Ricky Ian Gordon’s Orpheus and Euridice Will Premiere at Lincoln Center in October

Orpheus and Euridice, a modern-day musical adaptation of the classic Greek myth by composer Ricky Ian Gordon, will open Lincoln Center’s 2005-2006 American Songbook season with performances on October 5, 7 and 8. The production, which also kicks off Lincoln Center’s New Visions series, will be choreographed and directed by Doug Varone.

Opera singer Elizabeth Futral and clarinettist Todd Palmer will play the title characters; the company also includes pianist Melvin Chen and the Doug Varone Dancers. Orpheus and Eurydice will feature set design by Allan Moyer, costume design by Jane Greenwood, and lighting design by Robert Wierzel.

Among Gordon’s theater credits are the musicals My Life with Albertine and Dream True. His song cycle of Langston Hughes’ poetry, Only Heaven, has been performed around the country, and his songs have been recorded by such notables as Audra McDonald, Betty Buckley, Kristin Chenoweth, and Renée Fleming.

Doug Varone is a choreographer of contemporary dance for the concert stage, opera, Broadway, regional theater, film, and television. His recent work includes a commission by W magazine to choreograph the photography of Michael Thompson (featured in the magazine’s February 2004 edition) and the Metropolitan Opera’s current production of Salome.

For more information, visit www.lincolncenter.org