An interesting thing happened while watching The world premiere of THREE WOMEN at Theater for the New City
The vibrant, country-western musical that successfully imports a “Nashville” soul into New York’s East Village.
As the music began to cook, the band started jumping our hands started clapping in rhythm, my friend and I eagerly anticipated each original tune.
The all original songbook of this production is a raw exploration of fame, family, and the heavy toll of impulsive choices, presented as a slew of catchy and poignant songbook of future country music classics that may hopefully one day be recorded so we can learn the lyrics.
Narrative and Performance
The Conflict: This classic and familiar country western story centers on Billy (played by Zurkowski), a country star returning to Nashville after a grueling tour on the road. His “carefully constructed life” begins to unravel as long-buried secrets surface, forcing him to choose between three women: his steadfast wife Bonnie, the poised Lady, and the free-spirited Ruby.
Ensemble Cast: The cast includes Frog and Peach staple leading man DazMann Still as Billy’s brother Jake, and Elizabeth Ruf and Steve Taylor as Billy’s parents, contributing depth and humor to the family dynamics.
Standout castmembers Ted Zurkowski (Billy): Brings authenticity as a real-life frontman for the rock band Honey West. Gina Simone Pemberton (Bonnie): Fresh off an Audelco nomination, she anchors the production with emotional depth and a strong grace. Kaylyn Buehler (Lady) and Erica Cafarelli (Ruby) bring the essential “heartbreak and humor” that define the musical’s tension. Buehler, in particular, stood out as the most impressive singer, apart from the frontman Ted and Simone Pemberton’s soulfully executed Bonnie. Her noticeable flourish elevated her performance as Lady.
Live Score: The musical’s original score captures the grit of legends like Buck Owens, Waylon Jennings and Tammy Wynette. The onstage band featuring Denny McDermott (drums) and Paul Page (bass) provides a rip roaring explosive live energy that distinguishes this from typical musical theater.
Artistic Direction and Venue
As a Co-founder and The Artistic Director at Frog & Peach Theatre. Lynnea Benson’s recent directing credits include Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew, College Fun (at TNC), King Lear (starring Greg Mullavey), and Verbatim (starring Estelle Parsons).Under Lynnea Benson’s deft direction, the show balances intimate domestic drama with the high-stakes pressure of the music industry. I was pleasantly surprised how well this country Western meets the East Village musical concept was realized.
Dennis Parichy’s warm and intimate Lighting Design was perfectly suited for this production. Mr. Parichy has designed the lighting for nine Frog & Peach productions, the most recent being King Lear. In his sixty year career he has received three Tony nominations and an Obie award.
Venue Details: The production runs in the Johnson Theater at Theater for the New City, a legendary Off-Off-Broadway space known for its commitment to community-driven art. This venue is well known for its continued commitment to innovative and thought-provoking theater. This production of Three Women certainly is the latest example.
Bottom line:
THREE WOMEN, this country western musical, infuses the stage with a distinctive blend of “Nashville meets the East Village” energy. It effortlessly merges country heritage with New York’s vibrant spirit, presenting a diverse range of country tunes. From exhilarating anthems to soulful ballads, the music resonates with familiar tones and the authentic tradition of country music.
The familiar country music tale unfolds, exploring the consequences of poor choices, tarnished triumphs, and ultimately, hope. This enjoyable theater experience captivates both fans and newcomers. An original cast album would be welcome treat. While the performances were a bit uneven lyrically, the production effectively captured the intimate and explosive drama through its authentic country western style that I highly recommend.
Ticketing: Performances are currently running through May 3, 2026. General admission tickets are $20.00, with discounted rates of $15.00 for students and seniors.
all art – Theater for the New City
