“A TURTLE ON A FENCE POST” ANNOUNCES COMPLETE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM

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Michael Jorgensen
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

COMPLETE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR THE NEW MUSICAL COMEDY

“A TURTLE ON A FENCE POST”

THE SHOW THE (FORMERLY) MOST POWERFUL MAN
IN NEW YORK DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE

PREVIEWS BEGIN OCTOBER 26
OPENING NIGHT SET FOR NOVEMBER 14
AT THEATER 555

HEADSHOTS AVAILABLE HERE

New York, NY (September 17, 2021) – Max Brod Productions (Hank Morris, Executive Producer) announced today the complete cast and creative team for the new off-Broadway musical comedy A Turtle on a Fence Post, set to re-open the newly renamed Theater 555 (555 W. 42nd Street) with performances beginning Tuesday, October 26, 2021.

Inspired by true events, A Turtle on a Fence Post stars Garth Kravits as Hank Morris (Prisoner #11RO731*) who is joined by Drama Desk Award nominee David Aron Damane, Erik Gratton, Joanna Glushak, Kate Loprest, Josh Marin, Richard E. Waits, Janet Aldrich, Joel Newsome, and Robbie Serrano.

The creative team for A Turtle on a Fence Post includes Scenic Design by Drama Desk Award nominee Walt Spangler, Costume & Make-Up Design by Outer Critics Circle Award winner Vanessa Leuck, Lighting Design by Yael Lubetzky, Sound Design by Twi McCallum, Projection Design by Stefania Bulbarella, Hair & Wig Design by Drama Desk Award nominee Bobbie Zlotnik, and Casting by Paul Hardt of Hardt Casting.

As previously announced, the world premiere production will be directed by Tony Award nominee Gabriel Barre (The Wild Party, Amazing Grace) and choreographed by Kenny Ingram (Emojiland). The book is written by Prisoner #11RO731*, with music by Austin Nuckols, and lyrics by Lily Dwoskin.

It's one of Bill Clinton's favorite political expressions: “When you see a turtle on a fence post, you know it didn't get there by itself. It doesn’t belong there. You wonder who put it there.” And now, you'll know, it’s not about the turtle!

Inspired by true events, A Turtle on a Fence Post fictionalizes the inside story of a prominent New Yorker thrown into an unknown world by New York’s most powerful man. At heart a vibrant tale of love and friendship, Turtle… uses humor and song to deal with themes of freedom, forgiveness and truth, revealing how meaningful learning can arise in the most unexpected places and from the most surprising sources.

The creative team also includes Music Direction by Aaron Gandy (Romeo & Bernadette), Orchestrations and Arrangements by Steve Orich (Jersey Boys), and Casting by Paul Hardt of Hardt Casting (Once Upon a One More Time). General Management is by Michael Chase Gosselin & Tim Sulka of Visceral Entertainment (Emojiland, Midnight at The Never Get), and Production Management is by Tinc Productions.

Max Brod Productions is named in honor of Max Brod, a Czech born, Jewish Israeli writer, who was Franz Kafka’s best friend and shepherded the publication of Kafka’s The Trial, a novel which details the existential voyage of an innocent man prosecuted and convicted for an unknown crime.

A Turtle on a Fence Post, with an official Opening Night set for Sunday, November 14, will play a limited ten-week engagement through Sunday, January 2, 2022. All attendees will be required to show ID and proof of COVID vaccination.

Theater 555, owned by theatrical producer Eric Krebs was formerly the home of both the Signature and Pearl Theatre Companies and more recently the home of Upright Citizens Brigade. www.Theater555.com

Tickets, starting at $69, can now be purchased by visiting www.TurtleMusical.com, and are priced into three tiers: “Class A Felony” premium seats, “Misdemeanor” seats, and “Plea Bargain” seats.


For more information, and to sign-up for updates, please visit www.TurtleMusical.com

*11RO731 is the prison inmate number of Henry ‘Hank’ Morris.


CAST BIOGRAPHIES

GARTH KRAVITS (Hank) has appeared on Broadway in the Tony Award winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone, and Gettin’ the Band Back Together. His Off-Broadway credits include Old Jews Telling Jokes, Toxic Audio, and Smart Blonde. Kravits has appeared on TV in “Mr. Robot”, “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, “Divorce”, “30 Rock”, “The Blacklist”, “Nurse Jackie”, “The Carrie Diaries”, “Hostages”, “The Hunters”, and “Tommy”. He is an award-winning filmmaker, writer, editor and composer. You can see his work at www.cutanddryfilms.com

DAVID ARON DAMANE (Z & Others). Broadway: The Book of Mormon, Don’t Dress for Dinner, Big River, Riverdance, The Life. Tours: The Book of Mormon, The Color Purple, Big River, Riverdance, Tommy. Off-Broadway: The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Drama Desk nomination), Carmen Jones (CSC), Dinah Was... et al. Regional: Porgy & Bess (NYC Opera), Macbeth (Stratford), Titus Andronicus, To Kill a Mockingbird... etc. Television: “Dynasty”, “Jett”, “Chicago Fire”, “Chicago PD”, “Instinct”, “Law & Order: SVU”, “Law & Order”...et al.

