Prospect Theater Company to Host IGNITE 2015-16 Concert Series at The Times Center

Prospect Theater Company will present its IGNITE Series, a year-long line-up of concert events at The Times Center (242 W 41st Street), featuring today's new voices shaping the future of musical theater, from September through June.

The season kicks off on September 12 at 8pm with a concert of works by Fred Ebb Award Winners Jeff Blumenkrantz, Marcy Heisler & Zina Goldrich, Michael Kooman & Christopher Dimond, Peter Mills, and Sam Wilmott.

On November 21, the series continues with a concert of works by Fred Ebb Award Winners John Bucchino, Doug Cohen, Adam Gwon, Steven Lutvak & Robert L. Freedman, and Nathan Tysen & Chris Miller.

On December 18-19, Prospect Theater will present a concert staging of Evergreen, an original (one act, 80-minute) holiday 'family audiences' musical by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel, that follows a headstrong girl on a fantastic adventure to find the Earth's last living evergreens. Evergreen will be given 3 performances on Friday, December 18 at 7pm and Saturday, December 19 at 2pm & 6pm.

"Prospect is excited to embark on the IGNITE Series, which will allow us to showcase exciting new work at a high profile venue in the heart of Times Square," said Producing Artistic Director Cara Reichel. "The accessible and stunning Times Center will allow Prospect to expand our programming in an ongoing and consistent location, build new audiences for emerging artists' work, and continue to pursue our core mission of creating the future of the American musical."

Launched in 2015, Prospect's IGNITE Series is an ongoing concert initiative at The Times Center, featuring today's new voices shaping tomorrow's musical theater. Reflecting Prospect's dedication to fostering and producing work by emerging artists, IGNITE Series programming will include premieres of original material by award-winning songwriters; cutting-edge creations straight from Prospect's annual Musical Theater Lab; concert presentations of musicals in development; debuts of commissioned work targeted to teen audiences, performed by the participants in Prospect's Summer Intensive training program; and more.

Performers for the series TBA. Additional events from Jan - June 2016 will be announced shortly.

The Times Center (www.TheTimesCenter.com) is located at 242 West 41st Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, in the heart of NYC's Times Square District. The venue features a 378-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting, sound, and video capability, and a Steinway Concert Grand Piano.

Single tickets to IGNITE Series concerts are $35, $25 and $15, and may be obtained through online purchase atwww.ProspectTheater.org or by calling 212-352-3101. Tickets may also be purchased at the door.

The Fred Ebb Award recognizes excellence in musical theatre songwriting, by a songwriter or songwriting team that has not yet achieved significant commercial success. The award is meant to encourage and support aspiring songwriters to create new works for the musical theatre. The prize includes a $50,000 award. In addition to the monetary prize, the Fred Ebb Foundation will produce a one-night-only showcase of the winner's work. The Fred Ebb Foundation is funded by royalties from Mr. Ebb's vast catalogue of work. Each year, the Foundation also makes a donation to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

One of America's leading producers of new musical theater, Prospect Theater Company (founded in 1998) is dedicated to fostering and showcasing today's new voices shaping tomorrow's musicals. Since 2000, the company has fully produced more than 30 premiere musicals in New York City, in addition to new plays and numerous re-inventions of classic works. Reflecting its investment in the future of the field, Prospect leads a variety of developmental initiatives, including an annual Musical Theater Lab for emerging writers, and a Summer Intensive training program for teenagers. In recognition of its work as a community anchor for emerging artists that strengthens the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theater, Prospect received a 2013 National Theatre Company Grant from the American Theatre Wing. Notable productions include: the Drama Desk Award-winning Working (2012), Jasper in Deadland (2014), the Drama-Desk nominated Tamar of the River (2013), Unlock'd (2013), Iron Curtain (2006, 2011), Myths and Hymns (2012), With Glee (2010), The Blue Flower (2008), Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge (2009), The Hidden Sky (2010), Illyria (2002, 2008), and the Drama-Desk nominated The Pursuit of Persephone (2005).