The Cast and Crew of Unexpected Joy Meet The Press

The York Theatre Company cast of the new musical Unexpected Joy, met the press. T2C’s Genevieve Rafter Keddy was there.

Bill Russell (Books/Lyrics)

Unexpected Joy features book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show)

and music by Janet Hood (Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens with Bill Russell).

Amy Anders Corcoran (Director)

Directed by Amy Anders Corcoran (Associate Director, Escape to Margaritaville), and with music direction by Beth Falcone (Les Misérables),

Courtney Balan

The four-member female cast features Courtney Balan (Falsettos) as Rachel

Allyson Kaye Daniel

Allyson Kaye Daniel (Sistas: The Musical) as Lou

Luba Mason

Luba Mason (Pretty Filthy) as Joy

Celeste Rose

and Celeste Rose (Sister Act) as Tamara.

Performances begin Tuesday, April 24, 2018 for a limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, May 20, 2018 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter’s (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is Thursday evening, May 3, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.

Allyson Kaye Daniel, Luba Mason, Courtney Balan and Celeste Rose

Unexpected Joy is the story of three generations of female singers, long-held family tensions, and a week together where change is in the air. In modern day Cape Cod, Joy, a baby boomer and proud hippie, is holding a memorial concert for the other half of her popular musical duo, Jump & Joy. When her tightly-wound conservative daughter and her sweet rebellious granddaughter arrive from Oklahoma, the sparks fly as one family seeks to find the common ground in their different values, dreams and goals. Unexpected Joy is a heartfelt and hilarious story that weaves folk-rock, pop, and blues in uniting a family that hasn’t experienced true joy together for decades.

James Morgan (York Producing Artistic Director)

The creative team includes James Morgan (set)

Allyson Kaye Daniel, Luba Mason, Courtney Balan and Celeste Rose

Matthew Pachtman (costumes), Ken Wills (lights), Julian Evans (sound), Deb Gaouette (props), and AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal arrangements).

Luba Mason and Allyson Kaye Daniel

Unexpected Joy: The York Theatre at Saint Peter’s (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue)

Luba Mason and Allyson Kaye Daniel

Celeste Rose, Courtney Balan, Allyson Kaye Daniel and Luba Mason

Luba Mason, Allyson Kaye Daniel

Luba Mason, Celeste Rose and Allyson Kaye Daniel

Celeste Rose

Beth Falcone (Music Director), Janet Hood, Bill Russell, Allyson Kaye Daniel, Luba Mason, Courtney Balan, Amy Anders Corcoran and Celeste Rose