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Desperate Measures Opens at New World Stages

The Drama Desk Award-winning musical returns after a successful run at York Theatre Company.

Jason Zednick
Off-Broadway
The company of Desperate Measures celebrates opening night at New World Stages.
The company of Desperate Measures celebrates opening night at New World Stages.
(© Maryann Lopinto)

Desperate Measures, the 2018 Drama Desk winner for Outstanding Music and Lyrics and the Outer Critics Circle Award winner for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, opened on Thursday, June 14, at New World Stages.

With book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg and music by David Friedman, the musical premiered on October 1, 2017, at the York Theatre
Company and ran through December 31. Bill Castellino directs and choreographs, with David Hancock Turner serving as musical director.

Sarah Parnicky and Peter Saide take their bows during curtain call for Desperate Measures.
Sarah Parnicky and Peter Saide take their bows during curtain call for Desperate Measures.
(© Maryann Lopinto)

Lauren Molina, Conor Ryan, Gary Marachek, Peter Saide, and Nick Wyman reprise their roles from the original York production. Sarah Parnicky completes the company.

Desperate Measures tells the story of Johnny Blood, a handsome young man whose life is in danger over a saloon brawl. Johnny must put his fate into the hands of a colorful cast of characters including a wily sheriff, an eccentric priest, an authoritarian governor, a saloon girl gone good, and a nun out of the habit, as they all struggle to decide Johnny's fate. It is inspired by Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.