New York University

New York University

The Office of Public Affairs

Thursday, Jan 10, 2008

N-218, 2007-08

The Program in Vocal Performance at New York Uuniversity’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development will present the musical Floyd Collins on Feb. 8-10 and Feb. 14-17 at the Frederick Loewe Theatre, 35 West 4th Street. Tickets are $20 general admission and $5 with valid NYU ID. For more information and to make ticket reservations, the public can call (212) 998-5281. [Subway: A, B, C, D, E, F, V (West 4th St.); R (8th St.)]

The show features a score by Adam Guettel (Tony Award-winning composer of The Light in the Piazza) with a book and additional lyrics by Tina Landau. With songs including “Lucky,” “The Riddle Song,” and “How Glory Goes,” Floyd Collins premiered on April 9, 1994 in Philadelphia. The musical is based on the true story of a caver who was trapped and died while exploring Kentucky’s Sand Cave in 1925. The production had its New York premiere at Playwrights Horizons in 1996.

The story follows the attempts by family and friends of Floyd Collins to rescue him from entrapment in the cave. The disaster quickly becomes a national phenomenon as the story of Floyd’s struggle hits the news. Seventeen days after he became trapped, a shaft finally reaches Floyd Collins-only to discover that he had died of exposure, exhaustion, and starvation three days earlier.

The production will be directed by John Simpkins, with music direction by Grant Wenaus and choreography by Jennifer Werner. The cast and orchestra will feature the talented undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students from The Steinhardt School’s Department of Music and Performing Arts Professions. Author Roger Brucker (Trapped! The Story of Floyd Collins) will be present for a talk back with audience and cast members following the 3 p.m. performance on Sunday, February 10.

Journalists interested in attending NYU Steinhardt’s production of Floyd Collins should contact Tim Farrell in the Office of Public Affairs by phone at (212) 998-6797 or email at tim.farrell@nyu.edu.