Danny Larsen News

The 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, presented by the National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT), kicked off with THE 46TH MINUTE, a concert hosted by Lindsay Mendez and featuring performances by Heidi Blickenstaff, Doreen Montalvo, Mamie Parris, Bryce Ryness, and more. Musical presentations started October 23 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) and included Beautiful Poison, Cubamor, Great Wall, How To Break, Mary Marie, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, String and Stu For Silverton. The Festival concluded on October 24, 2014. Scroll down for photos!

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced casting for the additional concerts and events surrounding their 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Today, October 22nd the Festival kicks off with The 46th Minute, a concert featuring cut songs and new material from all eight 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals selections, followed by The 2014 Songwriters Showcase on October 23rd and The Songwriters Sessions on October 23rd and 24th, all at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) is proud to announce final casting for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Michael Cassara Casting serves as the resident casting office for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals, taking place on Thursday, October 23, 2014 and Friday, October 24, 2014 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). Online Festival registration ends Friday, October 17.

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced casting for the additional concerts and events surrounding their 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. On October 22nd the Festival kicks off with The 46th Minute, a concert featuring cut songs and new material from all eight 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals selections, followed by The 2014 Songwriters Showcase on October 23rd and The Songwriters Sessions on October 23rd and 24th, all at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced additional concerts and events for the 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals. On October 22nd the Festival kicks off with The 46th Minute, a concert featuring cut songs and new material from all eight 26th Annual Festival of New Musicals selections, followed by The Songwriters Showcase on October 23rd and The Songwriters Sessions on October 23rd and 24th, all at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The award-winning VITAL THEATRE COMPANY has announced that its 2014 Fall Season will include four musicals for children and families, performed by adults. The season will open with The Butterfly Girl, which had its World Premiere on the Vital stage in 2011. Two popular shows returning this season are Peace, Love, and Cupcakes The Musical and the long running favorite Pinkalicious, The Musical. Fancy Nancy returns for the holidays in Fancy Nancy: Splendiferous Christmas.

Zombie in Love! Don't let the title keep you awake at night. This charming musical follows Mortimer, a lonely zombie dying to find true love. He tried the gym, but his arm kept falling off. He offered his actual heart to the mail carrier, but she ran away screaming. Now he's taken out an ad and pinned his hopes on the annual Cupid's Ball. Will the girl of his dreams be waiting for him by the punch bowl?

Zombie in Love! Don't let the title keep you awake at night. This charming musical follows Mortimer, a lonely zombie dying to find true love. He tried the gym, but his arm kept falling off. He offered his actual heart to the mail carrier, but she ran away screaming. Now he's taken out an ad and pinned his hopes on the annual Cupid's Ball. Will the girl of his dreams be waiting for him by the punch bowl?

THE HINTERLANDS, a free online musical web series about a bullied gay teen, was nominated for four International Academy of Web Television (IAWTV) Awards, including 'Best Dramatic Series.' Connor Russell (Disney's Aladdin world premiere), star of THE HINTERLANDS, was nominated for 'Best Male Performance in a Drama.' Danny Larsen and Michelle Elliott, the co-creators of the show, were nominated for 'Best Writing (Drama).' Mr. Larsen was also nominated for 'Best Cinematography.' The IAWTV Awards recognize the best in original online programming and honor the content creators driving today's rapidly evolving digital entertainment industry. The 2014 IAWTV Awards will take place tonight, January 7, 2014 in Las Vegas.

THE HINTERLANDS, a free online musical web series about a bullied gay teen, was nominated for four International Academy of Web Television (IAWTV) Awards, including "Best Dramatic Series." Connor Russell (Disney's Aladdin world premiere), star of THE HINTERLANDS, was nominated for "Best Male Performance in a Drama." Danny Larsen and Michelle Elliott, the co-creators of the show, were nominated for "Best Writing (Drama)." Mr. Larsen was also nominated for "Best Cinematography." The IAWTV Awards recognize the best in original online programming and honor the content creators driving today's rapidly evolving digital entertainment industry. The 2014 IAWTV Awards will take place on January 7, 2014 in Las Vegas.

THE HINTERLANDS, a free musical web series about teenage gay bullying, officially launched in October. Episode 6, 'Worthy,' follows Paul as he meets someone who changes how he feels about life. Featuring Connor Russell and David Andrew Anderson. Watch it below!

THE HINTERLANDS, a free musical web series about teenage gay bullying, officially launched in October. Episode 5, 'Like It Here,' follows Paul as he visits Ethan's grave. Watch it below!

Episode 4 of THE HINTERLANDS, 'The Boy That I'll Never Know,' features Tony nominee Erin Dilly as Paul's mother and John Bolton as his father. Watch it below!

Paul (Connor Russell, Disney's Aladdin world premiere) thought being part of the team would make everything better. Man, was he wrong. Watch Episode 3 of THE HINTERLANDS -- 'Stupid Me' -- below!

THE HINTERLANDS, a free musical web series about teenage gay bullying, officially launched on October 28, 2013 at a special event held at The New 42nd Street Studios. At the event, special guest speaker James Clementi of The Tyler Clementi Foundation shared some touching words about his younger brother Tyler and underscored the importance of being a light for young people who were struggling with thoughts of suicide. Connor Russell (Disney's Aladdin world premiere), star of THE HINTERLANDS, performed "Like It Here," a song from the fifth episode of the series. Katie Thompson (GIANT), backed by 13 students from the Professional Performing Arts School in Midtown, sang "Worthy," which will be part of the sixth episode of THE HINTERLANDS. Scroll down for photos!

Applications are now being accepted for the January 2014 installment of the tri­annual CAP21 Writers Residency , focusing on new musicals. The CAP21 Writers Residency is offered by CAP21 as an opportunity for a concentrated time and place to be artistically productive in a focused atmosphere while remaining in NYC . It will take place for a 1­2 week period ( Jan 6th ­ 17 ) depending on the needs of the writers. During the length of the residency, selected writing teams are provided a beautiful studio space at CAP21 in New York City , complete with a piano and wireless internet , between the hours of 10am and 6pm , Monday through Friday .

A free musical web series about teenage gay bullying, THE HINTERLANDS, was conceived by the writing team of Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen (Cloaked, The Yellow Wood). Created as a response to the flood of suicides by bullied LGBTQ youth, THE HINTERLANDS will be available online beginning October 28, 2013.

It's one of my favorite weekends of the year. The weekend I get to spend three days listening to exciting new works as presented by some of the best performers Seattle has to offer. And this year Village Theatre did not disappoint as they invited members, performers, staff and press to partake of their Village Originals 13th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Some good, some maybe not so, some needing a little more work than others but all showing a deep love for the art and presented by some of the best voices in town. Now, I can't review them as they're still works in progress but I can tell you about the shows presented over the weekend and let you know about the one show that while still in development is still running one more weekend and can have tickets purchased to by non-members (that would be you, Dear Readers).

Broadway Sings for Pride will kick off NYC Gay Pride 2013 by celebrating with their third annual Gay Pride benefit concert. The special one-night benefit entitled ' Unite' with join forces with American Idol and Billboard recording artistic Kimberley Locke, American Idol and Rent star Anwar Robinson and over 20 members of the Broadway community. On June 20, Broadway Sings For Pride hosted a cocktail press preview, featuring songs from the upcoming program. Click below for a sneak peek at the show!