Vital Theatre Company Presents THE BULLY from 9/12-10/12

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the extension of THE BULLY, an original musical for children with music and lyrics by JOHN GREGOR and book by DAVID L. Williams, directed and choreographed by TRoy Miller, at VITAL THEATRE. The show will run Saturdays and Sundays at 11am and 1pm beginning September 12th through October 12th, with a 1pm school holiday performance on Monday, October 12th. Weekday performances for camps and groups can be arranged upon request. The show is appropriate for children ages 4-10. All tickets are $25.00 and can be purchased by visiting www.vitaltheatre.org or calling (212) 579-0528. VITAL THEATRE is located at 2162 Broadway (76th & Broadway), 4th floor.

The season continues with MATTHEW TAKES MANNAHATTA, Book by Aurin Squire, Lyrics by Sammy Buck and Music by Daniel S. Acquisto. Directed by Carlos Armesto and based on the book Matthew's Secret Door by Christopher Paul Moore and Matthew Christopher Moore, playing October 17th - November 29th. THE KLEZMER NUTCRAKER, Book by Ellen Kushner, Music by Shirim Klezmer Orchestra and Directed by Linda Ames Key plays December 5th - January 3rd; UNCLE PIRATE, Book by Ben H. Winters, Music and Lyrics by Drew Fornarola, Directed by Jeremy Dobrish, the production is based on the book by Douglas Rees and plays January 16th - Febuary 28th.

THE BULLY tells the story of a bus mix-up stranding Lenny, the nerd, and Steve, the bully, at the wrong school where they both get picked on for being "the new kids." The boys have to work together to get back to their school and begin to learn that they might not be so different after all.

Featured in the cast are CARLOS AVILAS, JOSH BEYERS, PATTI DEMATTEO, NATE GRAY, Anthony JohnSON, GREG KALAFATAS, Scott Lilly, JANELLE MIMS, FRANK PAIVA, JAY PARANADA, Stephen Stocking, Abigail Taylor and JESSE TENDLER.

JOHN GREGOR (Lyricist, Composer and Orchestrator) received a 2004 Frederick Loewe Award for his musical WITH GLEE, for which he wrote the book, music and lyrics. WITH GLEE was presented in a workshop by the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, NYU, and premiered at the New York Musical Theater Festival. His musical adaptation of Gogol's tragicomic short story THE OVERCOAT has been presented in London at the Bridewell Theatre and at the Barrington Stage Company and The New York International Fringe Festival. He has also co-written several children's musicals for Vital Theatre Company, including THE CHANGELING, THE BULLY, and PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL.

DAVID L. Williams (Book) most recently wrote the book and lyrics for (and directed) the musical THE JOHNNY, which was a part of the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival. Career highlights include directing and writing the book for the musical TESS' LAST NIGHT (2003 Fringe NYC), and writing the plays THE INFORMATION SHE CARRIED (2005 Fringe NYC), THE ARMAGEDDON DANCE PARTY (2006 Fringe NYC), and THE TAILERS (2007 Crown Point Festival). A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Cornell University, David L. Williams is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America, Inc., and the author of more than 25 plays, including the Riverside Stage Company Founder's award-winning AMPERSAND, and four winners of the Heerman's McCalmon Playwriting Contest, THE MURDER OF GONZAGO, BEHIND THE NINE BALL, NEAR TRAGEDY, and INGULF.

TRoy Miller (Director and Choreographer): Broadway: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (assistant to Craig Lucas), Opera: IL TABARRO (Vertical Rep Players), LA TRAVIATA (City Opera SSDC Observer), Off Broadway: Craig Lucas' BATHROOM HUMOR (Playwrights Horizons, 'Stories on Five Stories'). Other Regional and NY directing credits include: HORATIO (NY Fringe Festival '07), CRASH starring Marylouise Burke, OUR LADY OF THE SEA, POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD DOG (Emerging Artists Theater); NOISES OFF! (Festival 56); DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER (Cortland Rep.); THE DYING GAUL and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL (Trinity Rep.). Mr. Miller holds a Master's of Fine Arts in Directing from Trinity Rep in Providence, RI and is a proud member of SSDC and Emerging Artists Theatre. Visit www.troymiller.org.

Located on New York City's Upper West Side at 76th Street and Broadway, VITAL THEATRE COMPANY commissions four to five new musicals for families each season. Since its founding in 1999, Vital Theatre Company has been honored with two AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE by the Off Off Broadway Review and received high acclaim from audiences and critics alike for being "a wonderful place for parents to introduce their kids to the glories of live theatre, done well and at modest prices." Now in its eleventh season, the company is dedicated to producing entertaining and educational theatre for young audiences. To date, the company has presented 49 original productions for over 156,000 children and their families.