Hobson, Kassebaum, Noon and Nixon Lead Seattle NEW VOICES Concert, 8/15

Contemporary Classics presents the latest installment of its songwriter showcase concert series New Voices, which will perform two shows on August 15 at ACT Theatre in association with the Central Heating Lab program.

The concert will be led by Broadway vets Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked, Rent, Assassins), Louis Hobson (next to normal, The People in the Picture), Vicki Noon (Wicked, Mamma Mia!), and Ryah Nixon (9 to 5) as well as some of Seattle's best local talent including Footlight Award winners Kasey Nusbickel (Anne of Green Gables) and Greg McCormick Allen (White Christmas). The cast also includes Jordon Bolden, Jared Michael Brown, Elise Campello, Molli Corcoran, Sarah Davis, CJ Eldred, Aaron Finley, Lindsey Hedberg, Kirsten Delohr Helland, Jerick Hoffer, Diana Huey, Jessica Low, Ryan McCabe, Naomi Morgan, Henry Nettleton, Eliza Palasz, Alex Rumbolz, Patrick Shelton, Erin Sprow, Kat Ramsburg, Jared Rein, Connor Russell, Patrick Shelton and William A. Williams.

Returning as music director will be Gregory Award-winner R.J. Tancioco (The Yellow Wood, 5th Ave's upcoming RENT) and the host is Contemporary Classics artistic director and Gregory Award-winner Brandon Ivie (The Yellow Wood, Zanna, Don't!, 5th Avenue's upcoming Cinderella).

Composers in this edition include writers from around the country like Joey Contreras, Andre Catrini, Jonathan Reid Gealt, Ryan Scott Oliver, Michelle Elliot & Danny Larsen, Drew Gasparini, Scott Burkel & Paul Loesel, Michael R. Jackson & Kori Withers, Joel Waggoner & EllaRose Cherry, Brian Lowdermilk & Kait Kerrigan, Benj Pasek & Justin Paul, including a song by Seattle-based composer Chris Jeffries.

A press release says, "Proven to be one of Seattle's most exciting musical theatre events, New Voices is a Seattle musical theatre institution featuring the most exciting up-and-coming composers this country has to offer. An exciting blend of Sondheim and pop/rock, this next generation of composers are writing musicals about road trips, hostage situations, deranged prom queens, Jack Kerouac and everything in between. Performed by some of Seattle's hottest talent, join us for an evening of showtunes that will melt your face."

"I'm very excited for this upcoming edition," artistic director and host Brandon Ivie says. "We're getting back to what the concert started as: an intimate evening of new musical theatre. We're performing two shows in one night at ACT's Bullitt Cabaret space, which will be a totally different concert experience than the last few." The concert will feature a six-piece band including piano, bass, drums, guitar, cello and violin.

New Voices performs Monday, August 15 at 7pm and 10:30pm at ACT Theatre. For tickets, priced $15-$20, contact ACT at 206-292-7676 or http://www.acttheatre.org/newvoices.

New Voices brings together young, fresh writers who combine modern pop/rock music with a contemporary musical theatre style. Their sound is distinct and their lyrics deal with issues facing people today. It's an opportunity to witness the next generation of composers getting scrappy and strutting their stuff with an irreverent attitude.