New York Theatre Barn's New Works Series to Pre-Premiere RUTH MAIER

The 8th season of New York Theatre Barn's New Works Series continues November 30, 2015 at the Daryl Roth Theatre with Pre-Premieres of three new musicals: Ruth Maier, #Mars, and Leech. There will also be a sneak peek from the new musical For Tonight.

Written by Norwegian-based writers Gisle Kverndokk and Aksel-Otto Bull, Ruth Maier explores the untold story of a Jewish refugee who fled to Norway during the holocaust. Known as "Norway's Anne Frank", Maier wrote a diary that had for years been in the possession of her female lover, one of Norway's most influential modernist poets Gunvor Hofmo. The diary was finally published in 2007 (65 years after Ruth's death). Ruth Maier will be translated into English from its original Norwegian text specifically for this presentation. The presentation will be directed by Joe Barros (Gigi, Beaches), with musical direction by Christopher Zander, and features Sean Doherty (The Lightning Thief), Michael Enright, Cecilia Eve, Kelly McIntyre, Carly Ozard, Melissa WolfKlain, and Catherine Maliha is the stage manager.

In #Mars, which has music by Willem Oosthuysen and book/lyrics by Laura Kleinbaum, the future is now and CBS has conducted a worldwide search for qualified Americans to man the first ever mission to Mars. Tune in as an orthopedic surgeon from Long Island, a fabulous philanthropist, a girl next door type, a retired mathematician in a wheelchair, and some other kid take human kind's next giant leap. The presentation features Christiana Cole, Grace Sperry Gardner, Aaron Phillips, Arri Simon, Ambe Williams, and Jared Young.

Leech, by Kelly McIntyre, is a new rock musical that explores love, family, drug addiction, and recovery from the perspective of the addicted. Emma and Adrian are living their lives out of control until Emma suddenly finds herself pregnant. Is it the needle they need most, or each other? The presentation features Drew Arisco, Ciara Curran, and Monet Sabel.

A special addition to the evening will include a selection from the new musical For Tonight, written by Whitney Rhodes, Shenelle Williams, and Spencer Williams. The new musical has been featured at Goodspeed Musicals, NYMF, TheatreFest (Isle of Man), and Michigan State University's imaGen program, with director Joe Barros and musical director Drew Wutke at the helm. Performing "Our Little Secret" from For Tonight will be Kelly McIntyre and Krista Pioppi (Lazarus).

The core of Theatre Barn's new work development process, the New Works Series, showcases three new musicals monthly to both a live and virtual audience. Since the series' inception, the company has presented over 350 writers in more than 80 concerts, and has amassed a catalogue of more than 750 videos and more than 600,000 views on our YouTube channel. The New Works Series is produced by Laura Brandel and Mackenzie Meeks serves as Producing Coordinator.

The Daryl Roth Theatre is located at 101 East 15th St. in New York City, and the presentations are held in the D-Lounge (basement level). Showtime is 7:30pm, and tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance through OvationTix: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/10054902.

Under the direction of Artistic Director Joe Barros, New York Theatre Barn (Theatre Barn) is a Manhattan based non-profit theatre company founded in 2007 and dedicated to incubating and producing new musicals that tell untold stories. The company positioned to develop, promote, and preserve stories and perspectives that are challenging, alternative, and are not traditionally told through the evolving art form of musical theatre. For more information visit: www.nytheatrebarn.org.