offoffBway.com

The New Group offers this “new play with music”. With a title like that, it better have music! Ethel Merman, are you listening? (Note: we have no idea if this play has anything to do with Ethel Merman. In fact, it most likely does not.)
Seth Zvi Rosenfeld had a play produced back in 1997 called The Flatted Fifth which starred Danny Hoch; we remember folks liking that one. Seth’s done other stuff since then, this is just his latest work. The New Group is usually good for a solid production. So this one is worth a look, just based on the talent involved. Here’s the deal for those who want to know more:

THE NEW GROUP
PRESENTS THE FINAL PRODUCTION
OF ITS 2005-2006 MAINSTAGE SEASON
“EVERYTHINGS TURNING INTO BEAUTIFUL”

A NEW PLAY WITH MUSIC
WRITTEN BY SETH ZVI ROSENFELD
SONGS BY JIMMIE JAMES
DIRECTED BY CARL FORSMAN
LIMITED OFF-BROADWAY RUN
JULY 17 – AUGUST 26

OFFICIAL OPENING: THURSDAY, AUGUST 3 @ 7:00 PM

THE NEW GROUP @ THEATRE ROW
(THE ACORN THEATER / 410 WEST 42ND STREET)

The New Group proudly presents the final production of its 2005-2006 mainstage season, Everythings Turning Into Beautiful, a new play with music written by Seth Zvi Rosenfeld with songs by Jimmie James. Directed Carl Forsman, this production stars Daphne Rubin-Vega and Malik Yoba. This limited Off-Broadway engagement will play Monday, July 17 – Saturday, August 26 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street). Official Opening Night is set for Thursday, August 3 @ 7:00 PM.

Everythings Turning Into Beautiful takes place late one Christmas Eve in lonely New York City, when a couple of down-on-their-luck songwriting partners, hitless, loveless and facing their forties, come together for a night of composing and soul searching.

Seth Zvi Rosenfeld’s plays include The Writing on the Wall (Westbeth Theatre Center), The Blackeyed Brothers (Double Image Theatre / Samuel French short play award), A Brother’s Kiss and After the Marching Stopped (Angel Theatre at Intar), Servy-n-Bernice 4ever (Provincetown Playhouse), A Passover Story (commissioned by Joseph Papp for The Public), The Flatted Fifth (The New Group), La Familia, My Starship and PS: I’m glad you sent your hair (“tiny plays” for Naked Angels and Hip-Hop Theater Festival). Films include Sunset Park (Jersey films/Tri-Star), Brother’s Kiss and King of the Jungle (with Annabella Sciorra). Television credits include his award winning short “Under the Bridge” (BRAVO) and “Subway Stories” (HBO). He co-created / co-wrote and directed “We Deliver” for Palm Pictures.

Over the past fifteen years, New York-based singer / songwriter Jimmie James has played gigs at venues including Siné, CBGB’s 313 Gallery, Fez, The Knitting Factory, The Mercury Lounge and most recently the Living Room. His self-titled debut CD was released in 1999. As a performer, James has become involved with avant-garde theater, acting in Richard Maxwell’s production of Henry IV (BAM) and Hello School by Christina Masciotti.

Carl Forsman is the Founding Artistic Director of the Drama Desk Award-winning Keen Company where his directing credits include Voice of the Turtle, the world premiere of Keith Reddin’s Can’t Let Go, David Auburn’s adaptation The Journals of Mihail Sebastian, the American Premiere of Conor McPherson’s The Good Thief (also at The Court Theater – LA, Garter Lane Theater – Waterford, Ireland and The Long Wharf Theater) and The Second Man. Other credits include Tina Howe’s translations of Eugene Ionesco’s The Bald Soprano & The Lesson (world premieres) at the Atlantic Theater Company, and the NY premiere of Michael Murphy’s Sin: A Cardinal Deposed at The New Group (Obie Award).

Daphne Rubin-Vega (Brenda) created the role of “Mimi” in the groundbreaking Broadway musical RENT, for which she received both a Tony Award® and Drama Desk Award nomination. Other Broadway credits include Anna in the Tropics and The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Off-Broadway credits include the recent Lincoln Center production of Bernarda Alba, Between Us (MTC), Fucking A and Two Sisters and a Piano (The Public). Film credits include Flawless, Life on the Ledge and Justice and Skeleton Women, among others. Rubin-Vega will be seen in the forthcoming Broadway revival of Les Misérables, and will take a leave from the show in the winter to appear in the LAByrinth Theater Company production of Jack Goes Boating at the Public Theater.

Malik Yoba (Sam) established The Malik Yoba National Theater Company which launched its first production Acoustic Chocolate in 2004. As an actor, he has appeared in His Woman His Wife, a national tour, and wrote & starred in What’s on the Hearts of Men. Film credits include Cool Runnings, Copland, Smoke, Blue in the Face, Criminal and the upcoming They’re Just My Friends. Television credits include “Thief” (FX), “Arrested Development” (Fox Television) and the specials “The Power of One” and “Why My Child.”

Everythings Turning Into Beautiful features set design by Beowulf Boritt, costume design by Theresa Squire, lighting design by Josh Bradford and sound design by Daniel Baker.

The New Group kicked off its 2005-2006 season with the critically acclaimed production of Mike Leigh’s Abigail’s Party helmed by Artistic Director Scott Elliott, which extended twice. Its second show of the season, Wallace Shawn and Allen Shawn’s play/opera The Music Teacher, opened at the Minetta Lane Theatre in March. This season saw the sophomore year of The New Group (naked), a second stage division of the company, which featured Michael Brandt’s A Spalding Gray Matter and Darci Picoult’s Jayson With a Y. The New Group is pleased to announce that the first show of its 2006-2007 season will be The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Jay Presson Allen, starring Cynthia Nixon and directed by Scott Elliott (performances begin in September).

Everythings Turning Into Beautiful will play as follows at The New Group @ Theatre Row (Acorn Theater, 410 W. 42nd Street): Monday–Friday @ 8:00 PM, Saturday @ 2:00 PM & 8:00 PM. PLEASE NOTE: There are no performances July 20-22. Tickets are $51.25 and can be arranged through Ticket Central at 212-279-4200 or www.ticketcentral.com . For more info, visit www.TheNewGroup.org .