Musicals in Mufti Series 2006 3 Staged concert musicals at St Peter's Theater

York Theatre Company presents their 2006 Musicals in Mufti Series , with a trio of musicals celebrating the work of acclaimed librettist Joseph Stein.

The three musicals are Take Me Along, Carmelina and Plain and Fancy.

The word Mufti (Muff'tee) means �in street clothes, without the usual trappings�, which describes this series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances.

• Take Me Along

  A musical in two acts, 13 Scenes. Book by Joseph Stein and Robert Russell. Based on the play "Ah, Wilderness!" by Eugene O'Neill. Music and lyrics by Bob Merrill. Produced by David Merrick. The musical opened on 22 Oct 1959 at the Sam S. Shubert Theatre and closed 17 Dec 1960 after 448 performances.

  A musical comedy which will be directed by Michael Montel, takes place in Centerville, Connecticut, in 1906 and its story begins with a triumph in journalism. Nat Miller, publisher of the Centerville Globe, has won a new fire engine for the town and its citizens celebrate its purchase by cheering him. Somewhat overcome by the honor, Nat wonders if he is truly as great as the people claim. His wife Essie, his sister Lily and the rest of his family insist, over his objections that he is. But his pride is tarnished when one of his advertisers condemns him because of the seductive and romantic poetry that his son has been reading to the advertiser's daughter. Amidst all this is the story of the ne'er-do-well brother-in-law who never met a boss nor a booze he could tolerate.

  Plays at St Peters Theater from 13 - 15 Oct 2006 for five performances only!

  
  
• Carmelina

  A musical in Two Acts, 12 Scenes. Book by Alan Jay Lerner and Joseph Stein. Based on the film "Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell" (by Melvin Frank, Sheldon Keller, Dennis Norden.) Music by Burton Lane. Lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. Additional lyrics by Barry Harman. The musical opened on 8 Apr 1979 at the St. James Theatre and closed 21 April 1979 after 17 performances.

  Directed by Michael Leeds, the story takes place in the small Italian village of San Forino, about eighteen years after the end of World War II. Carmelina, the central character, is an attractive, highly respected lady, the mother of a lovely 17 year old daughter, Gia. The villagers know her as the widow of an American soldier, who had heroically died in battle, and whose family continues to support her and her daughter. But Carmelina harbours a painful secret.

  Plays at St Peters Theater from 20 - 22 Oct 2006 for five performances only!

  
  
• Plain and Fancy

  Music by Albert Hague: Lyrics by Arnold B. Horwitt: Book by Joseph Stein & Will Glickman. The musical opened on 27 Jan 1955 at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and closed 3 Mar 1956 after 461 performances.

  Dan King and his girl, Ruth Winters, are sophisticated New Yorkers lost in the heart of Amish Pennsylvania to settle a piece of property owned by Dan�s family. Dan has inherited land and has agreed to sell it to Papa Yoder for a wedding gift to his daughter, Katie, and her intended, Ezra. While there, they become involved with the local villagers. Hilda Miller, a spunky Amish maiden, falls for Dan and misinterprets his kind words as words of love. The Amish men tease Ezra about marrying Katie. Ezra's brother Peter, banished from the community for fighting, has returned. He and Katie were childhood sweethearts, and the feelings are very much alive. Dan tries to intercede for the lovers, but stubborn Papa Yoder reminds him that he is a guest in a different way of life. Their adventurous encounters bring Dan and Ruth closer together as they return to New York.

  Plays at St Peters Theater from 27 - 29 Oct 2006 for five performances only!