The new musical, presented by Jayson Raitt, Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary, in association with Gary Blumsack, will officially open on May 11 and run through June 17. The production stars Craig A. Curtis as Greg, Joshua Finkel as Jacob, Lesli Margherita as Lindsey, Amy Rutberg as Amanda, Shannon Stoeke as Sheldon and Ward as Joel Parson Wolfe.

Sarah Gurfield (assistant director of Bat Boy The Musical) directs this comic satire of five dead Broadway actors attempting to gain admittance into Musical Theatre Heaven by performing an "afterlife revue" of the disastrous flop musicals that condemned them to the musical theatre purgatory known as the Grave White Way.

Each evening will feature a performance by a special celebrity guest, who will help to plead the actors' case to God. The celebrity guest-list includes: Rene Auberjonois, Kristin Chenoweth, Loretta Devine, Davis Gaines, Jason Graae, Harry Groener, Ken Page, Amy Pietz, Stephen Schwartz, Yeardley Smith, Kevin Spirtas and Lillias White. John Raitt will appear opening night. Others will be announced at a later date.

The creative team for The Grave White Way includes choreographer Kay Cole (Reprise's Sweeney Todd); scenic designer Gary Wissmann (Pasadena Playhouse's The Old Settler); costume designer Jeannine Campi; lighting designer Michael Zinman (Pasadena Playhouse's Visiting Mr. Green); and sound designer Jon Massena (Reefer Madness).

Kay Cole (choreography and musical staging) has worked on Sweeney Todd, Lullaby of Broadway and many other productions, at venues including the Falcon Theatre and Tiffany Theatre, the Manhattan Theatre Club and at London's West End.

Craig Curtis (Greg) was last seen in Larry Dean Harris' Like an Old Song at the Hudson. He has appeared in various musicals and theaters throughout the United States and Europe, including the Buffalo Opera. On TV, he's had recurring roles on "General Hospital" and "Port Charles."

Joshua Finkel (Jacob) has appeared on Broadway in Kiss of the Spider Woman with Chita Rivera and Vanessa Williams. In L.A, he played Thenardier in Les Miserables at the Shubert. Films include The Kid, opposite Bruce Willis.

Sarah Gurfield (director) has assistant directed Bat Boy The Musical, currently running Off-Broadway at The Union Square Theatre. She has also worked at the Lincoln Center Theatre.

Lesli Margherita (Lindsey) was last seen at the Hudson in the cast of the smash hit Reefer Madness!. She starred on TV in "Fame L.A." and has appeared on "The King of Queens" and "Chicago Hope."

Jayson Raitt (producer) is the producing associate at the Pasadena Playhouse, where he manages the artistic and production administration. He has produced concerts with John Raitt, Maureen McGovern, Amanda McBroom, Betty Garrett and others.

Amy Rutberg (Amanda) won the 1999 first place Carol Burnett Musical Theatre Award. In New York, she worked with Jerry Zaks, Charles Strouse and others. She has played in 30 L.A. productions. TV credits include "Pacific Blue."

Shannon Stoeke (Sheldon) performed the role of the courier in the Houston Theatre Under the Stars production of 1776. Shannon's favorite roles include the Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie at Stella Adler and Tom Sawyer in Big River at the Papermill Playhouse.

Joe Patrick Ward (book, music and lyrics) wrote both music and lyrics for the hit Off-Broadway musical, Hysterical Blindness and Other Southern Tragedies at the Soho Playhouse. Ward has written music for L.A. stage shows and for several new films in development at Warner Bros.

Michael Weiner (producer) is a producer, composer, and an actor. Film credits include Man of the Century and Mr. Saturday Night. TV: "The Wonder Years" and "Beverly Hills, 90210." On stage, he was in the Interact Theatre Company's production of Into the Woods.

Alan Zachary (producer) is a composer/lyricist who has written songs for Universal Studios' The Little Engine that Could and for Sony Wonder and Walt Disney TV Animation. {:-)-:}