A Catered Affair Composer John Bucchino Gets New Revue, It's Only Life

It's Only Life, a new "musical collage" of songs by A Catered Affair composer John Bucchino, will have its world premiere at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California, this month. Previews begin on June 19, with opening night set for June 21. The production, which runs through July 13, was co-conceived and will be directed by Daisy Prince, a longtime friend and collaborator of Bucchino.

Conceived by the composer and director as "a diary of life," the Rubicon's production will star Billy Porter Smokey Joe's Café, Miss Saigon, Five Guys Named Moe, Jessica Phillips The Scarlet Pimpernel, Jesus Christ Superstar, Lucas Steele The Threepenny Opera, Jamison Stern Little Shop of Horrors and Joan Almedilla Miss Saigon, Songs for a New World.

Comprised of songs from Bucchino's long career as a songwriter and lyricist, a concert version of It's Only Life was presented as part of the American Songbook series at Lincoln Center in 2006, producing a popular cast recording. The five-person cast of It's Only Life sings solos, duets and company numbers as characters named Billy, Andrea, Gavin, Jessica and Brooks.

Bucchino recently received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Music for A Catered Affair. Other composing credits include Urban Myths, Lavender Girl and the animated film Joseph: King of Dreams. In 2000, a special solo concert series of his work, starring Patti LuPone, was presented at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre.

Daughter of Broadway producer and director Harold Prince, Daisy Prince directed the original New York productions of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years and Songs for a New World. She directed It's Only Life in its concert form at Lincoln Center.

It's Only Life features musical direction by Brent Crayon, scenic design by Beowulf Boritt, orchestrations by Bruce Coughlin, sound design by Drew Dalzell and costumes by Elizabeth Cox.