Souvenir

The York Theatre Company, in association with Ted Snowdon, presents the world premiere of Souvenir, a play with music starring Tony Award-winner Judy Kaye and noted Broadway conductor Jack Lee. Written by Stephen Temperley and directed by Tony Award-winner Vivian Matalon, Souvenir is based on the story of the legendary Florence Foster Jenkins, the musically challenged coloratura, and her relationship with her hapless accompanist, Cosmé McMoon.

Florence Foster Jenkins, a wealthy society eccentric, suffered under the delusion that she was a great soprano–when in fact the exact opposite was true. Nevertheless, her charity recitals in the ballroom of the Ritz Carlton Hotel and other New York venues brought her extraordinary fame. As news of her unfortunate singing spread, so did her celebrity. Audiences fought to get into her recitals; Mrs. Jenkins blissfully mistook their muffled laughter for cheers. One concert at Carnegie Hall in the mid ’40s sold out in two hours and 2000 disappointed people were turned away. Souvenir, by turn hilarious and poignant, tells her story through the eyes of Cosmé McMoon. As her accompanist, he begins by treating her with derision which grows into friendship as he comes to see that this musical eccentric merits more than mere mockery.

There is no performance on Friday, Dec. 24.