Got Brains? Einstein Tuner in Concert, Benefit for Harpswell Foundation

As per publicist extraordinaire Dale Heller:

John Bolton, Peter Buchi, Gregg Edelman, John Treacy Egan, Alison Fraser, Maya Goldman, Joanne Lessner, Laura Osnes and Kate Shindle

to perform in
EINSTEIN’S DREAMS
A New Musical

Benefit concert performance one night only February 23, 2009 at Symphony Space in NYC

Broadway stars John Treacy Egan ("Little Mermaid"), Gregg Edelman ("Into the Woods," "Passion"), Alison Fraser ("Gypsy") and Kate Shindle ("Legally Blonde") will be featured 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 on Monday, February 23 at 7:30 p.m. at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway at 95th St.) in New York City.

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.

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 February 23rd concert will be directed by Jen Bender. Musical director David Loud leads a six-piece chamber orchestra.

The musical EINSTEIN’S DREAMS-- based on Alan Lightman's 1993 best-selling novel which 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.

This musical adaptation of EINSTEIN’S DREAMS had its world-premiere in 2005 at Lisbon's oldest, most respected theater, Teatro da Trindade.

Joshua Rosenblum (Music and Lyrics) is the composer and creator of the smash Off Broadway hit musical revue "Bush is Bad," which spawned two regional companies and was proclaimed "a sensation" by Variety. He is also the composer and co-lyricist of FERMAT'S LAST TANGO and contributed music for THE JOY OF GOING SOMEWHERE DEFINITE (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. For the concert Hall he has written pieces for trumpeter Philip Smith of the NY Philharmonic and flutist Kathleen Nnester of the NJ Symphony, among others. Several of his vocal and instrumental works can be heard on the new cd, "Sundry Notes" (Albany Records).

The musical's librettist and co-lyricist Joanne Sydney Lessner is the librettist of the cult hit 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. Other projects include: CROSSING LINES, chosen for the O'Neill Playwrights Conference; CHESS SET (Drama Dept.); CRITICAL MASS, a play about music critics; and FIVE STARS, a one-act musical (York Theatre). As an actress she has appeared on Broadway in CYRANO: THE MUSICAL, and Off-Broadway in COMPANY, ROMEO AND JULIET and THAT'S LIFE!

Musical director David Loud was music director on Broadway for CURTAINS, RAGTIME, STEEL PIER, A CLASS ACT, THE LOOK OF LOVE and the revivals of SHE LOVE SME, COMPANY,THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSEand SWEENEY TODD. Off-B'way, he created the vocal and dance arrangements for AND THE WORLD GOES' ROUND.

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. Other credits include City Center Encores!, Roundabout, Birdland, Carnegie Hall. Jen is a founder of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Gregg Edelman has been nominated for three Tony Awards for his performances in INTO THE WOODS, 1776 and CITY OF ANGELS. He has also appeared on Broadway in A TALE OF TWO CITIES, WONDERFUL TOWN, PASION, ANNA KARENINA, FALSETTOS, CABARET, ANYTHING GOES, LES MISERABLES, OLIVER! and CATS.

Kate Shindle was last seen on Broadway as “Vivienne” in LEGALLY BLONDE. Additional Broadway credits include: CABARET (“Sally Bowles”) and JEKYLL & HYDE (“Lucy”). Other NYC credits include: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM (Helena), THE WOMAN UPSTAIRS and the World AIDS Day Concerts of CHILDREN OF EDEN, PIPPINand THE SECRET GARDEN. Kate recently wrote her first novel ("Crown Chasers"), and was crowned Miss Americain 1998.

Alison Fraser recently ended her role as “Tessie Tura” in the critically acclaimed revival or GYPSY opposite Patti LuPone. Other Broadway credits include: THE SECRET GARDEN (Tony and Drama Desk nomination), ROMANCE / ROMANCE (Tony nomination), TARTUFFE: BORN AGAIN, and THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD.

John Treacy Egan is currently appearing in the role of “Chef Louis” on Broadway in LITTLE MERMAID and has previously appearedas “Max Bialystock” in THE PRODUCERS on Broadway. Off-Broadway, John created roles in Howard Crabtree’s WHEN PIGS FLY!, and was also an original cast member of BATBOY, THE MUSICAL. He can be seen in the upcoming film LAST NIGHT with Keira Knightley and Eva Mendes, and the film version of 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.

Tickets to the benefit concert performance of EINSTEIN’S DREAMSare $101, $61 and $21 (includes a facility fee) and can be reserved by calling Box Office: 212-864-5400 or going online: http://www.symphonyspace.org/event/2823-einsteins-dreams-the-musical.

For more information about the musical, visit www.einsteinsdreamsthemusical.com.

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