kleinbort (13 Things About Ed Carpolotti) presented in association with Riki Kane Larimer. Music Direction is by David Hancock Turner (Desperate Measures). The piece is conceived, directed, and choreographed by Broadway’s own, four-time Tony nominee, Randy Skinner (42nd Street, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas).
November 1, 2021 The York bestows its 29th annual Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theater to legendary team (for 60 years!) Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire at The Edison Ballroom. “They’re known as the songwriters’ songwriters,” Morgan comments. Though the public might not be familiar with the artist’s names, it’s more than likely to know their songs. Though both have collaborated with others, together they gave us Starting Here, Starting Now, Closer Than Ever, Baby, and Big.
The evening promises to be more than half new material. “That’s what we do old and new,” Morgan comments with satisfaction. “We’ve been such a part of their artistic life, they feel comfortable with us. That it’s finally worked out to be honoring them is very exciting.” A VIP Reception will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the concert and award ceremony at 8 p.m. Past recipients have included, in part, Stephen Sondheim, Terrence McNally, Joel Grey, Jerry Herman, Angela Lansbury, Tom Jones & Harvey Schmidt…A gala event to benefit the theater.
Hopes for 2022 include two more Mainstage productions and a third one over the summer depending on funding and the availability of space.
STREAMING: 27 discussions of past York Theatre productions are available free on YouTube as a “Show (+Tell)” series. In honor of Sheldon Harnick’s 97th birthday, Morgan hopes to stream (with ticketing) Sheldon Harnick/Jerry Bock’s Rothschild and Sons, fully produced at the theater in 2015. I titled my then review “A Remarkable Tale- Well Told.” And possibly the York’s Texas in Paris for which my headline read, “As Eloquent As It Is Entertaining.” Morgan would love to mount a series. Stay tuned.
The company is currently raising money through the cleverly named auction, WHAT I BID FOR LOVE with donations by musical theater luminaries.
AUCTION HIGHLIGHTS:
SHELDON HARNICK: HANDWRITTEN “IN MY OWN LIFETIME” FROM THE ROTHSCHILDS
“I want to know we haven’t built on sand, in my own lifetime.” Broadway history from its legendary lyricist: “In My Own Lifetime,” handwritten and signed, will be personally inscribed to the winning bidder by York Honorary Board member Sheldon Harnick, age 97. This beloved song (also from Rothschild & Sons) with lyrics by Harnick and music by the late Jerry Bock, is a priceless piece of theatrical memorabilia. Courtesy of Mr. Harnick.
JERRY HERMAN, GEORGE HEARN AND AL HIRSCHFELD SIGNED LA CAGE AUX FOLLES COLLECTION, FRAMED — PLUS COPY OF HERMAN’S MEMOIR SHOWTUNE
This unique framed piece includes Jerry Herman’s autograph, a photo of George Hearn in his Tony-winning La Cage Aux Folles performance, a Playbill signed by Mr. Hearn, and an original Hirschfeld doodle and signature. You’ll also get a copy of Mr. Herman’s memoir Showtune, which contains a wonderful mention of The York. “The Best of Times” is definitely now!
LP OF THE COLE PORTER & GEORGE GERSHWIN SUITES, SIGNED BY IRA GERSHWIN, COLE PORTER, AND LOUIS LEVY
An LP of Louis Levy and his Orchestra performing suites of music by Cole Porter and George Gershwin. LP jacket was hand-inscribed to arranger Sammy Clarke by orchestra conductor Louis Levy. The reverse of the LP jacket has personalized inscriptions with signatures by Ira Gershwin and Cole Porter. Includes clean, digitized copies of both recordings; the Cole Porter has never been released digitally.
AUTOGRAPHED PLAYBILL with “More Stars than in the Heavens!” An incredible opportunity to start your own theater autograph collection with a single item.A Playbill from the Gala Tribute to Josh Logan at the Imperial Theatre in March 1975, featuring an amazing cast of theatrical personages; as everyone passed by stage manager Robert Schear’s desk, he asked them to sign his program. This spectacular memento contains signatures of some 25 luminaries — including Josh Logan, Ethel Merman, James Michener, Harold Rome, Jimmy Stewart, Dorothy Stickney, Benay Venuta, Avon Long, Douglas Fairbanks Jr, Tom Tryon, Maria Karnilova, Dolores Gray, Jose Ferrer, Henry Fonda, and MANY more.
Check back each day for added items!
The auction concludes on August 31, 2021.
There are two options available to register for the auction:
1. Via computer
2. Via mobile phone
Ticketing information for all Fall 2021 events will be announced shortly. For additional information, please visit the website.
Membership: Membership runs a year no matter when you join. Two tiers offer different discounts and access. Check the site for specifics.
Founded by Janet Hayes Walker, the York has presented more than 87 full-scale musical productions and 118 Muftis. Under the guidance of Producing Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on musical theater: newer musicals in its Mainstage Series (most of them world, American or New York premieres) and revivals in its popular Musicals in Mufti series of semi-staged readings.
All art and photos Courtesy of The York Theatre
