“Down the Line,” a new drama by Julie Benko, will receive a pair of private industry presentations in New York City. Brandon J. Dirden will direct the performances, scheduled for March 27 and 28 at Open Jar Studios. Benko will also be featured in the cast of the play with music, which will include classic songs of the New Orleans repertoire.
The presentations are being produced by Michael Patrick Productions, a co-producer on “Harmony,” in which Benko was a part of the cast. Michael Patrick Productions is currently represented on Broadway by “Maybe Happy Ending.”
Set in the vibrant, controversial world of New Orleans’ legal red-light district known as Storyville, “Down the Line” follows a formidable madame with aspirations to secure her daughter’s future as Queen of Carnival while her daughter harbors dreams of her own.
Joining Benko in the cast will be Tony Award winner J. Harrison Ghee, along with Crystal Dickinson, Emma Duncan, Florencia Lozano, Michael Mastro and Lily Santiago. Casting for the presentations is by Geoff Josselson Casting.
Benko is most known for her work as an actor, most recently in the aforementioned “Harmony.” Previously, she appeared as Fanny Brice in “Funny Girl” and took on multiple roles in revivals of “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Les Misérables.”
Dirden is also primarily recognized as an actor. His extensive list of Broadway credits include turns as Davey Battle in “Take Me Out,” Reggie in “Skeleton Crew,” Booster in “Jitney,” Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in “All the Way” and Albert/Kevin in “Clybourne Park.”
The presentations of “Down the Line” will feature musical direction by Jason Yeager, dramaturgy by James Montaño and general management by Mix and Match Productions.
