Cast Recording Announced for Off-Broadway's UNEXPECTED JOY

Jump For Joy! The Off-Broadway cast recording of the New York premiere production of the new musical Unexpected Joy, with book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Janet Hood (Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens with Bill Russell), will be recorded and released by JAY Records. Produced by John Yap, the recording will feature the original cast of The York Theatre Company production who will gather at Sear Sound Studios (353 West 48th Street) on Monday, May 14, 2018 to lay down the tracks for the recording.

John Yap started JAY/TER Records in 1980 with a 'live' recording of the revue Nashville, New York (Music by Kurt Weill and Vernon Duke, Lyrics by Ogden Nash) at The King's Head Theatre. London. Even though this was a Fringe production, it is quite clear that the quality of the work is inherent and important to JAY/TER's choice of recordings, a standard that has endured to this day. In over 35 years John has produced hundreds of recordings, including works by Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, Lerner and Loewe, Kander and Ebb, Kurt Weill, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Rodgers and Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern and virtually every significant Broadway and West End writers and composers. In addition to recording Original Broadway Cast, West End Cast, European Cast and Off-Broadway Cast albums, he has worked with and recorded productions by The Royal Opera House, The English National Opera, The D'Oyly Carte Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera North, The Royal Shakespeare Company, Chichester Festival Theatre and, in the USA, The Kennedy Center and The Lincoln Center Theatre. John has worked with and recorded many stars from the stage, opera, TV and movies. They include Liza Minnelli, Judi Dench, Jim Dale, Glenn Close, Richard Harris, Thomas Allen, Valerie Masterson, Chita Rivera, Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lee, Brian May (of Queen), Cleo Laine, Anthony Newley, Betty Buckley, Sarah Brightman, David Hyde Pierce, John Barrowman, Michael Ball, Elisabeth Welch, Willard White, Patti LuPone, John Houseman, Dora Bryan, Honor Blackman, Natalia Makarova, Julia Migenes, Brian Cox, Pat Suzuki, Ron Raines, Sian Phillips, Elaine Paige, Christian Borle and Carol Channing, among many others. JAY/TER Records have a strong and happy relationship with The York Theatre that started

in 2002 and together have recorded over 17 Original Cast albums, including Closer Than Ever, The Musical of Musicals, Enter Laughing, Lucky Stiff, Summer of '42, Busker Alley (with Jim Dale and Glenn Close) and John is thrilled to add this recording of Rothschild & Sons to the expanding list. Some recent releases by JAY Records include the first Complete Recording of One Touch of Venus starring Melissa Errico, Ron Raines, Brent Barrett, Victoria Clark and Judy Kaye, The Scottsboro Boys (both Off-Broadway and London Casts), Seven Brides For Seven Brothers (Regent Park's Theatre cast). John is current preparing the releases of the first Complete Recording of Sondheim's Anyone Can Whistle on 2CDs starring Maria Friedman, John Barrowman, Julia McKenzie and Arthur Laurents and the new John Kander and Greg Pierce musical The Landing with Original Off-Broadway Cast, Complete Recording on 2CDs. Visit the website at: www.jayrecords.com

Pop Singer and Songwriter Brielle Von Hugel has recorded a digital pop cover version of "When Will I Have My Own," a song from the show, is now available online by visiting: www.briellevonhugel.com

As a native New Yorker, naturally, I've always had it on my bucket list to perform on Broadway," shared Ms. Von Hugel. "We came up with the idea of recreating "When Will I Have My Own" into my own Pop cover version."

Brielle Von Hugel is a young, passionate, driven recording artist born and raised in Staten Island. Her dynamic, soulful, emotive voice and personality can be described as modern-day vintage. This singer/songwriter mixes pop-edge with yesterday's bluesy, smoky tones to give her musical storytelling grit-unapologetically honest and straightforward-commanding her audience to not just listen-but to feel. Brielle brings refreshment back into pop music, where her singing takes center stage underlining her reputation among her contemporaries as a voice to be reckoned with. Her powerful pipes have garnered her multiple television and press appearances, on Fox's "Good Day New York," "Industry Magazine," and various fundraisers including the March of Dimes, the TEAL Walk, and the Steven Siller Foundation. At age 16, Brielle was one of the Top 12 girls' semi-finalists on Season 11 of "American Idol."

Brielle's YouTube videos have amassed over 2 million views, reinforcing her popularity and mounting fan base. These videos, which showcase her myriad of talents, received spotlight attention from Billboard.com, Mashable, RyanSeacrest.com, Hollywood Gossip, Philip Phillips, and Haley Williams of Paramore. Her recent collaboration with Scott Bradlee's Postmodern Jukebox has further gained her recognition and kudos from fans across the globe. Her music is a soul journey-through her work and everyday life she encourages her fans to be themselves and not to judge others. A lyric from her release, "Stereo" summarizes how Brielle-through her music-practices what she preaches, of how she's been liberated from the confines of conformity and secured wings of her own: "I'm not better, I'm just different." And so, she continues to soar. Under F.r.e.e.d.o.m. Records, Brielle is currently releasing one single a month for 2018. Brielle's original music is available on all digital media outlets. Visit the website at: www.briellevonhugel.com

