Stand by the River, Musical of Underground
Railroad, Gets NYC Readings
By Kenneth
Jones
13 Feb 2003
Stand by the River, a revised version of a musical about the
Underground Railroad, previously seen in Philadelphia workshops, will get
New York City readings Feb. 27-28 and March 3 under the direction of
Lawrence Thelen of Goodspeed Musicals.
Husband and wife Mark and Joanne Sutton-Smith's show is based on an
inspirational true story of "an American family torn apart by slavery and
then reunited through the daring collaboration of blacks and whites
working the Underground Railroad."
The show received workshops in Philadelphia in recent years, and has
gone through rewrites to strengthen and tighten it for the current
reading. Joanne Sutton-Smith conceived the story, based on a true events
that took place in Philadelphia in 1850 and 1855 (the authors have
condensed the action to 1855). Mark Sutton-Smith wrote the score and
lyrics and the pair share book credit.
"When I read it, I cried – it's that beautiful of a story," Thelen
said. "What's more, it's got one of the best scores I've come across in
years."
Thelen should know from scores. As producing associate and literary
manager for Goodspeed, he spends a lot of time scouting, listening to and
reading new musicals.
"At this point we're looking for a theatre to take us on the next
step," Mark Sutton-Smith told Playbill On-Line.
Fausto Pineda music directs Stand by the River, and the cast
includes Daniel Beaty, Carey Brown, Dwayne Clark, Christine Clemmons,
Markeisha Ensley, Darlene Bel Grayson, Todd Horman, Kevin Michael Kennedy,
Emily Phenix, Rob Richardson, Jay Strauss, Lawrence E. Street, Geoff
Sullivan, Todd Underwood and Franklin John Westbrooks.
Stand by the River will be presented at The Theatre at St.
Clements, 423 W. 46th St., 3 PM Feb. 27 & 28 and 6 PM March 3. For
reservations, call (212) 501 2094. For more information, visit http://www.standbytheriver.com/
.
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