999 B.C.: York announces cast for Developmental Reading

The York Theatre Company has announced casting for 999 B.C., part of its Developmental Reading Series, playing at the Theatre at Saint Peter's on 3 & 4 Aug 2009.

Directed by Reagan Fletcher, 999 B.C. will feature Todd Buonopane, Cole Burden, Kathy Deitch, Rachael Ferrara, Michael Hicks, Alyse Alan Louis, Jillian Louis, Rodney Peck, Jacob Pinion and Kevin Reed.

999 B.C.: This jazz musical is a humorous take on the biblical tale of Jonah and the whale. As the Bible tells it, Jonah heard the voice of God commanding him to go to Nineveh 'for its wickedness hath come before me.' When he took his assignment lightly, the Lord wreaked His vengeance, and the poor boy ended up spending three days inside a whale. In 999 B.C., we learn that Jonah disobeyed God because he was pursuing the Jewish princess of his dreams.

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.