The New York Musical Theatre Festival, a three week celebration of the musical theater, will premiere the musical “Bingo City” today. Shows will take place at 2 pm. and 4pm. at the Theatre Row’s Studio Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street.

The show will be performed in an abridged form, which will take less than an hour. Most of the songs will be left in the performance, but the story will be told through shortened snippets of dialog. The plot portrays the journey of a bingo-obsessed grandmother to a bingo competition across the country. With the help of a nun, several Elvis impersonators, a group of Hell’s Angels and other characters, she hopes to make it on time to the bingo game, in order to have the chance to win enough money to save the St. Francis Retirement Center. The musical is based on a story by Lance Sticksel.

The bingo-playing grandmother will played by Tony-nominee Anita Gillette (“Chapter Two,” “All American”). Her sidekick will be portrayed by Lea DeLaria, from “the Rocky Horror Picture Show” stage production. Former member of the Village People Randy Jones will play the role of a burnt out 70's one-hit-wonder pop/country star who uses his former fame to weasel himself a gig hosting the TV show where the grandmother tries to win 2 million dollars.

Other roles will be played by Michael Paternostro (the grandmother's good for nothing son), Marie-France Arcilla (Bingo Queen), and Harrison Chad (the grandchild).

For more information on the musical, the New York Musical Theatre Festival and ticket purchasing, visit http://www.nymf.org