Pace New Musicals Will Present World Premiere Reading of Larry Gatlin's QUANAH

Pace University's Pace New Musicals Program, now in it's fourth year, is a workshop initiative that offers students the invaluable opportunity take part in the developmental process of new material with up-and coming writers. In the past few months, the program received 47 submissions for consideration, out of which one new work was selected to be developed by Pace.
This year, Pace New Musicals proudly presents the world premiere reading of Quanah, a new musical with music and lyrics by Larry Gatlin and story by Larry Gatlin, book by Anthony Dodge, and dramaturgy by Marcia Milgrom Dodge.

The Pace Musical Theater Program, a part of the Performing Arts Department at Pace University, began with six majors in 2002, and has grown to 100 majors in just six years. In 2006, Pace became only the second school in New York City to offer a BFA in Musical Theater.

The Pace New Musicals Program was developed in 2007 to nurture the creation of new musical theater in New York City, while at the same time providing an invaluable educational opportunity for students to work directly with top professionals in the field. Perhaps most importantly, the program allows students to experiment with new, untested works without precedent-setting productions, a rare opportunity in theater education.

Past works in the Pace New Musicals Program include a staged a workshop of Mark Waldrop and Brad Ross' musical, Luck!, College: The Musical, which was subsequently selected for a production with the New York Musical Theatre Festival where the authors, Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola, won the NYMF award for Excellence In Writing (Lyrics), and Ryan Scott Oliver's and B.T. Ryback's Darling.

Quanah is a musical journey of Quanah Parker and his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker, who was kidnapped as a girl and raised by the Comanche as one of their own. Its about Christians, Savages and Texas Rangers; killing and heartbreak and heroes; and how Quanah came to lead his people from the wilderness to The White Man's Road.

Directed by the head of the Musical Theater program, Amy Rogers, with music direction by Robert Meffe, the program's resident musical director, the workshop will feature 20 of Pace's BFA musical theater students.

Quanah will be presented at Pace University's Schaeberle Studio, 41 Park Row, 10th Floor from January 19-24, 2010.

LARRY GATLIN (Story, Music and Lyrics) was born in 1948 in Seminole, Texas, the son of an oil driller. The oldest of the three Gatlin brothers, he was by age seven, already accompanying younger brothers, Steve and Rudy in singing at family and church events. After high school, Larry went to the University of Houston on a football scholarship. Larry majored in English and developed "a love affair with the English Language" that later served him in his songwriting. On the strength of his songwriting talents, Larry Gatlin became known throughout Nashville music Industry. While Steve and Rudy were finishing college, Larry was already touring the small club and listening room circuit as a solo act, looking forward to the time when he could afford to expand his live show to include his brothers. December 1992 marked a farewell to concert touring for the Gatlin brothers. Then came a major turning point in his career. Larry took the lead role in the Tony award winning best musical "The Will Rogers Follies." The Gatlin Brothers continue to tour the country with the release of their new album Pilgrimage. Larry is a family man, who shares with his wife Janis, a home in Austin, Texas. They are the proud parents of two children, Josh and Kristin. Josh lives in Nashville and serves as Larry's Manager and Kristin lives in Austin with her husband Scott who is on the coaching staff at THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS...HOOK ‘EM HORNS! Larry is also a "Papa" - Kristin's daughters, Parker and Campbell.

Their first play, Sherlock Holmes & The West End Horror, premiered at the Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, NY and has been produced several times in regional theatres around the country. It received a 2002 Edgar Award nomination and is published by Smith & Kraus in New Playwrights/Best New Plays of 2002 and is available for licensing through Playscripts, Inc. Tony is also an actor and a member of the Dramatist's Guild and Marcia is a longtime member of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. Their first show with Larry Gatlin, Look Homeward Honky Tonk Angel, premiered at Lyric Stage in Texas in 2007. The Dodge's newest plays are Venus Flytrap-A Femme Noir Mystery and Free Burt Lancaster. Married for over 29 years - and they said it would never last! - Marcia and Tony are the proud parents of their sweet Natasha, who attends public school in Manhattan. When not writing, Tony happily spoils Natasha while Marcia continues her busy directing and choreographing career. For more, visit: http://www.marciamilgromdodge.com
AMY ROGERS (Director) is a tenured associate professor of musical theatre at Pace University where she created the BFA Musical Theatre degree program. Originally from Canada, Amy holds a degree in musical theatre from Arizona State University, and an MFA from San Diego State University. NYC directing credits include: Darling, City of Angels, Carousel, College: The Musical, Ragtime, The Wild Party (Lippa), Little Women and Violet. Amy has assisted director Lonny Price on Can-Can and Kismet at Encores at City Center, Candide with the New York Philharmonic and the Emmy Award winning Passion for Live at Lincoln Center.

ROBERT MEFFE (Music Director) is a professional music director, pianist, orchestrator, and vocal coach. On Broadway he was the Associate Conductor of Little Women as well as Les Miserables for the last six years of its run. Off-Broadway: Violet, The Prince and the Pauper, and Gutenberg! The Musical!. He was the Music Director for the National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera and has played keyboards for Mamma Mia, Hairspray, Avenue Q, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Grey Gardens, and Bombay Dreams. Mr. Meffe is the Director of Music for the Musical Theater Program at Pace University.

For more information or reservations: pacenewmusicals@gmail.com or (212) 346-1352.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.