The Company of Desperate Measures

Desperate Measures announces off-Broadway closing date

The Wild Wild West musical comedy Desperate Measures is set to play its final performance at New World Stages on October 28, 2018.

Tom Millward
Tom Millward

Producers of the off-Broadway musical Desperate Measures, directed and choreographed by Bill Castellino, have announced a closing date of October 28, 2018. Previews began at New World Stages on May 30, 2018, before an official opening on June 13. Upon closing, the production will have played a total of 14 previews and 157 regular performances.

Producers Pat Flicker Addiss, Mary Cossette and Willette Klausner released the following joint statement: "We are extremely proud of this show and are profoundly grateful to our audiences for embracing Desperate Measures and making us feel at home at New World Stages. This show has been a labor of love for the cast, crew and production team and we look forward to focusing on the future life of Desperate Measures in cities throughout America."

Desperate Measures features a book & lyrics by Peter Kellogg and music by David Friedman.

Synopsis: "Desperate Measures is a hilarious new musical that tells the tale of Johnny Blood, a handsome young man whose life is in danger over a saloon brawl. Set in the early 1890's, Johnny must put his fate into the hands of a colorful cast of characters including a wily sheriff, an eccentric priest, a authoritarian governor, a saloon girl gone good, and a nun out of the habit- as they all struggle to decide Johnny's fate. Laws are broken and hearts are won as they try to find justice in a world that often doesn't seem just. Sound familiar? Inspired by Shakespeare's Measure for Measure, the musical is a joyful, madcap comedy that also manages to ponder the nature of justice. Will the good guys pull off the greatest caper yet, or will Johnny be left hanging? One thing is certain...you will come out smiling."

The cast of Desperate Measures includes Gary Marachek (as Father Morse), Lauren Molina (as Bella Rose), Sarah Parnicky (as Susanna/Sister Mary Jo), Conor Ryan (as Johnny Blood), Peter Saide (as Sheriff Green), and Nick Wyman (as Governor von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber), with CJ Eldred, William Thomas Evans, and Celia Hottenstein.

The creative team features musical direction by David Hancock Turner, scenic design by Jim Morgan, costume design by Nicole Wee, lighting design by Paul Miller and sound design by Julian Evans.

Desperate Measures is produced at New World Stages by Pat Flicker Addiss and Mary Cossette.

The musical originally premiered off-Broadway at York Theatre Company in 2017.

Desperate Measures Tickets are available now for performances through to October 28, 2018.

(Photo by Carol Rosegg)

Originally published on

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