New Musical Dogfight, Starring Lindsay Mendez, Opens at Second Stage

 The new musical Dogfight opens July 16 at off-Broadway's Second Stage. Directed by Joe Mantello, the musical adaptation of the 1991 film of the same name stars Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena. The show features music and lyrics by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, a book by Peter Duchan and choreography by Christopher Gatelli.

Set on November 21, 1963, Dogfight follows three young Marines on the eve of their deployment to a small but growing conflict in Southeast Asia. The trio sets out for one last boys’ night of debauchery, partying, and maybe a little trouble. When Corporal Eddie Birdlace (Klena) meets Rose (Mendez), an awkward and idealistic waitress, he enlists to win a cruel bet with his fellow recruits. Rose however rewrites the rules of the game and teaches him the power of compassion. The film, which features a screenplay by Bob Comfort, starred River Phoenix as Eddie and Lili Taylor as Rose.

The cast of Dogfight also features Annaleigh Ashford (Rent, Wicked), Josh Segarra (Lysistrata Jones), Dierdre Friel (Leap of Faith), Becca Ayers (The Addams Family), Steven Booth (Glory Days), Adam Halpin (Glory Days), F. Michael Haynie (Carrie), Nick Blaemire (Godspell) and James Moye (Million Dollar Quartet).