The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Hosts its Winter Showcase

The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Winter Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the Media Room of BMI's New York office at 320 West 57th Street on Thursday, February 11 at 5:30PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 830-8360.

The Smoker, now in its twelfth season, is modeled after informal social gatherings at Cambridge University where the Workshop's two time Tony® Award winning and 2010 Oscar® nominated writer Maury Yeston performed his songs during his undergraduate days. Previous smoker participants include Best Musical Tony® Award winners Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx (Avenue Q), Nancy Ford and Gretchen Cryer (I'm Getting My Act Together...), Eric Rockwell and Joann Bogart (The Musical of Musicals, The Musical) Amanda Green and Tom Kitt (High Fidelity). and Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal).

Recent and upcoming productions of musicals developed in the Workshop include Wanda's World by Beth Falcone & Eric H Weinberger at AMAS, preparing for a Broadway run directed by Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Calvin Berger by Barry Wyner, directed by Kathleen Marshall at George Street Playhouse, New Brunswick, NJ, Giant by Michael John LaChiusa, Signature Theatre, Arlington, Virginia, The Story of My Life by Neil Bartram & Brian Hill, directed by Richard Maltby Jr. at Goodspeed's Norma Terris and on Broadway and See Rock City by Brad Alexander & Adam Mathais at Barrington Stage and workshopped in New York by The Transport Group.

Nine new musicals and eighteen BMI Workshop writers are represented:
"It's All Good" and "Miracle" come from The Dirty Hippie Jam Band Project, an original musical about a group of modern-day hippies who follow their favorite band around the country. Music is by Daniel Israel and lyrics by Phoebe Kreutz with Adam Mathias (See Rock City) and Kreutz sharing book-writing credit. Cast members Mick Bonde (Showchoir), Aaron Lavigne (RENT, National Co.) and Michael "Tuba" McKinsey (Oliver!, National Co.) reprise their roles fresh from an SRO reading at the Snapple Theater's Musical Mondays series.

Mary Liz McNamara, whose song "Bacon," won the 2004 MAC Award best special material, will perform "Shaweeta" from The Good Girl aided and abetted by bass player Ritt Henn. The new musical, with book by McNamara and Philadelphia playwright Arden Kass follows a 75 year old mother who dies and becomes a jazz singer in heaven as well as her daughter, who's left to take care of the mess. Composer/Lyricist Sean Hartley (Cupid and Psyche) will perform "The Ballad of Kyle O'Brien" from his original musical Snow, set in 1970's folk-hippie New York City.

Lyricist Greg Edwards, who has written several songs with Marvin Hamlisch, is represented with two songs. "Yale Has the Gays" written with composer Zak Sandler from their new revue, Gay Yale which the team will perform themselves. "My Fragile Girl" is from an adaptation of Sheridan's The Rivals with composer Jonathan Breit and will be performed by baritone Doug Williams, who recently sang at the Salle Pleyel in Paris.