Brian Mulay's THE LOVE CURRICULUM Cabaret Musical Headed to Dixon Place

Mulay Initiatives presents The Love Curriculum, an entertaining evening of song and dance exploring our universal journey in the pursuit of love, written and performed by Brian Mulay (Yank, A New Musical). Joe Barros directs a cast of six, including Mr. Mulay, Sam Arlen, Jonathan Bannigan, Christian Dell'Edera, Ptolemy Eggers, and Adam Sarette.

Two performances will be staged at Dixon Place, 161A Chrystie Street in NYC 10002 on Sunday, April 23rd and Monday, April 24th at 7:30pm.

The Love Curriculum, a cabaret of music, explores the experiences and personal love story of principle performer Brian Mulay. It is a humorous and poignant examination of the emotions and phases common to all of us in our pursuit of love, communicating our human needs and desires and how we choose to act upon them or not. Touching on the ways we meet and communicate, and unconventional arrangements such as open relationships and polyamory, The Love Curriculum includes singers, dancers and musicians who accompany Brian through his entertaining curriculum. This cabaret features music from classic and contemporary musical theatre and even some pop songs by composers such as Stephen Sondheim, Sara Bareilles, Bock & Harnick, Maury Yeston, Stephen Schwartz, and Alanis Morissette.

"Who doesn't grow up hearing fairy tales while dreaming of finding true love and 'happily ever after'," states creator Brian Mulay. "Books, Hollywood movies, and Broadway musicals often cloud young minds with a rose-colored look at how real-life romance can play out. In reality, the lessons we learn as we stumble through our unique 'love curriculums' can be quite different. The Love Curriculum reveals us all in the same class learning the same lessons, but often at different times and in a different order."

The Love Curriculum is presented by Mulay Initiatives; Music Director: Grant Wenaus; Costume, Scenery & Props Designer: Ricardo Fernandez; Lighting Designer: Aaron Spivey; Public Relations: Paul Siebold/Off Off PR.

Tickets are: $18. For tickets and information, visit DixonPlace.org.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Brian Mulay (creator & performer) began performing on the musical theatre stage at the age of 4 and never stopped. Upon graduating with his BFA in Musical Theatre from University of Michigan he immediately moved to New York and began working professionally. Some credits include: Fiddler on the Roof (35th Anniversary National Tour), 42nd Street (European Tour), and Yank! The Musical (Off-Off Broadway). Brian also worked as a dance teacher for 6 years in NYC, at locations such as the Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS), teaching tap and musical theatre styles. He lives and breathes musical theatre as part of daily life and can't imagine NOT being an artist!

Joe Barros (Director) is a writer, director, and an award-winning choreographer with an emphasis on new work development. Broadway: Gigi (associate director; directed by Eric Schaeffer). Off-Broadway: Cagney currently running at the Westside Theatre, A Taste of Things to Come (associate director; directed by Lorin Latarro, York Theatre Company), I Married Wyatt Earp (59E59), Hard Times (NYIT Award nominee), Shoes & Baggage (The Cell), Charlotte's Web (Theatreworks USA), I Have Confidence: Rodgers After Hammerstein (92Y), King Kong (workshop). Regional/Int'l: Beaches (Chicago's Drury Lane), A Taste of Things to Come (world premiere, Bucks County Playhouse), Carrie (recipient of SDCF's Guest Artist Initiative program, MSU), Nine and Die Fledermaus (Italy), Small Town Story (also conceived, The Hartt School), Mommie Dearest (reading, Ogunquit), plus Goodpseed Musicals and DC's Signature Theatre. Artistic Director: New York Theatre Barn, a Manhattan-based theatre company dedicated to incubating new musicals that tell untold stories. Upcoming: Marc Acito/Amy Englehardt's rock musical Bastard Jones, the all-female musical The Belle of Tombstone at the Museum of Jewish Heritage. www.joebarros.com

Grant Wenaus (music director) is a pianist, arranger, and conductor for both classical and musical theater, having accompanied such Broadway luminaries as Carolee Carmello, Andrew Lippa, Victoria Clark, Drew Gehling, Brian d'Arcy James and Kate Baldwin in concerts at Symphony Space, 54 Below, and The Metropolitan Room. At the Glimmerglass Festival, he works as vocal coach and accompanist to Metropolitan Opera stars such as Nathan Gunn, David Pittsinger and Anthony Roth Costanzo. Grant met Brian as a fellow student at the University of Michigan, and subsequently they worked together as music director and choreographer at the Interlochen Arts Camp.

ABOUT THE CAST:

Sam Arlen - National Tour: Fiddler On The Roof. Favorite Regional: Anything Goes, The Wizard of Oz, Miracle on 34th Street, La Cage Aux Folles, Godspell, Crazy For You, Joseph...Dreamcoat, The Producers, Hello Dolly, A Wonderful Life and Mame. Sam is a Hartt School Graduate (2009) and native New Yorker.
Jonathan Bannigan is a writer and singer who hails from Central New York. He oohed and aahed with Vassar College's oldest (and raddest) co-ed a cappella group, Matthew's Minstrels, for four harmonious and hilarious years. Most recently, he sang for LGBT equality through three illustrious seasons with New York City Gay Men's Chorus. Once, he auditioned for an all-gay boyband, but all traces of the project vanished after the callback, forcing him to wonder if it had all been a cotton candy-hued hallucination.
Christian Dell'Edera is a Freshman Musical Theatre Major at PPAS High School. Previous shows: Off Broadway: Fun Home the Musical, Public Theater (u/s Christian/John); A Christmas Story National Tour (Flick), Netflix "Seven Seconds."
Ptolemy Eggers - In addition to commercial and TV work, he has performed at the Professional Performing Arts School, where he is a 9th grader. Ptolemy played Percival in Lord of the Flies, Little Boy in Ragtime, "Old Man" Strong in Urinetown, and Romeo in Romeo & Juliet. He participated in the Broadway for All musical theater summer conservatory and showcases in 2015 and 2016.
Adam Sarette - is a NYC-based actor and singer/songwriter and with A BFA in Music Theatre from The Hartt School. Regional Credits: La Cage Aux Folles, Billy Elliot the Musical (Ogunquit Playhouse, North Carolina Theatre); Hello,Dolly! He was also a Mainstage Dancer for Disney Cruise Line-Disney Wonder. Check out Adam's Pop/Dance single "My Release" available on iTunes! www.adamsarette.com

Dixon Place, an incubator for performing and literary artists since 1986, is a non-profit organization committed to supporting the creative process by presenting original works of dance, theater, music, puppetry, literature, performance and visual art at all stages of development. Presenting over 700 artists each year, this local haven inspires and encourages diverse artists of all stripes and callings to take risks and push personal and professional limits. Dixon Place's foremost priorities are to serve as a safety net for artists, and to provide vivid experiences for audiences. Dixon Place is the only non-profit theatre of its size to own and operate a full service cocktail lounge where all profits are returned to the organization to support their artists and mission. The full service cocktail lounge is open to the public from 6PM to closing with all profits supporting the Dixon Place artists and mission. dixonplace.org / @dixonplace / facebook.com/dixonplace

Photo Credit: Michael Bonasio