Breath and Imagination: York announces cast for Developmental Reading

The York Theatre Company has announced casting for Breath and Imagination, part of its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, playing at the Theatre at Saint Peter's on 16 Jul 2009.

Directed by Joe Brancato, Breath and Imagination will feature Daniel Beaty, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Tom Frey and William Foster McDaniel as accompanist.

Breath and Imagination: Before there was Marian Anderson, there was Roland Hayes --the first world-renowned African-American classical vocalist. The play, with music, chronicles the inspirational journey of how this pioneer started by singing spirituals in church and ended up singing before kings and queens in Europe.

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.