Noll, Butler, Foster, Doyle, Spangler etc. Perform in NYMTF BEST OF THE FEST Tonight, 6/21

The New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF) will hold a kickoff to the 7th season: BEST OF FEST, a gala celebration to toast the achievements of the Festival's alumni. The one night only benefit concert will take place on Monday, June 21st at 8 PM at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).

The cast will include Stephanie J. Block (WICKED, 9 to 5), Christopher Sieber (Shrek, Spamalot), Krysta Rodriguez (The Addams Family, In The Heights), Tom Kitt (Next To Normal, American Idiot), Curtis Holbrook (West Side Story, Xanadu), Katrina Rose Dideriksen (Jerry Springer, The Opera), Katie Thompson (Giant, New album: Private Page), Christiane Noll (Ragtime), Kerry Butler (Rock of Ages, Xanadu), Hunter Foster (Million Dollar Quartet), Nick Spangler (The Fantasticks, Winner: "The Amazing Race") Alex Brightman (WICKED), Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening), Jamie LaVerdiere (The Producers), Leo Ash Evens (West Side Story 50th Anniversary Tour), and Brian Gonzales (Shrek).

Over the past six years, thousands of artists have become part of the NYMF family, helping it become the country's preeminent musical theatre festival. For one special night, NYMF will present highlights of some of the new and exciting projects that its alums are working on now.

The concert will feature songs from the latest shows of such NYMF writers as Douglas Carter Beane (The Big Time, 2005), Lewis Flinn (Like Love, 2007), Adam Gwon (Lulu, 2004), Chris Miller & Nathan Tysen (Get There Early, 2004), Hunter Foster (Bonnie and Clyde, 2008), Joe Iconis (Things to Ruin, 2007), Jason Rhyne (The MacGuffin, 2006), John Mercurio (Academy, 2009), Matt Gould (Twilight in Manchego, 2008), Jeremy Desmon (I See London, I See France, 2007), Michelle Elliott and Daniel Larsen (The Yellow Wood, 2007), and Tom Kitt (Next to Normal, 2005).

Songs by Stephen Cole (Night of the Hunter, 2006), Douglas J. Cohen (The Big Time, 2005), and Pete Mills (The Taxi Cabaret, 2004; The Rockae, 2007) have just been added to the concert.

There'll also be a sneak peek at NYMF's 2010 shows.

There will also be a performance from the 2009 NYMF musical Academy, featuring book, music, and lyrics by John Mercurio, and conceived & developed by Andrew Kato. Academy will be appearing at the Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF) in South Korea from July 1st - 4th. The Korean run of Academy is the second part of NYMF's inaugural production exchange with DIMF, the only theatre event of its kind in Asia. The cast of Academy includes: Alex Wyse (Benji), Corey Boardman (Amory), Wilson Bridges (Michael), Antonio Addeo (Gert), Matthew F. Johnson (Regan), Andy Mientus (Conrad) and Aaron Riesebeck (Pete). John Carrafa is directing the DIMF-bound production.

NYMF and DIMF share a dedication to ensuring that musical theater stays vibrant as both an art form and an industry while celebrating the important role musical theater plays in their respective communities. As a joint initiative to support and promote the next generation of musical theater writers, the partnership will consist of a production exchange between the two festivals. This provides NYMF and DIMF with the exciting ability to introduce fresh American talent to Korea's passionate theater fan base and burgeoning musical theater industry, as well as the tremendous opportunity to introduce Korea's best new musicals to New York audiences.

The Daegu International Musical Festival (DIMF) is the only exclusive international musical festival in Korea. Established in 2007, DIMF's mission is to share the beauty and joy of musicals with interNational Theatre-lovers, as well as local residents. Packed with top-notch productions and exciting events, DIMF has firmly established itself as a showcase for gifted artists, an amusement ground for audiences, and a diverse market for the musical theatre industry. DIMF's programming is divided into several categories, including: Official Invitational Musicals, Homegrown Musicals, College Students' Musical Festival, and DIMFringe Festival.

The 2010 New York Musical Theater Festival will take place from September 27 - October 17.
Tickets for the Best of the Fest gala concert, ranging from $39 - $76.50, are available at 212-239-6200; Premium seats, including a post-show reception with the performers, are also available.

Now entering its seventh year, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize musical theater culture by discovering and promoting new musical theater artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience.

Since its inception in 2004, NYMF has premiered more than 200 new musicals - more than 60 of which have gone on to award-winning productions in New York, in regional theaters and in almost every state and more than a dozen countries worldwide. Two of the ten new musicals to open on Broadway in the 2009 season were NYMF alums, including [title of show], which enjoyed an acclaimed run at the Lyceum Theater, Next to Normal, which won three Tony awards and the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. This year's Festival will run September 28th through October 18th.

The 2009 New York Musical Theater Festival enjoyed record ticket sales, up by 20% over last year. Attendance was at an all-time high, with the majority of festival productions playing to over 90% capacity. 87% of festival events sold out most or all of their performances. Due to audience demand, 15 productions received a total of 22 extension performances, twice as many as in 2008.

Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre," NYMF exists to revitalize one of America's greatest art forms by discovering, supporting and promoting new musical theater artists, producers, and projects, and by introducing a diverse audience to the vibrancy of contemporary musical theater. Widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery, NYMF is the flagship program of The National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, and is presented in association with BroadwayWorld.com, Production Resource Group and TheaterMania.com. NYMF is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Photo Credit: BWW-Staff