A Pound In Your Pocket
The King’s College will produce A Pound In Your Pocket in New York City by a team including both students and theater professionals.
He’s most famous for writing Bye Bye Birdie and Annie, but until now, Tony award winning Broadway composer Charles Strouse’s musical A Pound In Your Pocket—written two years before the success of Bye Bye Birdie—hadn’t been produced in New York City.
But that’s all about to change. On February 19-21, 2016, The King’s College will produce A Pound In Your Pocket in New York City by a team including both students and theater professionals. Likewise, the cast will include current King’s students and professional actors.
A Pound In Your Pocket, a musical farce based on a short story by Charles Dickens, was written by Strouse and his long-time collaborator Lee Adams in 1958, but it was rarely heard, with the exception of a few regional productions. The play was rediscovered by Carolyn Copeland, Strouse’s executive producer, who also produced the Broadway show Amazing Grace. Strouse has an ongoing relationship with the theater division at King’s, and his musical director, Virginia Pike, is a lecturer in music at the College. (Last December, Strouse conducted a masterclass on campus.)
“We’re delighted to be involved in this historic event,” said Dr. Henry Bleattler, chair of the program in Media, Culture, and the Arts at King’s. “This kind of production opportunity is exciting for King’s students, and it’s the sort of unique experience you can only have going to school in New York City.”
The venue for the production will be announced soon. The production is currently raising $8,000 toward sets, costumes, and theater space. Donations can be made through Crowdrise.