Robert Cuccioli and Ed Dixon to Head Cast of Mufti's Mirette

By Andrew Gans
December 8, 2005

Complete casting has been announced for the York Theatre Company's upcoming staging of Mirette.The Elizabeth Diggs-Tom Jones-Harvey Schmidt musical will be presented as part of the York's acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series, which offers little-produced musicals in concert stagings. In addition to Cuccioli and Dixon, the company will also feature Davis Duffiled, Patti Murin, Anthony Santelmo, Kelly Sullivan and Maggie Watts. Drew Scott Harris directs.

Performance dates are Dec. 16 at 8 PM, Dec. 17 at 2:30 and 8 PM and Dec. 18 at 2:30 and 7:30 PM. Audience discussions with members of the cast and creative team will follow the matinee performances.

Mirette features a score by Jones and Schmidt and a book by Diggs. The musical, according to press notes, concerns an "unusual friendship between the strong-willed, ten year-old Mirette and The Great Bellini, a jaded tightrope walker who's lost his nerve. When Bellini stages a comeback only to find himself paralyzed with fear, Mirette helps him regain his courage."

Robert Cuccioli earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor in a Musical for his work in Jekyll & Hyde. He won the Drama Desk and the Outer Critics Circle awards for that performance as well. Cuccioli also appeared in the Broadway production of Les Misérables and has been seen on screen in "Sliders," "Baywatch," "Celebrity," "The Stranger" and "Operation Delta Force 3: Clear Target." His recent theatrical credits include Guys and Dolls, Temporary Help, Lorenzaccio, The Sound of Music and the Actors' Fund benefit concert of On the Twentieth Century.

Ed Dixon made his Broadway debut in the 1971 revival of No, No, Nanette. His other Main Stem credits include King of Schnorrers, The Three Musketeers, Les Misérables, Cyrano—The Musical, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Iceman Cometh and Gore Vidal's the Best Man.

The "Musicals in Mufti" series presents musicals in staged concert settings. "Mufti" means "in street clothes, without the usual trappings."

The York Theatre Company is located at 619 Lexington Avenue at the corner of 54th Street. Tickets for the "Mufti" productions are priced at $40 and can be purchased by calling (212) 868-4444 or by visiting www.smarttix.com. For more information, go to www.yorktheatre.org.