Currently on stage at The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), in association with Jim Kierstead,Aria Entertainment, Gabby Hanna & Marcy Feller, Riki Kane Larimer, Linda & Craig Wielkotz, Drew Desky & Dane Levens/Michael Mills, William Fernandez/Behzad Dabu, is the New York premiere of the new musical Unexpected Joy, with book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Janet Hood(Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens with Bill Russell). Performances began April 24, 2018 for a limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, May 27, 2018at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Directed by Amy Anders Corcoran (Associate Director, Escape to Margaritaville), and with music direction by Beth Falcone (Les Misérables), the four-member all-female cast features Courtney Balan (Falsettos) as Rachel, Allyson Kaye Daniel (Sistas: The Musical) as Lou, Luba Mason (Pretty Filthy) as Joy, and Celeste Rose(Sister Act) as Tamara.

Unexpected Joy is the story of three generations of female singers, long-held family tensions and a week together where change is in the air. In modern day Cape Cod, Joy, a baby boomer and proud hippie, is holding a memorial concert for the other half of her popular musical duo, Jump & Joy. When her conservative daughter and her rebellious granddaughter arrive from Oklahoma, the sparks fly as one family seeks to find the common ground in their different values, dreams and goals.

Unexpected Joy tackles tolerance, family ties, and the battles we fight to create our own identity. This new musical is a heartfelt and hilarious story that weaves folk-rock, pop, and blues in uniting a family that hasn't experienced true joy together for decades.

The creative team for Unexpected Joy includes James Morgan (set), Matthew Pachtman (costumes), Ken Wills (lights), Julian Evans (sound), Deb Gaouette(props), and AnnMarie Milazzo (vocal arrangements). The Production Stage Manager is Julianne Menassian, with Assistant Stage Manager Shanna Allison. Casting is by Stephen DeAngelis.

Unexpected Joy received its world premiere in 2016 at Wellfleet Harbor Actors Theatre in Massachusetts and was previously developed through readings at The York and the Hudson Guild Theatre.

Unexpected Joy plays the following performance schedule: Tuesdays & Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m., Thursdays at 2:30 p.m.*, Fridays at 8:00 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 p.m.* & 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. (*Audience discussion follow the matinee performance.)

Tickets for Unexpected Joy are priced at $67.50 - $72.50 and may be purchased by calling (212) 935-5820, online at www.yorktheatre.org, or in person at the box office at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), Monday through Friday (12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.). Senior Rush tickets are available in-person beginning one hour prior to performances for $20 cash only. Student tickets can be purchased anytime in advance at the box office during regular box office business hours. Limit one ticket per valid student ID and tickets are subject to availability. Student tickets are $20.00 cash or credit. The York Theatre also offers $25 tickets for guests aged 35 years and under. Groups of 10 or more, contact Great White Way at 212-757-9117, or GreatWhiteWay.com.

The York Theatre Company offers the York! Membership Program, an exclusive membership package for as low as $75.00-with elite benefits that include up to 35%off tickets to York Theatre Productions, exclusive Member pre-sale opportunities, 50% off on all lobby concessions, 20% off on all lobby merchandise, in addition to special Member-only receptions. The York also offers a York Plus! Membership Program with additional perks, including complimentary tickets to Mainstage productions and invites to several VIP-only presentations throughout the season.

York Memberships can be purchased online at www.yorktheatre.org/membership, or by visiting The York Theatre Company Box Office (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue), or by calling the Box Office at (212) 935-5820 during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.).

For additional information, please visit www.yorktheatre.org

The York Theatre Company is the only theatre in New York City-and one of very few in the world-dedicated to developing and fully producing new musicals and preserving neglected, notable shows from the past. For over four decades, York's intimate, imaginative style of producing both original and classic musicals has resulted in critical acclaim and recognition from artists and audiences alike. Under the guidance of Producing Artistic Director James Morgan since 1997, The York has focused on new musicals in its Mainstage Series-most of them world, American, or New York premieres-by some of the field's most esteemed creators, and has also helped launch the careers of many talented new writers. Almost 40 cast recordings from The York Theatre Company productions are now available on CD, including its acclaimed revival ofCloser Than Ever (2013 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Revival); commercial transfers of such York premieres as The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!), Souvenir(Tony Award Nomination for actress Judy Kaye), and Jolson & Company, and revivals of Pacific Overtures and Sweeney Todd (four Tony Nominations including Best Revival) have all showcased the importance of The York and its programs. Recent New York premieres have included Marry Harry, A Taste of Things to Come, Rothschild & Sons, and Desperate Measures, which just completed a three and a half month extended run. The critically acclaimed musical Yank!, which received its Off-Broadway debut at The York in 2010, recently opened to rave reviews in London as did York's Rothschild & Sons. The hit musical Cagney, received its York premiere in 2015 and subsequently transferred to The Westside Theatre for over 15 months. Desperate Measures will play an open-ended commercial run at New World Stages beginning May 30.

Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg