Emily Otto

West Virginia Public Theatre (WVPT) is collaborating with New York City composers, country music artist Tracy Lawrence, and West Virginia author Denise Giardina to develop Storming Heaven: The Musical. Their work will conclude with a staged reading of the musical at 7:30pm today, January 19 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre (WVU Creative Arts Center) in Morgantown. This is a non-ticketed event, free, and open to the public.

Storming Heaven, the acclaimed novel by West Virginia based writer Denise Giardina released in 1987, is being made into a musical and will have a pre-Broadway staged reading in Morganton, WV thanks to a collaboration with the West Virginia Public Theatre (WVPT).

West Virginia Public Theatre (WVPT) is collaborating with New York City composers, country music artist Tracy Lawrence, and West Virginia author Denise Giardina to develop Storming Heaven: The Musical. Their work will conclude with a staged reading of the musical at 7:30pm on Saturday, January 19 in the Gladys G. Davis Theatre (WVU Creative Arts Center) in Morgantown. This is a non-ticketed event, free, and open to the public.

In one of the most unusual musical stories since Sweeney Todd, we enter into the world of transgendered people living in the rural south and the lives they lead in a hostile environment. With country and bluegrass music the difficulties and challenges of becoming who you are is explored with both brutal honesty and tender understanding.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival welcomed back Anthony Rapp, as he lead the staged reading of Shawn Cody's epic fantasy THE WATER DREAM directed by Jim True-Frost. Performances ran July 10 & 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center, The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre (480 West 42nd St.), and waas produced by Royal Family Productions. Check out a look back at the show, featuring Rapp, J. Robert Spencer, Karmine Alers, and more!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and TriStan Wilson, Managing Director, presents the BSC Musical Theatre Lab (William Finn Artistic Producer) world premiere production of Southern Comfort, a new musical with book and lyrics by Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick Davis, directed by Thomas Caruso (Associate Director of Broadway's Matilda). Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, presents the BSC Musical Theatre Lab (William Finn Artistic Producer) world premiere production of Southern Comfort, a new musical with book and lyrics by Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick Davis, directed by Thomas Caruso (Associate Director of Broadway's Matilda).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival welcomes back Anthony Rapp to the festival as he stars in the staged reading of Shawn Cody's epic fantasy THE WATER DREAM directed by Jim True-Frost. The event will take place tonight, July 10 and the 11th at The Pershing Square Signature Center, The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre (480 West 42nd St.). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by visiting www.nymf.org. This event is being produced by Royal Family Productions.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, presents the BSC Musical Theatre Lab (William Finn Artistic Producer) world premiere production of Southern Comfort, a new musical with book and lyrics by Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick Davis, directed by Thomas Caruso (Associate Director of Broadway's Matilda).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival welcomes back Anthony Rapp to the festival as he stars in the staged reading of Shawn Cody's epic fantasy THE WATER DREAM directed by Jim True-Frost. The event will take place on July 10 & 11 at The Pershing Square Signature Center, The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre (480 West 42nd St.). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased by visiting www.nymf.org. This event is being produced by Royal Family Productions.

The Stolen Chair Theatre Company announces extended performances of The Bachelors' Tea Party, a surreal society comedy performed by two actors and four dolls alongside an exquisite 5-course classic tea service, which has been performing to sold out houses every Sunday afternoon at 5pm at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon (56 Irving Place between 17th and 18th Street) since April.

The Stolen Chair Theatre Company announces extended performances of The Bachelors' Tea Party, a surreal society comedy performed by two actors and four dolls alongside an exquisite 5-course classic tea service, which has been performing to sold out houses every Sunday afternoon at 5pm at Lady Mendl's Tea Salon (56 Irving Place between 17th and 18th Street) since April.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced final casting for the 24th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 11 and Friday, October 12 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced today additional casting for the 24th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 11 and Friday, October 12 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced initial casting for the 24th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 11 and Friday, October 12 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today the creative teams selected to be part of the 24th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 11 and Friday, October 12 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

THE WATER DREAM SUMMER PARTY!, with live rock and contemporary music theatre performed by Anthony Rapp (RENT) with Doug Chapman, Alexis Hightower, Justin Hines, Emily Otto & Kris Rogers under the musical direction of Emily Otto (Southern Comfort, Stolen Chair), will take place on Saturday June 30, 2012 8-10 PM at The Irish Rogue, 356 West 44th Street - Upstairs. There will be a live auction. Proceeds go towards the New York premiere of The Water Dream in 2013.

The Water Dream was the finale of Shakespeare & Co.'s Studio Festival of Plays. THE WATER DREAM starred Anthony Rapp (RENT), Karmine Alers (RENT), and Erik Lochtefeld (METAMORPHOSES, CANDIDE. The production was directed by Bill Barclay with music direction by Emily Otto. In the video below, Anthony Rapp sings'Brave from the show. Click below to check it out!