Industry Readings Scheduled for Cole Porter's The New Yorkers in New York City

Two private industry readings of a new production of Cole Porter's The New Yorkers are scheduled for New York City on April 23 and 24, 2026. The readings include much of the cast from the 2017 Encores! presentation at City Center, along with Bebe Neuwirth in a new role.

The event is produced by Joe Abrams and Sally Wood. The musical, originally from 1930, features music and lyrics by Cole Porter and a book by Herbert Fields. It is set in Prohibition-era New York and follows socialite Alice Wentworth as she pursues bootlegger Al Spanish from Park Avenue to prison.

The story is based on a narrative by E. B. The 2017 Encores! version was adapted by then-artistic director Jack Viertel from original materials. That adaptation is the basis for these readings.

Cast and Creative Team The cast includes returning performers from the 2017 production:

Robyn Hurder, Mylinda Hull, Scarlett Strallen, Tam Mutu, and Kevin Chamberlin.

Bebe Neuwirth joins as Gloria Wentworth. Additional cast members are Arnie Burton, Byron Jennings, Anaïs Reno, David Baida, Kyle Scatliffe, Matt Saldivar, Clyde Alves, and Jeffrey Schecter, along with ensemble members Colin Anderson, John Harmon Cooper, Christine DiGiallonardo, Katie McCreary, Timothy McDevitt, Kent Overshown, Lindsay Roberts, and Daniel Schwait.

Specific roles include Scarlett Strallen as Alice Wentworth, Tam Mutu as Al Spanish, Kevin Chamberlin as Jimmy Deegan, Mylinda Hull as Mona Low, and Robyn Hurder as Lola McGee.

John Rando, who directed the recent Back to the Future musical on Broadway, will direct the readings. Rob Berman provides music direction and arrangements. The Encores! production also added Porter songs like "Night and Day" and "You've Got That Thing" from other works.

The original 1930 Broadway opening ran for 168 performances. These readings represent an opportunity to revisit the restored version of the musical.

Background and Context The New Yorkers opened on Broadway in 1930 during the Prohibition era, reflecting themes of hedonism and social excess in New York City.

The Encores! presentation in 2017 was noted for its restoration efforts, drawing from materials once considered lost. com reported on the upcoming readings as an exclusive update on theater developments.

Industry readings like these serve as developmental workshops for potential future productions. They allow casts and creatives to test material in a private setting before broader audiences. No further details on potential full productions have been announced.

The involvement of Tony Award winner John Rando adds experience from his work on shows like Urinetown. Bebe Neuwirth, known for her Broadway roles, brings additional recognition to the event. These readings continue the legacy of preserving and presenting classic American musicals.