Sweet William: York announces casting for Developmental Reading

York Theatre Company has announced casting for Sweet William, the next offering in its Developmental Reading Series. The reading will be performed at the comany's home, the Theatre at Saint Peter�s on 2 Jun 2009.

As always, these readings are open to the general public and admission is free, but reservations are suggested.

Sweet William, book By Bill Solly and Donald Ward, music And lyrics by Bill Solly, and directed by Adam Fitzgerald will feature Jared Gertner, Ray DeMattis, Matthew Labanca, Matt Leisy, Bobby Steggert, Carl Anthony Tramon, Cassie Wooley and David Weitzer.

Further casting is still to be announced.

In Sweet William, by the authors of 'Boy Meets Boy' and 'The Great American Backstage Musical,' the young Will Shakespeare goes on the road with the Stratford Players and meets a girl called William. Along the way he also has to cope with a vicious boy-player, several theatrical crises, unexpected romance and a bear.

As always, these readings are open to the general public and admission is free, but reservations are suggested.

The York Theatre Company was just nominated for five 2009 Drama Desk Awards, four 2009 Lucille Lortel Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and two Drama League Awards for its productions of 'Enter Laughing, The Musical' and 'My Vaudeville Man!' last season.

York Theatre Company is one of the only companies in the city committed to developing and producing new musical theatre works and rediscovering musical gems from the past. Winner of a special Drama Desk Award for developing and producing new musical theatre, York�s style of producing both original and classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike for almost four decades. Under the guidance of Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, the York has focused exclusively on new musicals in its Mainstage Series�most of them world, American, or New York premieres�by some of the field�s most esteemed creators and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers.

Each year, York�s Developmental Reading Series presents between 30 to 40 readings and workshops of new musicals by emerging and established authors, all free of charge and open to the public. Producing Artistic Director James Morgan says, �These readings give writers a unique opportunity to get audience feedback while a show is still in progress and gives audiences an active role in the creative process.�

York�s productions of 'Souvenir' and 'The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)' were first developed in the Developmental Reading Series, where the Tony Award-winning Broadway hit 'Avenue Q' also made early appearances. The Developmental Reading Series is made possible in part through a generous donation from The Dorothy Strelsin Foundation.