Joshua Sherman Launches New Musical Web Series CHARMERS

By: Nov. 11, 2013
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Joshua Sherman presents Charmers, a new web series of short musical films with original music, lyrics and choreography for those obsessed with Movie Musicals and Broadway. Episodes are free to watch at JoshuaShermanPresents.com.

The first season of Charmers will feature four episodes, two of which are currently available online.

In "Curiosity" a librarian is taught a thing or two from a student. It features Ryan Kasprzak (assistant choreographer, "Smash", Billy Elliott), and Ryan VanDenBoom (Annie).

In "A Little Imagination," Ryan VanDenBoom plays a janitor who dreams his worries away.

Upcoming episodes include "We Talk Without Words," in which two wallflowers, Kelly Buck (High School Musical) and Ryan VanDenBoom, fall in love after the dance is long over. It will be released on Wednesday, November 13th.

Tony Award Winner Lillias White (Fela, The Life) will play the Christmas Loon, a new holiday character in "I Keep Christmas In My Pocket" beginning November 27th.

All episodes can be seen at no cost at JoshuaShermanPresents.com. Each "charmer" runs approximately four minutes.

The web series is co-directed by Joshua Sherman (Annie Get Your Gun) and Ryan VanDenBoom (Annie) who also choreographed. Gail C. Bluestone (Perfect Picture) composed the music and Emmy Award Winner Eileen Bluestone Sherman (The Odd Potato) wrote the lyrics. Sam Willmott (Fred Ebb Award winner) is the musical arranger and Antonio Panetta (Smash, NFL) is the cinematographer.

Sherman's mother, Eileen, and aunt, Gail, are the writers of the music in the series and Joshua is "keeping it in the family" with the collaboration. His mother wrote "The Odd Potato: The Broadway Album," which Joshua produced in 2005 and is currently available through Broadway Cares. The album features 20 Tony Award winners and was based on his grandfather's true-life story of growing up during the Depression.

"I have always loved old movie musicals and classic Broadway. These 'charmers' are the perfect way to meld that classic style with web technology," said Joshua Sherman. "I want to entertain and, ultimately, create a new musicAl Golden age for contemporary audiences."

The precursors to music videos were Soundies, first launched in the 1940's. Soundies were all the rage and they preserved early performances from some of the 20th century's greatest film stars before they were famous. Charmers updates the flavor of Soundies with simple, stylish, and witty musical performances.

Season Two of Charmers is currently in development.



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