Clark, Yazbek, Bolger, Oscar and More Participate in NYMF Seminar Series

Victoria Clark, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Brad Oscar, Eugene Lee, Marsha Norman, DAVID LINDSAY-ABAIRE, LUCY SIMON AND David Yazbek AMONG PARTICIPANTS IN NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL'S STAR-STUDDED SEMINAR SERIES.

From September 15- 29, leading writers, actors, designers and producers will gather at the New York Musical Theatre Festival to probe, dissect, explore and debate the demanding and glorious and demanding art of making musicals.

The seminar series, put together by NYMF Associate Producers Miranda Lundskaer-Nielsen and Marie Reynolds, is intended to create a forum for artists and audiences to meet and discuss the topical issues facing musical theatre today. "One of the most exciting things about doing musical theatre in New York is the great concentration of world class talent," says Lundskaer-Nielsen. "And yet there are limited opportunities for these people to get together in a public forum to discuss their work. The NYMF seminar series brings together people who might not normally sit in the same room. This is a chance for artists to come together and learn from each other and it also allows an exchange between the two groups of people who are the lifeblood of the theatre – the creators and the audiences."

The series kicks off on Thursday 15 September with two panels sponsored by the ASCAP Foundation Irving Caesar Fund on the intersection of musical theatre with different musical styles.

At noon, NYMF partners with the American Theatre Wing's monthly seminar series for "POP MUSIC AND THE NEW MUSICAL" that explores the differences between pop music and musical theatre with writers Stephen Bray, Brenda Russell and Allee Willis (The Color Purple), Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood, The Picture of Dorian Gray), Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden) and David Yazbek (The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels). The panel is moderated by Thomas Cott, former Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Works, and takes place at CUNY Graduate Center. Tickets are $10 and must be pre-booked at (212) 817-8215.

At 6.30, the Virgin Megastore Union Square hosts a demonstration panel on "MUSICAL THEATRE MEETS COUNTRY" featuring the writers of Festival sell-out The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde (Michael Aman, Oscar E. Moore and Dana P. Rowe) with live performances by the show's star, acclaimed country singer and actress Sherrie Austin. The panel is moderated by Michael Bush, Director of Artistic Development at Manhattan Theatre Club. FREE.

On Wednesday 21 September at 6pm, "BEYOND THE SEQUINS: Visualizing the Musical" invites Scenic, Costume and Lighting Designers to discuss their special contributions to the aesthetics of the musical. Panelists include lighting designer Don Holder (Lion King, All Shook Up, La Cage Aux Folles), scenic designer Eugene Lee (Wicked, Seussical, Ragtime) and costume designer Marty Pakledinaz (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Wonderful Town). The panel will be moderated by Leonard Jacobs, Associate Editor of Backstage and takes place at the Theatre at St. Clements (423 West 46th Street.) FREE.

On Thursday 22 September at 6.30 pm, NYMF partners with New Dramatists for "PEN AND SWILL: The Art of Writing Musicals" where respected playwrights-turned-musical-theatre-writers reveal the challenges of writing the book for a musical, giving insights into the process. Panelists include Rinne Groff (Orange Lemon Egg Canary, The Ruby Sunrise, You Never Know), David Lindsay-Abaire (Fuddy Meers, Kimberley Akimbo, Wonder of the World, High Fidelity) and Marsha Norman ('Night Mother, The Secret Garden, The Red Shoes). The panel is moderated by playwright and librettist Karen Hartman. New Dramatists. 424 West 44th Street. FREE.

On Wednesday 28 September at 6pm "SHOWCASING YOUR MUSICAL" offers a unique opportunity to learn about the opportunities for developing and showcasing new work – from choosing venues to finding an audience, raising money, stretching your budget, gaining press attention and building industry buzz. Panelists include producers Sharon Fallon (Like You Like It, NERDS), Seth Goldstein (General Manager and Producer, Splinter Group Productions), Robyn Goodman (A Class Act, Metamorphoses) and Jeffrey Richards (Great American trailer Park Musical). Moderated by Peter Filichia, Theatre critic and journalist. Theatre at St. Clements. 423 West 46th Street. FREE.

On Thursday 29 September at 5pm, "CHARACTER BUILDING: Actors as Collaborators" discusses the contribution of the actor in developing new work. Panelists include Victoria Clark (Light in the Piazza), Celia Keenan-Bolger (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Brad Oscar (The Producers). Moderated by Thomas Cott, former Artistic Director of Musical Theatre Works. Theatre at St. Clements. 423 West 46th Street. FREE.

On September 29 at 6 pm, the BMI MASTER CLASS invites a prominent musical theatre writer to serve as master teachers for two new musicals in development. Past Masters have included Stephen Sondheim, Sheldon Harnick , John Kander, Thomas Meehan, Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Terrence McNally. 320 West 57th Street, 3rd Floor. NOTE! NYMF members, Platinum and Gold Passholders only. Reservations required.

For more information on these seminars and on the New York Musical Theatre Festival, visit the Festival website at www.nymf.org.

Dedicated to discovering new work and new artists, The New York Musical Theatre Festival celebrates the diversity, creativity, and future of musical theatre. NYMF is a flagship program of the National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and is America's largest annual musical theatre event. NYMF is produced in association with Cadillac and Virgin Megastores and proudly supported by amNewYork, Village Voice, WB11, Receptasign, King Displays, WNYC, Reuters Financial, Niaterra, Rosco Lighting, Scharff Weisberg, Dodger Stages, TheaterMania.com, BroadwayWorld.com, Broadway.com, KPMG LLC, Izze, Manhattan Living, HX, Zero In Media, Panasonic Astrovision, Next, BroadwayBox.com, HotNYCdeals.com and TheMenEvent.com. For more information, visit www.nymf.org.

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