A Minister's Wife: LCT announces cast

Lincoln Center Theater has announced that Liz Baltes, Kate Fry, Drew Gehling, Kate Fry, Marc Kudisch and Bobby Steggert will comprise the cast of its upcoming production of A Minsister's Wife, a new musical with book by Austin Pendleton, music by Joshua Schmidt and lyrics by Jan Levy Tranen, based on 'Candida' by George Bernard Shaw.

A Minsister's Wife, which was conceived and will be directed by Michael Halberstam, opening at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater from 8 May 2011, following previews from 7 Apr 2011, and playing through to 12 Jun 2011.

The musical had its world premiere last spring at Writers' Theatre in Glencoe, Illinois. Based on an early 1898 version of Candida (George Bernard Shaw revised the work in 1930).

A Minsister's Wife explores the fires burning beneath the surface of a seemingly ordinary marriage. The Revered James Morell (to be played by Marc Kudisch) and his wife, Candida (Kate Fry), are happily married - or at least they think - until a romantic young poet (Bobby Steggert) enters their life.

A Minsister's Wife will have sets by Allen Moyer, costumes by David Zinn, lighting by Keith Parham and sound by Scott Stauffer.

Austin Pendleton is an actor, director and playwright whose recent plays include 'Booth,' 'Orson's Shadow' and 'Uncle Bob.' His New York directing credits include the current 'Three Sisters' (Classic Stage Company, 'Uncle Vanya' (also at the CSC), Michael Weller's 'Fifty Words' (MCC) and Barbara Eda-Young's 'Lillian Yuralis' (La MaMa).

Joshua Schmidt composed the music for the multi-award winning musical, 'Adding Machine.' His other off-Broadway credits include the music for LCT'S production of 'When The Rain Stops Falling,' 'Fifty Words' (MCC), 'Crime and Punishment' (59E59 Theatres) and' Candida' (Jean Cocteau Repertory). He is an Artistic Associate at Writers' Theatre.

Jan Levy Tranen's credits include the lyrics for the one-act opera, 'Night in Sarajevo' and the book and lyrics for the musicals, 'Crazy Mary,' based on the life of Mary Todd Lincoln, and 'Steadfast the One Legged Tin Soldier,' a family holiday musical.

Michael Halberstam is the artistic director and co-founder of Writers' Theatre where he has directed more than 30 productions including 'Look Back In Anger,' 'Benefactors,' 'Othello' and 'The Duchess of Malfi.'