The York Theatre Company will present How to Steal an Election: A Dirty Politics Musical, with music and lyrics by Oscar Brand and book by William F. Brown, as the first offering of the Fall Musicals in Mufti series. Performances begin Saturday, August 26, 2023 and continue for 11 performances only through Sunday, September 3, 2023.
Alex Joseph Grayson, direct from the Broadway revival of Parade, will play Jerry, with Jason Graae (York’s The Grand Tour) as Calvin Coolidge, and Emma Degerstedt (York’s Desperate Measures) as April, with Courtney Arango (West Side Story at Milwaukee Rep), Kelly Berman (Gypsy at Goodspeed), and Drew Tanabe (York’s Stardust Road) in the ensemble. In addition, Neal Mayer (York’s Mark Felt Superstar) will understudy Mr. Graae and perform the role of Calvin Coolidge for two (2) performances: Wednesday, August 30 and Thursday, August 31.
How to Steal an Election: A Dirty Politics Musical is about Jazz Age President Calvin Coolidge materializing in the present day (that is, 1968). There he meets a couple of fervent young protesters, just back from the skull-cracking Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Disillusioned, these two protesters have no taste for the political machine. But what’s wrong with pragmatism, Coolidge asks them? What about learning to work within a corrupt system? Thus, Coolidge begins his history lesson, with vignettes and songs depicting cynical power grabs of yore. How to Steal an Election opened to rave reviews at Off-Broadway’s Pocket Theatre in 1968 with leads Clifton Davis, Carole Demas and Bhen Lanzaroni. After 50 performances, the show was set to move to Broadway. But there was a glitch-according to Oscar Brand, the $80,000 lined up for the move was Mob money. The authors refused to cooperate; end of deal, end of production. Until now!
How To Steal an Election: A Dirty Politics Musical will play the following 11-performance schedule— First Week: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:30 & 7:00 p.m. (Opening Night). Second Week: Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Talkbacks follow all matinee performances.
Musicals in Mufti packages and York Memberships can be purchased online here or by calling the Box Office at (212) 935-5820 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.). For more information visit yorktheatre.org.
The York is currently producing at The Theatre at St. Jean’s at 76th Street and Lexington Avenue, Manhattan
