Yank! postpones Broadway bow until fall 2011

The New York Times reports that the Broadway premiere of the new musical Yank! A WWII Love Story has delayed its Broadway premiere. The musical will now bow on Broadway in the fall of 2011, and not during the 2010 - 11 season as originally announced.

Rick Miramontez, the show's press representative, told the paper that the producers have delayed the premiere in order to allow the creators, Joe and David Zellnik, more time to overhaul the musical. Miramontez also said that the musical's director, David Cromer, needed to reschedule his calander because of competing projects.

Miramontez also told the New York Times that David Cromer and Bobby Staggert, who starred in the show's successful Off-Broadway run, remain committed to the production.

Cromer, who received Obie and Lucille Lortel awards for his direction of the Off-Broadway musical 'Adding Machine,' and whose award-winning production of Thornton Wilder's 'Our Town' continues in its second year Off-Broadway, will make his Broadway musical debut with Yank! Cromer made his Broadway debut last year with the short lived production of Neil Simon's 'Brighton Beach Memoirs.'

Set during World War II, Yank! chronicles the relationship between two servicemen long before "Don't-ask-don't-tell" was part of the national discussion. With a lively score inspired by the pop sounds of the 1940's, Yank! captures the spirit and exuberance of the era as it explores questions of prejudice, courage and survival.

Yank! opened Off-Broadway at the York Theatre at Saint Peter's on 24 Feb 2010, following prevews from 16 Feb, where it played an extended engagement through to 4 Apr 2010.

The show opened to mostly excellent reviews: Harmonies are vibrant (newyorktheatreguide.com); A fine mix of humor and simmering drama (NY Times); Supremely entertaining (AP); Bright, original and moving (Variety).

Directed by Igor Goldin, the Off-Broadway run starred Nancy Anderson, Jeffry Denman, Ivan Hernandez and Bobby Steggert, and also featured Andrew Durand, Zak Edwards, Todd Faulkner, Denis Lambert, Joseph Medeiros, David Perlman, Christopher Ruth and Tally Sessions.

Featuring music by Joseph Zellnik and book and lyrics by David Zellnik, Yank! also features music direction by John Baxindine, choreography by Jeffry Denman, set design by Ray Klausen, costume design by Tricia Barsamian and lighting design by Ken Lapham.

Prior to its Off-Broadway premiere, Yank! had productions at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, Diversionary Theatre in San Diego, CA and The Gallery Players in Brooklyn, NY.