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Dear Critic, You are invited to MORE THAN ALL THE WORLD, Erik Ransom’s epic musical inspired by Christopher Marlowe's "Edward II" directed by Rachel Klein (‘Around the World in 80 Days’, ‘The Anthem’) with musical direction, orchestrations and arrangements by Andy Peterson (‘Atomic’), Friday, November 4th at Theater For The New City. The production will run through Saturday, November 19, 2016 and have its official opening night on Wednesday, November 9th. www.MoreThanAllTheWorld.com. Critics are invited and encouraged to attend : Friday, 11/4 at 8PM Saturday, 11/5 at 8PM Sunday, 11/6 at 3PM Monday, 11/7 at 8PM Wednesday 11/9 at 8PM (Press Opening) Please e-mail [email protected] to arrange for press tickets. MORE THAN ALL THE WORLD is an epic, historical tale inspired by Christopher Marlowe's 1593 play, "Edward II". Set to a complex and diverse pop/rock-influenced musical theatre score, it details the true story of England's controversial King Edward II, whose reign was riddled with scandal and insurrection. It is a modern take on a 14th Century story that resounds with strikingly current themes of prejudice, classism, otherness and more. "Edward II", by famed Tragedian Christopher Marlowe, was written during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, and depicted the fall of the eponymous monarch. It was a bold, groundbreaking play for the 16th Century, because it explicitly portrayed an English sovereign whose doom came about because of his love of another man. Marlowe's "Edward II" is still performed around the world to this day. 1969 marked the first professional production in 300 years, which was produced by The Prospect Theatre Company, starring Sir Ian McKellen. In addition to Marlowe's text, the play has famously been adapted by Bertolt Brecht in 1923 under the title, "Leben Eduard des Zweiten von England" (The Life of Edward the Second of England). A film version of Marlowe's play was released in 1991 directed by Derek Jarman and starring Tilda Swinton and Annie Lennox. More Than All the World is a musical adaptation of that same story, wherein Marlowe narrates this epic true story of 14th Century political intrigue, deception, war and love. The piece utilizes a catchy pop musical score and a book that has been described as 'clever, witty and insightful'. More Than All the World puts the ongoing debate about LGBTQ civil rights into perspective as we see the rhetoric wasn't much different in 1326 than it is today. The cast of MORE THAN ALL THE WORLD features Luis Villabon, Remy Germinario, Emily Stockdale, Katherine Pecevich, Erik Ransom, Grace Stockdale, Devin Holloway, Hugh Hysell, Tony Perry and Alexander Moitzi. The production features scenic design by Ann Beyersdorfer, lighting design by Jamie Roderick, Sound design by Doug Mills Costume design by Rachel Klein and assistant direction byFrancesca MacLaughlin, fight choreography by Rod Kinter. General Management is by Daily-Monda Management (Frankie Dailey & Joey Monda). Performances are Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM. The Wednesday 11/9 performance is at 7PM. The production closes on Saturday, November 19. Joey Monda). Performances are Wednesdays – Saturdays at 8PM and Sundays at 3PM. The Wednesday 11/9 performance is at 7PM. The production closes on Saturday, November 19. MORE THAN ALL THE WORLD marks the fifth collaboration from writer/director team Erik Ransom and Rachel Klein. The team, known for their gritty rock glamour style, met in 2013 and have since worked together on Coming: A Rock Musical of Biblical Proportions, (book, music, and lyrics by Erik Ransom, Direction and Musical Staging by Rachel Klein), concerts and readings of the Off-Broadway bound GRINDR the Opera, (book, music, and lyrics by Erik Ransom, Direction and Choreography by Rachel Klein), the development of The Severed Hand of Neverland at Musical Theatre Factory, (book, music, and lyrics by Erik Ransom, Direction and Choreography by Rachel Klein) and the New York Times acclaimed Off-Broadway production of The Anthem (lyrics by Erik Ransom, direction, co-choreography, and design by Rachel Klein). Erik Ransom (Book/Music/Lyrics) is a