Einstein's Dreams: concert benefit performance of new musical at Peter Norton Space

John Treacy Egan, Gregg Edelman, Alison Fraser and Kate Shindle star in the cast at a benefit concert performance of the new musical Einstein's Dreams-- based on Alan Lightman's best-selling novel -- for one performance only 23 Feb 2009 at The Peter Norton Space in New York City.

The concert performance will also feature John Bolton, Peter Buchi, Maya Goldman, Joanne Lessner and Laura Osnes.

The concert will benefit The Harpswell Foundation, an organization created in 1999 to provide education, housing and leadership training to children and young women in the developing world, notably in Cambodia, where Harpswell provides schooling and a dormitory facility at a leadership center for college women in Phnom Penh in the effort to help restore the educational system that was destroyed during the reign of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s. Harpswell has already purchased the land for a second educational facility in Cambodia. (www.harpswellfoundation.org).

Einstein's Dreams is a new musical with book by Joanne Sydney Lessner, music by Joshua Rosenblum and lyrics by Joanne Sydney Lessner and Joshua Rosenblum. The concert will be directed by Jen Bender. Musical director David Loud leads a six-piece chamber orchestra.

The musical Einstein's Dreams imagines what the physicist may have been dreaming about prior to the publication of his Special Theory of Relativity in 1905 - finds a young Albert Einstein trapped in an unhappy marriage and an unhappy job well beneath his intellect.

The musical, like the book, places Einstein in a dreamscape that conjures up an array of theoretical realms of time, all of them visions that probe the essence of time, the adventure of creativity, the glory of possibility -- and the siren call of a beautiful, elusive woman named Josette.

Einstein's Dreams had its world-premiere in 2005 at Lisbon's oldest theater, Teatro da Trindade.

Joshua Rosenblum (Music and Lyrics) is the composer and creator of the Off Broadway musical revue 'Bush is Bad,' which spawned two regional companies. He is also the composer and co-lyricist of 'Fermat's Last Tango' and contributed music for 'The Joy of Going Somewhere Definate' (Atlantic Theater Company). He has conducted 13 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows including 'How The Grinch Stole Christmas,', Miss Saigon,' 'Wonderful Town,' 'Anything Goes' and 'Falsettos.'

The musical's librettist and co-lyricist Joanne Sydney Lessner is the librettist of the musical 'Fermat's Last Tango' which had its Off-Broadway premiere at the York Theatre Company in November 2000 and recently had its European debut in Lisbon.

Director Jen Bender is currently the Resident Director for 'The Lion King' on Broadway. She was the Assistant Director on Broadway for 'Avenue Q, The Wedding Singer, and Steel Magnolias. He is a founder of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Gregg Edelman has been nominated for four Tony Awards for his performances in 'Into The Woods' (Cinderella's Prince - 2002 revival), 1776 (Edward Rutledge - 1997 revival), 'Anna Karenina' (Constantine Levin: 1992) and '/city of Angels' (Stine: 1989).

Kate Shindle was last seen on Broadway as 'Vivienne' in 'Legally Blonde' (2007). Her other Broadway credits are 'Cabaret' (Sally Bowles - replacement: 1998) and 'Jekyll & Hyde' (multiple - replacement: 1997).

Alison Fraser recently ended her role as 'Tessie Tura'� in the 'Gypsy' (2008 revival) opposite Patti LuPone. She has been nominated for two Tony Awards for her performances in 'The Secret Garden' (Martha: 1991) and 'Romance / Romance' (multiple: 1998).

John Treacy Egan is currently appearing in the role of 'Chef Louis' on Broadway in 'The Little Mermaid' and has previously appeared as 'Max Bialystock' (replacement)� in 'The Producers.'

The Harpswell Foundation is an American-based 501c3 tax-exempt organization. In May of 2007, the Foundation became an officially registered Nongovernmental Organization (NG) in Cambodia.

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