NAMT Report: Sarah Stiles, Brynn O'Malley in Rebellious Apocalyptic Rock Musical, ON THE EVE

BroadwayWorld's Michael Dale reports on seven musicals being presented in 45 minute readings at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Annual Festival of New Musicals. These musicals are being presented before an audience of over 600 industry professionals and are in different stages of development, not to be reviewed. For more information on all of the musicals, visit namt.org.

ON THE EVE

Music & Lyrics by Shawn Magill & Seth Magill
Book by Michael Federico
Story by Michael Federico, Shawn Magill & Seth Magill

ON THE EVE takes place in a world of impending apocalyptic doom where theatre ignites the flame of revolution.

An underground theatre company in a totalitarian future has been performing the same show about Marie Antoinette and the birth of hot-air ballooning every night for years, often while bombs explode on the ground above them.

The play began as a story of revolution, but as narrated and directed by the dictatorial Talking Man (Eric Anderson) it has evolved into one that celebrates stereotypes and maintaining the status quo.

The 45 minute NAMT presentation gives a sampling of the characters involved, such as Sarah Stiles as a comically indulgent Marie Antoinette. Once sequence, not fully realized for the reading, of course, shows her and King Louis XVI (Eddie Cooper) having sex while the company throws cake and money at them.

Meanwhile, scientist Joseph (Will Connolly) is obsessed with discovering the secret of hot air ballooning, while inadvertently neglecting his wife (Brynn O'Malley) and their baby.

As the show is being performed there are some awkward moments and it becomes evident that some of the actors have begun staging a rebellion of their own, taking the story away from their oppressive leader.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre, founded in 1985, is a national service organization dedicated exclusively to musical theatre. Their mission is to advance musical theatre by nurturing the creation, development, production and presentation of new musicals, and to provide a forum for musical theatre professionals to share resources and exchange information. Our 200 members, located throughout 34 states and abroad, are some of the leading producers of musical theatre in the world and include theatres, presenting organizations, higher education programs and individual producers. Among the 228 musicals launched by NAMT's annual Festival of New Musicals are Thoroughly Modern Millie, Children of Eden, Honk!, The Drowsy Chaperone, It Shoulda Been You, Songs for a New World, I Love You Because, Striking 12, Vanities, Ordinary Days and many others, representing 420 writers.

NAMT's FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS is the cornerstone of NAMT's mission to nurture the creation, development and production of new musicals. The Festival highlights eight musicals in 45-minute presentations before an audience of over 600 industry professionals. In the short run, the Festival's goal is to connect producers with writers, so that their shows can continue their development trajectory. The long-term goal is to expand the musical theatre repertoire, bringing new musical theatre to thousands of audience members around the world.

The 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS is overseen by NAMT New Works Director and Festival Producing Director Branden Huldeen and Festival General Manager Lisa Dozier King.