A Catered Affair, New Fierstein/Bucchino Musical, Aims for Broadway

A Catered Affair, a new musical with a book by four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein and score by John Bucchino, is aiming for a Broadway production in Spring 2008, starring Fierstein and directed by Tony winner John Doyle Sweeney Todd, Company. The show's pre-Broadway production will inaugurate the 2007-2008 season at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre, with performances beginning September 20. Other casting will be announced shortly.

A Catered Affair is set in the Bronx in 1953. Described as a funny and heartbreaking musical play, it reveals relationships strained to their limits when a couple must decide whether to spend their life savings on a family business or to launch their only daughter's marriage with a lavish catered affair. The musical is based on The Catered Affair, a 1956 movie written by Gore Vidal from an original teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky. The film starred Bette Davis and Ernest Borgnine as the parents, with Debbie Reynolds as their daughter, who announces her engagement to Rod Taylor.

Fierstein most recently appeared on Broadway as Tevye in the revival of Fiddler on the Roof. He received Best Actor and Best Play Tony Awards for Torch Song Trilogy and later won Tonys for writing the book of La Cage aux Folles and for his leading performance as Edna Turnblad in Hairspray. His other plays include Safe Sex, Spookhouse and Forget Him. As an actor, he has also been nominated for an Emmy guest star on Cheers, an American Comedy Award Mrs. Doubtfire and an Olivier Award Torch Song Trilogy.

Bucchino is aiming to make his Broadway debut with A Catered Affair. He has written the scores for the musicals Urban Myths and Lavender Girl and a piece included in 3hree, an evening of short musicals compiled by Harold Prince. It's Only Life, a revue of his songs, was presented at Lincoln Center. Bucchino composed the songs for the animated film Joseph, King of Dreams and his work has been compiled in Grateful, the Songs of John Bucchino and other recordings. HarperCollins' recently published Grateful, A Song of Giving Thanks, an illustrated children's book based on one of his most popular songs.

A Catered Affair will be produced on Broadway by Jujamcyn Theaters, Harvey Entertainment/Ron Fierstein and Richie Jackson.