CAP21 Theatre Company Announces 20th Anniversary Season

As The CAP21 Theatre Company celebrates its 20th Anniversary, Executive Artistic Director, Frank Ventura and Artistic Director, Eliza Ventura have announced CAP21's 2013 momentous "20th Anniversary Season". In honor of the milestone anniversary, CAP21 promises to support the development of at least 20 new musicals in the coming year through various programming that the Theatre Company offers.

The 20th Anniversary Season will include four productions: Karen Mason: Unfinished Business, developed by Karen Mason and the CAP21 Theatre Company; If or When (Working Title), a co-production with Rescue Agreement, and Maiden Voyage by musical team Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen. In addition, CAP21 is proud to be an Associate Producer on Amandine, a new musical created by composer Lance Horne, playwright Winter Miller and director Josh Hecht, which will open in January at The Cherry Lane Theatre. All four productions are being produced through CAP21 programs and resources.

Additionally, CAP21 will kick off the New Year with The CAP21 Writers Residency from January 7-18, 2013. This year, seven women and eight men have been selected from both the U.S. and abroad to develop new material. All selected writers possess distinct artistic talent and have already demonstrated their commitment to the arts. Writers this year include Wayne Barker (Tony Award Nominee, Drama Desk Award Winner, Peter and the Starcatcher), Ryan Scott Oliver (Jonathan Larson Grant, Richard Rodgers Award, Lucile Lortel Award nominee, Dramatists Guild Fellow, ASCAP Award), Adam Overett (Jonathan Larson Fellow at the Dramatist Guild, Lucile Lortel Award nominee), among others. Writers will be provided a studio, piano, and also guidance on their work from the Artistic Director.

The CAP21 Theatre Company's extensive programming for new musical development is designed to propel new work towards production. Programs include: The Writers Residency, The Artists Residency, The Roundtable Reading Series, The Monday Night Reading Series, and the Off-Off Broadway production of new plays and musicals. Last year, these programs further developed 28 new works, including the award-winning production of Southern Comfort, which earned CAP21 the GLAAD Award for Outstanding New York Theater. Additionally, numerous new works developed with The CAP21 Theatre Company have moved on to subsequent productions and workshops around the U.S. and three new musicals produced at CAP21 have been awarded the Jonathan Larson Grant Award.

Also celebrating their 20th Anniversary is The CAP21 Conservatory. The Conservatory is proudly one of the America's top musical theatre training programs and currently has over 100 alums that have performed on Broadway. Hundreds more have performed Off-Broadway, in national tours, and in film and television. Notable Alums include Lady Gaga (Grammy Winner), Matthew Morrison (Emmy Nominee, Tony Nominee, Glee, South Pacific), Nikki M. James (Tony Winner, The Book of Mormon), Cristin Milioti (Tony Nominee, Once), Bobby Steggart (Tony Nominee, Ragtime), and Adam Jacobs (The Lion King).

For additional information on The CAP21 Theatre Company, please go to www.CAP21.org.