Lock Up Your Puppies! Rachel York Stars as Evil Dog-Napper Cruella De Vil
Rachel York has gone to the dogs. That’s right! From October 2009 through June 2010 the usually canine-cuddling animal rights activist explores the dark side of puppy love when she stars as the world-famous, larger-than-life, dog-napping demon Cruella De Vil.
York, a Drama Desk Award winner for Victor/Victoria, plays the delightfully diva-ish, super-villainous, spotted fur monger Cruella in the national tour of The 101 Dalmatians Musical. With stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Miami, Atlanta, Washington, DC and the WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York, the 25-city tour launches on October 13 at the Orpheum Theatre in Minneapolis.
The 101 Dalmatians Musical is a brand new family entertainment based on the beloved 1957 novel by British author Dodie Smith. Not associated with the Disney movies or cartoons in any way, this production, like the novel, is told from the dogs’ point of view. Humans are presented on a heightened scale to make them seem grotesque and other-worldly when compared to the more “humane” Dalmatians and their other animal friends. According to York, “There is no limit to Cruella’s treachery – and yet, you can’t help but love her.”
Music and lyrics are by the legendary singer and composer Dennis DeYoung, former pianist and lead vocalist for the rock band STYX. In 2008 DeYoung won Chicago’s prestigious Jeff Award for his musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 
Book and lyrics are by B.T. McNicholl (Billy Elliot), with choreography by Warren Carlyle (A Tale of Two Cities). Director is the acclaimed Jerry Zaks, four-time Tony Award Winner for Guys and Dolls, Lend Me a Tenor, Six Degrees of Separation, and The House of Blue Leaves. Zaks was also Tony nominated for directing Smokey Joe’s Café and the Broadway revivals of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Anything Goes.
York is best known for her critically acclaimed Broadway performances in City of Angels, Les Misérables, Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award) with Dame Julie Andrews, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Sly Fox with Richard Dreyfuss, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels co-starring Jonathan Pryce. Most recently, she starred opposite Jeff Daniels in the world premiere of the Broadway-bound musical Turn of the Century at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago. She also turned heads on television with her courageous portrayal of Lucille Ball in the CBS movie, Lucy.
Additionally, York has starred in the national tour of Camelot (Carbonell Award) opposite Michael York; Putting It Together (Drama Desk nomination) also with Julie Andrews; the national and London tours of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of Kiss Me, Kate (Helen Hayes and IRNE nominations); Dessa Rose at the Lincoln Center Theater (Drama Desk nomination); Anything Goes (Ovation nomination); Hello, Dolly!; My One and Only; Ragtime; Evita; Summer of ’42; Summer and Smoke; Crucifer of Blood with Billy Crudup;
and The Odd Couple with Jason Alexander and Martin Short.
The creative team of The 101 Dalmatians Musical promises an exciting grand finale that features 15 real Dalmatians. Undoubtedly, by the time the pack of heroic pups finish with Cruella De Vil, Rachel York will be barking, “Who let the dogs out?”
Producers for The 101 Dalmatians Musical are Magic Arts & Entertainment/Tix Productions, Troika Entertainment, and Luis Alvarez. Name sponsor is Purina Dog Chow. For tickets and a complete tour schedule, visit The 101 Dalmatians Musical website. For more information on Rachel York, visit her official website at www.rachelyork.net.
