[Capdist-announce] Staged Reading -The Trial of Bat Shea

[Nancy Laribee]

A Troy Legend Comes To Life In The Staged Reading Of
The Trial Of Bat Shea
 
Local history and forgotten legends will come to back to life in Troy when The Trial of Bat Shea makes its musical debut, with music, book and lyrics by Jack Casey,  as a staged reading at 8PM on Friday,  September 19 and Saturday, September20 at Bush Memorial on the Russell Sage College campus.  
 
The Trial of Bat Shea chronicles the last gasps of Troy’s grand Victorian era, when class, religion and politics collide during a local ward election.  Bat Shea is an ambitious Irish Catholic anti-hero, caught up in the accidental death of a young Protestant industrialist and the mob-baiting mentality of the American Protective Association.  His life becomes a tug-of-war between strong personalities vying for control of the reins of power, and as a result of the murder trial, U.S. Senator Edward J. Murphy was dethroned as state party boss and Troy attorney Frank Black became New York Governor.  From the saloons of North Troy to the stage of the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, The Trial of Bat Shea captures Troy at its best and worst.
 
Author Jack Casey studied literature at Yale University and University of Edinburgh.  He serves as Parliamentarian of the New York State Senate and maintains a law office in Troy.  The Trial of Bat Shea began its life as a 1977 serial in the Troy Record, evolved into a novel in 1994 and was first adapted for theatrical presentation at Revolution Hall in 2006.  David Baecker, Assistant Professor of Theatre at Russell Sage College, will direct with musical direction by Adam Jones.  The cast includes Carol Charniga (Mary Shea), Emily Curro (Nellie Mae Patton), Ward Dales (Jack McGough), David Girard (Bat Shea), Aaron Holbritter (William Ross), Philip Lance (Father Swift), Brian Nemiroff (Robert Ross), Byron Nilsson (Galen Hitt), Patrick McKenna (Frank Black), Joe Quandt (Halloran), Shannon Rafferty (Mamie Halligan), John Romeo (Boss Murphy) and Brian Sheldon (Joe Cleary).
 
General admission is $20; reserved seating is $30.   All proceeds from the reading go to benefit the Rensselaer County Historical Society. For tickets or more information, call the Historical Society at (518) 272-7232.  For information, contact David Baecker, 244-2263
 
Nancy LaribeeDirector of PR & CommunicationsThe Sage Colleges - Troy & Albany45 Ferry StreetTroy, NY 12180(518) 244-3142 (ph)   (518)331-1035 (cell)
www.sage.edu
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