York Theatre's 'Zorba' to Star McCarthy, Skinner Sept.14-16

The York Theatre announced the cast for Zorba, the first of the four shows in the fall 2007 Musicals in Mufti Series, the York's acclaimed series of musical theatre gems in staged concert performances. The fall series will celebrate the work of playwright Joseph Stein. 

The cast includes Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown) as Zorba, who made his Broadway debut as Nikos in the 1983 Zorba revival.  Joining him will be Emily Skinner (Side Show) as The Leader, Crista Moore (Big) as The Widow, Aaron Ramey (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Nikos, and Robin de Jesus (In TheHeights) as Mikiko.  The ensemble includes Raymond Bokhour, Jane Brockman, Joseph Cullinane, Vince D'Elia, Denis Lambert, Ken McMullen, Tina Stafford, and Deone Zanotto.

Zorba has a book by Joseph Stein, music by John Kander and lyrics by Fred Ebb.  Zorba is directed by Steven Yuhasz with musical direction by Patrick Vaccariello.

Zorba is adapted from the novel "Zorba the Greek" by Nikos Kazantzakis.  "The show is set in Crete in 1924 and is about the friendship between Zorba and Nikos, a young American student who has inherited an abandoned mine on Crete, and their romantic relationships with a local widow and French woman – Hortense, respectively," explain press notes, "The novel was turned into a film in 1964, produced and directed by Michael Cacoyannis.

All shows will be presented at the Theatre at Saint Peters (54th Street, east of Lexington Ave). Schedule is as follows: Friday September 14 at 8PM, Saturday September 15 at 2:30PM & 8PM, and Sunday September 16 at 2:30PM & 7:30PM. Audience discussions will follow both matinees.  Tickets are $35 are now on sale. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.yorktheatre.org or call York's Box Office at 212-935-5820.  The box office is open Monday-Friday, 10AM-6PM.

Photo: Jeff McCarthy by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd