New Repertory Theatre Kicks off Season With 'Guttenberg! The Musical'

New Repertory Theatre is pleased to be kicking off its third season of Downstage @ New Rep, Up Close, On The Edge, in the Black Box Theater with Scott Brown and Anthony King’s zany production of Gutenberg! The Musical.  Downstage @ New Rep will continue to present programming that is new, edgy, and controversial to audiences eager for a thought-provoking theatrical experience.  Gutenberg! The Musical opens for the press on Sunday, October 5, 2008 at 3:00pm and plays through October 26, 2008 at the Arsenal Center for the Arts in the Black Box Theater.

“Downstage @ New Rep is a wonderful way for us to reach a younger audience” says Rick Lombardo, Producing Artistic Director. “This hilarious musical will help us continue to attract and retain a more diverse audience to the New Rep family.”

Gutenberg! The Musical will be directed and choreographed by Stephen Nachamie, who directed last season’s Downstage @ New Rep hit tick, tick… BOOM! Todd C. Gordon is another New Rep returning favorite and will be the musical director.

Bud and Doug have written the next great American musical, or at least they think they have. When the opportunity to audition for financial backers comes up, the two men, excited by the possibility of a Broadway run, earnestly and hilariously perform all the songs and play all the parts in their ridiculous, historical epic, based on the inventors of the printing press. One bright idea, two men with gumption, and lots of hats make for one of the silliest musicals you’ll see this year.

New Repertory Theatre presents provocative and intelligent works of both established and emerging playwrights in an intimate setting that involves and engages the audience.  New Rep has earned a reputation for dynamic productions that honor the writers and feature talented professional actors from the New England theatre community as well as guest artists from around the U.S.  New Rep has received Elliot Norton Awards and IRNE Awards for outstanding acting, scenic design, direction, and production.  Programming for New Repertory Theatre is supported in part by a grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

The Artists

Stephen Nachamie (director and choreographer) returns to New Rep after last season's tick, tick…BOOM!  New York: Into the Woods (Cap21/NYU); Torch Song Trilogy (starring Sirius Radios' Seth Rudetsky); Faraway Bayou (in development); and Like You Like It! (NAMT, Choreographer- NYMF).  Assistant Director: Broadway Concerts of Funny Girl (with Peter Gallagher and Whoopi Goldberg) and Chess (starring Josh Groban).  Regional: 1776 (Olney Theatre Center); Dreamgirls (WV Public Theatre); The King and I (Gretna Theatre); Italian American Reconcilliation and Hank Williams:  Lost Highway (Depot Theatre); The Fantasticks (Emelin Theatre); Miss Saigon and The Full Monty (Maine State); Driving Miss Daisy, The Sunshine Boys, and Urinetown (Barnstormers Theatre); Grease (Granbury Opera House and Courtyard Playhouse, TX);  Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Hedwig (Capital Playhouse); Joseph… and Jesus Christ Superstar (WV Public Theatre); Cabaret (TriArts); Chicago (Seacoast Rep); A Chorus Line (Two National Tours and Several Regional Productions); West Side Story (Italian Tour, NC Theatre, Gateway Playhouse); …Charlie Brown (Emelin and Cherry County Playhouse); Beehive, and The World Goes ‘Round (Seven Angels Theatre); Tommy and Evita (Pittsburgh Musical Theatre, Gateway Playhouse); as well as many industrials and new works in development.

Austin Ku (Bud) makes his New Rep debut.  Mr. Ku was last seen in Adrift in Macao at The Lyric Stage as “Tempura” opposite Brendan McNab’s “Rick Shaw.”  New England area credits include: soloing this summer with both the Boston Pops Orchestra (Bernstein Tribute) and the Great Waters Pops Orchestra (Best of Broadway, Jazz and Hollywood); performances with the NorthEast Shakespeare Ensemble (Much Ado About Nothing); and the Lenape Regional Performing Arts Center (Miss Saigon).  Mr. Ku has extensive performing experience from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Brendan McNab (Doug) lives outside of Boston, where he recently performed as Rick Shaw in Adrift in Macao at The Lyric Stage Company and before that as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady at Fiddlehead Theater.  Other credits include: Side by Side by Sondheim (New Rep); Leo Frank in Parade and Valentin in Kiss of the Spider Woman (SpeakEasy); See What I Wanna See and 1776 (Lyric Stage); Pal Joey (Stoneham Theatre); A Grand Night for Singing (Gloucester Stage); and The Underpants (Foothills). He has also been a featured soloist with the Boston Pops and is the recipient of the IRNE Award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Todd C. Gordon (music direction) Having served as Music Director for New Rep's Dessa Rose, Side by Side by Sondheim, The Wild Party (IRNE nominee, Best Music Direction), Ragtime (IRNE Award, Best Music Direction), Into the Woods (IRNE Award, Best Music Direction), The Threepenny Opera (IRNE Nominee, Best Music Direction), and music supervisor for According to Tip, Todd is thrilled to be working with the score of Gutenberg! The Musical.  He was seen as the onstage pianist for New Rep's Bill W. and Dr. Bob and has worked in the New England area on productions for Lyric Stage, Publick Theatre, Charles Playhouse, Gloucester Stage, Stuart Street Playhouse/Second Stage, Stoneham Theatre, and Emerson Stage.

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