ERIK GRATTON (Johnson & Others) grew up in Kansas and got his training at Detroit’s Hilberry Rep. New York: Elf the Musical (Theater at Madison Square Garden); As You Like It (HERE Arts); The Devil and Tom Walker (Metropolitan Playhouse); Bill Irwin’s Scapin (New York Classical Theatre). Regional: Goodspeed; Milwaukee Rep; McCoy/Rigby; Arizona Theatre Co; ACT Theatre. TV: “Grimm”, “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt”, “Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, “All My Children”. Social: @erikfallsdown

JOANNA GLUSHAK (Rita & Others). Broadway, NY, Highlight Roles: A Gentleman’s Guide, Sunday in the Park, Les Misérables, Hairspray, Urinetown. Tours: Finding Neverland, Young Frankenstein, Xanadu. Recently occurred as Mrs. O’Tool in the Amazon hit “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”, as well as many other roles for film and TV. Yale Drama School Graduate. More info at www.joannaglushak.com



KATE LOPREST (Leslie & Others). Broadway: First Date (Allison), Hairspray (Amber), Xanadu, Wonderland, Drowsy Chaperone. Tour: Wicked (Glinda, Nessa u/s), Little House on the Prairie (Nellie Oleson, 1st Nat’l). Regional: The Guthrie, Asolo Rep, The Old Globe, Barrington Stage, Ogunquit Playhouse, Washington National and Dallas Opera Theatre. TV: “Boardwalk Empire”, "I Love You...But I Lied", “Running Wilde”, “All My Children”. Kate is the creator and host of Living Small NYC, now streaming on Broadway on Demand. www.KateLoprest.com.

JOSH MARIN (Chasten & Others) is over the moon with excitement to be a part of this incredible cast, crew and production team! He currently lives in New York. Credits include: Local commercials, Spielberg’s Lincoln, Georg in Spring Awakening, Tamino in The Magic Flute (adaptation), Benny in RENT, Tommy Dijilas in The Music Man, Mr. Black in The Wild Party, Chad Diety in The Elaborate Entrance do Chad Diety, Prentiss in Peter and the Starcatcher, Harpo in The Color Purple, Flick in Violet, Benny in In the Heights, and most recently Middala in The Book of Mormon and Standby in Come From Away. He would like to thank God, his family and friends for all of their support!

RICHARD E. WAITS (Sars & Others) started his career dancing with the legendary Ginger Rogers! Many projects, many shows, many highs, many lows. Mr. Waits is celebrating 40 years in show business. As a playwright, his show Mama Rose played LaMaMa. As a composer he was commissioned by Maxwell House Coffee and Pioneer Theatre Company. Upcoming feature film: Ramsey. Thank you: Agent Eddie Rabon and team at Take 3 Talent, Paul Hardt Casting, family and friends. Social Media: @RichardE.Waits

JANET ALDRICH (Understudy). Broadway: Me and My Girl, Lady Jacqueline; Starmites, Maligna; Broadway, Ruby; also Three Musketeers; Annie and the pre-Broadway tour of Applause as Karen Richards. Off Broadway: Lust, Mistress Dainty; Ben, Virginia and Me, Sophie Tucker – NYMF Outstanding Performance award; also Prime Time Prophet; Comedy of Errors and American Princess. Janet has performed in 7 countries, in 3 different languages, including playing Sally Bowles in Jérôme Savary’s award-winning French production of Cabaret in Paris and throughout Europe. Ms. Aldrich was the first recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for her performance in Forbidden Broadway. She sings jazz, and occasionally performs with the Foggy Minded Boys. Janet is also known as “Glamma”. www.JanetAldrich.ACTOR @Janet_Aldrich

JOEL NEWSOME (Understudy). Recently, Joel was seen touring the country with the Broadway national tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. He was seen as Lord Clapham in the Broadway tour of Something Rotten! In New York, Joel played Bob Hope and Jack Warner in the Off-Broadway hit Cagney. Joel’s Broadway debut was in the Tony Award winning revival of 42nd Street.  He was a member of the Broadway company of Mel Brooks’ The Producers. Other Broadway tours include the Chicago/Toronto companies of Elton John’s Billy Elliot and the Leo Company of The Producers.

ROBBIE SERRANO (Understudy). Off-Broadway debut! Jersey Native. International: Male Swing U/S Tony West Side Story Japan IHI Stage Around Tokyo World Premier. NY Workshops: The Little Prince, Viral. Regional highlights: Male Swing Grease (The Rev), Male Swing Grease (John W. Engeman Theatre, Royal Caribbean), Mamma Mia! (Northern Stage), The Producers (Argyle Theatre), Link Larkin Hairspray (The Palace Theatre), Mike A Chorus Line, Carlos Legally Blonde. TV: “Deadline Crime” (NBC Universal), Castrol Oil Campaign 2016. Graduated AMDA NYC, IG: @iam.robbie


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