New musicals hub New York Theatre Barn will present the first New York City presentation of musical excerpts from Drama Desk Award winning book writer Adam Mathias (See Rock City) and multi-award winning composer Jonathan Monro (Variations on a Nervous Breakdown) new musical A History Of Summer on Monday, June 10, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City as part of New York Theatre Barn's revolutionary new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge, executive produced by Laura Brandeland Jason Najjoum.
A History Of Summer, a new original musical, surveys the last century of summers of America's earliest established gay communities-Cherry Grove and the Fire Island Pines-and explores the residents' lives and loves, hopes and heartbreaks. From Fire Island's spark in popularity at the beginning of the 1900's, through the devastating Hurricane of 1938, through World War II, Post-war boom and police raid busts, joyous drag queen invasions and a horrific epidemic that threatened to end it all. Over the course of a century, a community-once in
The Shadows-finds its voice and takes its place in the sun.
Cast includes
Lisa Brescia (Mamma Mia!, Ordinary Days), Elizabeth Hagstedt (Sweeney Todd),
Elyssa Samsel,
J.D. Daw,
Leo Ash Evens (Jesus Christ Superstar),
Quinn VanAntwerp (Jersey Boys),
John Michael Dias (Jersey Boys),
Dustin Sullivan, and
Randy Redd (Million Dollar Quartet, Parade). Music direction is by Monro.
Presented alongside A History Of Summer are musical excerpts from Pooch, a new musical comedy by Scott Eyerly, sung by
Kevin Duda (The Book of Mormon), Natalie Charlé Ellis (
Forbidden Broadway), Greg Horton,
Todd Alan Johnson (Iron Curtain),
Christy Morton (The Addams Family), and
Jared Zirilli (Fat Camp, Lysistrata Jones). In Pooch, an out-of-work opera singer, a clueless C.E.O., and a dog, cross paths - as only they could in New York - in search of love, success - and Puccini. Pooch is directed by
Joe Barros, with music direction by
Mark Mitchell (The Mystery of Edwin Drood). The stage manager for both sets is
Mackenzie Meeks.
As a special treat,
Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar, who met and began their collaboration while on the 1st National Tour of the The Book of Mormon, are presenting two brand new songs that they wrote while on the road. Writing with a fusion of Pop, R&B and theatre, they are currently working on an EP concept album/song cycle entitled #LOvE, to be premiered in concert this coming August.
Now in its 6th year at the
Daryl Roth Theatre, NYTB in the D-Lounge provides a revolutionary community-based format for new work development different than any other program across the country, and one that is highly sought after by writers looking for an artistic home. Through NYTB in the Lounge, two sets of writers or writing teams showcase 35 minutes each of musical and/or book material from either a musical in development, or songs from their catalogue, to friends, industry professionals, and fans. The professional, but comfortingly casual lounge setting allows for an intimacy between artist and audience, and immediacy with feedback, that far eclipses anything that a standard reading environment can provide. With beer in hand, writers and their performers can expand their community with their performance as fodder for discussion. The results are electrifying: new creative partnerships are forged between writers, the writers and performers expand their communities and fan bases, and the future of musical theatre is discussed and developed in an open forum amongst musical theatre enthusiasts and practitioners alike. Since its inception, New York Theatre Barn has developed over 215 writers in more than 60 concerts throughNYTB in the D-Lounge - including
Adam Gwon,
Robert Waldman,
Peter Mills and many more. For more information, go to NYTheatreBarn.org.
Cover charge is $15 ($10 for students and BMI members). Doors open at 7:00 PM, show starts at 7:30 PM, in the D-Lounge, underground the
Daryl Roth Theatre (101 East 15th Street, just east of Union Square) on Monday May 13, 2013. Walk-ins only.
Adam Mathias (Book & Lyrics) won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical for See Rock City & Other Destinations (Off-Broadway 2010) for which he also wrote lyrics. The musical received the Richard Rogers Award, the
Jerry Bock Award and 5 additional Drama Desk nominations including outstanding musical and lyrics. Cast recording available on iTunes and Amazon. Adam also co-wrote the 2004 New York International Fringe Festival hit The Passion of
George W. Bush and created Hamlet: What Dreams May Come (Bakerloo Theatre Project.) He is a member of the BMI Workshop and graduate of NYU and DePaul Theatre School.
www.adamup.com
Jonathan Monro (Music) Born and raised in St. John's, Newfoundland, Jonathan made his professional debut as a classical pianist at Carnegie Recital Hall. As composer: over 20 original scores for theatre, and 6 original musicals, including Variations on a Nervous Breakdown (lyrics/music, 4 Betty Mitchell Awards), Dream Vacation (book, music, lyrics), and The Review (music/co-lyricist). As an actor: featured roles in over 70 productions for stage, TV, and film. He is the recipient of the Elliott Hayes Award, 4 Guthrie Awards, and BMI's Harrington Award for Outstanding Songwriting, and is a proud member of BMI's Advanced Musical Theatre Workshop. www.jonathanmonro.com
Scott Eyerly has won acclaim across a wide range of genres. From The House of the Seven Gables (praised by Opera News for its "maximum drama and melodically memorable set pieces") to Missa Brevis No. 2 (called by Choral Journal "a study in beauty and simplicity"), Eyerly brings to all his works a direct, American lyricism. Recently, Eyerly wrote the words and music for Arlington Sons, a concert scene for opera/Broadway baritone
David Pittsinger and his son Richard (premiere, Pittsburgh Symphony conducted by
Leonard Slatkin, October 2012). Next year, opera star Jennifer Larmore will perform the world premiere of Creatures Great and Small, a song cycle of poetry about animals, commissioned for Ms. Larmore and the string ensemble OpusFive.
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