Lisa Dozier King, Letter Productions LLC in association with SenovvA Production Core present

A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK
A New Musical

Lyrics: ELLEN M. SCHWARTZ
Additional Lyrics: CHERYL STERN
Music by LAURA I. KRAMER
Book by ELLEN M. SCWARTZ, CHERYL STERN, LAURA I. KRAMER and JERRY JAMES
Based on the short story “A Letter to Harvey Milk” by Leslea Newman

Starring

ADAM HELLER, JULIA KNITEL, CHERYL STERN
MICHAEL BARTOLI, JEREMY GREEN BAUM, AURY KREBS, CJ PAWLIKOWSKI

Directed by: EVAN PAPPAS
Music Director: JEFFREY LADIN
Scenic Design: DAVID L. ARSENAULT
Costumes Design: DEBBI HOBSON
Lighting Design: CHRISTOPHER AKERLIND
Sound Design: DAVID M. LAWSON
Casting Director: STEPHANIE KLAPPER CASTING
Orchestrations and Additional Arrangements by NED PAUL GINSBURG
Production Stage Manager: RYAN GOBSMAN
Assistant Stage Manager: MICELLE LAUREN TUITE
Production Management: SENOVVA PRODUCTION CORE
General Management: LDK PRODUCTIONS
Advertising and Marketing: RED RISING MARKETING
Press Representation: JT PUBLIC RELATIONS

Acorn Theatre @ Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street (between Ninth & Tenth Avenues)
www.telecharge.com or 212-239-6200
February 21st – May 13th; Opening Night – 03/06/18

The joy of Off-Broadway productions is that occasionally you find a true gem that is totally fulfilling no matter where it takes place. A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK, A New Musical, is definitely one of those productions. Based on the short story of the same name by Leslea Newman, the action takes place in 1986 San Francisco eight years after the first openly-gay politician was assassinated. Harry Weinberg (Adam Heller) wrote the letter to his friend and finds himself sharing it with his writing teacher (Julia Knitel). Plagued by memories from the past (Jeremy Greenbaum, Aury Krebs, CJ Pawlikowski) and with welcome visits from his late wife (Cheryl Stern), Harry struggles not only with the murder of his friend Harvey (Michael Bartoli) but also with haunting memories of the Holocaust. Standing up and speaking out were issues that people died for in 1986 and unfortunately are still issues that take courage and a willingness to sacrifice in our current day environment.

There is nothing in this musical that doesn’t work. The songs are fresh and emotionally rewarding with tears that are inspired by both razor-sharp humor (”What A Shanda” and “Turning The Tables”) and poignancy (“Love Is A Woman” and “Too Close”). The chemistry between Heller, Knitel, and Stern is sublime, and the entire cast is superbly talented. The story is both a call to action and a reminder that there is room for all in our jumbled mix of humanity, as well as a beautiful tribute to a man who died for who he was. They don’t get much better than A LETTER TO HARVEY MILK. Put it on your must-see list.

- Laurie Lawson -