Performances kick off July 27 at New York City Center for the concert revival of Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, the first collaboration between Little Shop of Horrors’ Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. The Encores! Off-Center staging stars Skylar Astin, Santino Fontana, James Earl Jones, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Kate Wetherhead, among others.

Based on Kurt Vonnegut’s satirical novel of the same name, the 1979 musical follows an alcoholic millionaire and his philanthropic endeavors. The cast, directed by Michael Mayer, also includes Derrick Baskin, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Nick Choksi, Eddie Cooper, Kevin Del Aguila, Clark Johnson, Kevin Ligon, Marla Louissaint, Liz McCartney, Bonnie Milligan and Brynn O’Malley.

Performances run at City Center through July 30; the limited engagement features orchestrations by Danny Troob, which will be heard for the first time.

The creative team also includes choreography by Lorin Latarro, music direction by Chris Fenwick and additional lyrics by Dennis Green.

“The show tells the story of Eliot Rosewater (Fontana), a drunken millionaire who decides to blow his fortune on a town full of pitiable creatures: the illiterate, the depressed, and the eternally pregnant,” state City Center press notes. “But there are forces who want to put the kibosh on his philanthropy—like Norman Mushari (Astin), a lawyer plotting to have Eliot declared insane.

”Tickets can be purchased online at NYCityCenter.org, by calling CityTix at (212) 581-1212, or in person at the City Center Box Office. New York City Center is located at 131 West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Source: Kurt Vonnegut’s God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater Begins Tonight | Playbill