composer, playwright, librettist and performer with a diverse body of work. His musical, More Than All the World, which is a musical inspired by Christopher Marlowe’s Edward II was presented in the reading series at the Drama Desk award-winning York Theatre Company in March 2016. Erik’s smutty opus, GRINDR The Opera premiered in concert in Spring of 2014 and had a high profile staged reading hosted by Randy Jones (The original cowboy from the Village People) in April 2015. The reading was covered by The Daily Beast, The Guardian, Salon.com and the National Public Radio of the Republic of Ireland, among others, and was written up in 7 languages. Erik’s musical Coming: A Rock Musical of Biblical Proportions has been fully produced at The Prince Music Theatre in Philadelphia and Theatre 80 St. Marks in New York. He has a degree in classical music performance, and has studied with Metropolitan opera stars Jerome Hines and Enrico DiGiuseppe. His musical SAGA: The Ragnarok Opera was nominated for several Broadway World Philadelphia awards, and his musical Tragic Events has been performed at the Painted Bride Arts Center’s Ruckus Festival. Erik penned the lyrics for the recent Off- Broadway musical spectacular: The Anthem, which ran at The Culture Project's Lynn Redgrave Theatre and he is slated to write for season two of the Emmy-nominated web-series, Tainted Dreams. He is also a two- time champion of Tune-in-Time, which is a monthly, timed, improvised musical theatre writing competition based in Manhattan. Rachel Klein is a NYC based director, coined "Endlessly Clever," (The New York Post), "Nothing short of brilliant," (Broadway World) and of whose work The New York Times has praised: "What makes this show pop is the bracing vision of its director, Rachel Klein." Off-Broadway Direction: Around the World in 80 Days (Six month run at The New Theater on 45th Street AKA The Davenport Theater); The Anthem (The Lynn Redgrave Theater, starring Wicked's Jenna Leigh Green and Randy Jones, the Original Cowboy from the Village People); Gay Bride of Frankenstein (The inaugural iStar Theatre Lab); GRINDR The Opera (Theatre 777, slated for an extended commercial run in the 2016/2017 Season). Selected NYC Theater: Coming: A Rock Musical of Biblical Proportions (Fringe NYC); Symphony of Shadows (Jerome Robbins Foundation Commission); The Tragedy of Maria Macabre (Tides Foundation Commission); Circus of Circus (Innovative Theater Awards nominee for Outstanding Director of a Play); Secret Summer: An Immersive Midsummer Night's Dream (Shrunken Shakespeare); Carrie: Blood, Fire, & Ballet (with the Love Show dancers); Hound (adapted from The Hound of the Baskervilles); The Dead Dream Machine (featuring performances from Justin Vivian Bond, Constantine Maroulis, Michael Musto, and Lady Rizo); Go-Go Killers!; Lizardman: the Musical; All Kinds of Shifty Villains. Selected Regional: Super (George Street Playhouse); A Midsummer Night's Dream (New Brunswick Shakespeare Festival). Ms. Klein's direction and choreography have been seen all over New York City including at the House of Yes, (le) Poisson Rouge, the Highline Ballroom, La MaMa, “Night of 1000 Stevies,” the Hiro Ballroom, Dumbo Dance Festival, the Kitchen, the Slipper Room, and at the National Arts Club. Upcoming Projects: Borrowed, a psychological thriller, and The Happy Hooker, a new musical based on the best selling memoir by Xaviera Hollander.www.rachelkleindirector.com Edward Miller (Producer) has been very active in the New York theatrical and independent film scene for years now. He has staged the productions What A Difference A Year Makes (La MaMa), Revolution Row (Michael Weller), The Retreat (Sande Shurin) and Crossover (Jan Hus Playhouse). Edward was a producer/writer on the plays Make It So and A Promise Best Kept (Theater For the New City). He was an executive producer on the independent films The Big Gay Musical and How A Waitress Deals. Edward also was involved in the production teams and a performer in the Indy films A Four Letter Word and Kiss Me, Kill Me (Embrem Entertainment). Please e-mail [email protected] to arrange for press tickets. Look forward to seeing you there. Many thanks, Dan Demello Many thanks, Dan Demello .