Staged Reading of Romantic New Musical "Estelle's Kitchen" at Schoolhouse Theater April 8-10

“Estelle’s Kitchen” is about a widow who has extraordinary cooking skills but who has lost the path to her heart. Enter Saul, who just acquired a new heart but has never known how to use one. Over hors d’oeuvres and kitchen conversation, these two “almost strangers” mix cuisine and courting.

 

Actress and singer Carolyn Mignini, as Estelle, has wide-ranging credits in theater, cabaret and TV. She has been described by Rex Reed as “a radiantly talented singer,” who called her cabaret show “as sophisticated and haunting as anything I have heard.” Mignini has appeared in numerous musical theater productions including “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Guys and Dolls” and “One Night Stand.” She has had many guest appearances on TV shows including “Newhart,” “Murphy Brown,” “The Practice” and “Chicago Hope” and has been in hundreds of commercials.

 

Saul is played by actor and singer Marty Vidnovic, whose Broadway credits include revivals of “The King and I,” “Oklahoma” and “Brigadoon.” His performance in “Baby” in 1981 won him the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor (Musical) and he was nominated for a Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for “Brigadoon” in 1983.

 

“Estelle’s Kitchen” will be directed by Barry Kleinbort, who has worked as a director, composer, lyricist and librettist over the past 25 years.

 

“We’re so fortunate to have gotten Barry to direct this show,” says Pamela Moller Kareman, artistic director at The Schoolhouse. “His resume reads like a Who’s Who of Broadway musicals. This staged reading of ‘Estelle’s Kitchen’ is a great opportunity to see the making of a new musical that’s sure to become a hit!”

 

Playwright and lyricist Rachel Lampert has been the Artistic Director of the Kitchen Theatre Company in Ithaca for the past 13 seasons. She has collaborated with Larry Pressgrove on several full-length music theater plays including “Comfort Food,” “Bed, No Breakfast” and “Angle of the Sun.”

 

The Schoolhouse is a unique setting for the arts in Westchester. Built in 1926, the brick building served as an active school until 1976. Galleries exhibit many fine local artists, while the theater, where every seat feels like a front-row-seat, accommodates enthusiastic audiences of less than 100. Theatergoers enjoy the intimate quality of the space, as well as the all-Equity casts who bring theatrical excellence and experience from Broadway to Croton Falls.

 

The final mainstage play of the season at the Schoolhouse will be “The Imaginary Invalid,” a hilarious 17th century play about a wealthy and miserable hypochondriac written by French comic master Moliere, running May 27 through June 20. “The Imaginary Invalid” will be directed by Schoolhouse artistic director Pamela Moller Kareman.

 

The Schoolhouse is located at 3 Owens Road, Croton Falls, NY, just off exit 8 on I-684. For information and tickets, call 914-277-8477 or go to www.schoolhousetheater.org.