Charles Strouse, Amanda Green, Emily Skeggs, Joe Iconis and More Slated for Samuel French #MUSICALSWEEK

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that Samuel French, the world's largest publisher and licensor of stage plays and musicals, has slated "#MusicalsWeek: Protecting, Developing & Celebrating Musical Theatre" for Monday, September 28 through Thursday, October 1, 2015.

Presented in collaboration with HowlRound, the four-day event will feature nightly panels with industry professionals tackling topics that explore the promotion, development, diversity and future of musical theatre. Panels will take place at the Samuel French offices September 28 - 30, and at the Music Hall at the Dramatists Guild Fund on October 1. All #MusicalsWeek panels are free and open to the public.

#MusicalsWeek culminates in a special concert event highlighting some of musical theatre's legendary talents alongside its rising stars. Following Thursday's panel, Samuel French will present "Sing and Tell: A Benefit Concert for the Dramatists Guild Fund" at 54 Below at 9PM. Hosted by Amanda Green (Hands on a Hardbody), the event will feature intimate chats with composers and lyricists, and songs from the SamuelFrench catalog. Sing and Tellwill include music by Charles Strouse (Golden Boy), Amanda Green (Hands on a Hardbody), Sam Willmott (Yo, Vikings), Bill Russell (Side Show), Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond (Judge Jackie Justice), Brad Alexander and Adam Mathias (See Rock City and Other Destinations), Joe Iconis (The Plant that Ate Dirty Socks), Ryan Scott Oliver (35mm), Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller (Fugitive Songs), Michael Mitnick (Fly By Night), and more. The night will also include performances by: Kathleen Monteleone and Jim Newman (Hands on a Hardbody), Lauren Zakrin (Rock of Ages and Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812), Emily Skeggs (Fun Home), Javier Ignacio (Side Show), Natalie Charle Ellis, Sally Wilfert, Tatiana Lofton, and more. Ticket sales from the concert will benefit the The Dramatists Guild Fund.

#MusicalsWeek follows upon the success of Samuel French's 2014 event #RightsWeek, a series of panels which focused on intellectual property and artists' rights. It was also co-hosted by HowlRound.

"Samuel French is thrilled to host these conversations that grapple with the ever-evolving opportunities and challenges of our musical theatre industry," saysSamuel French's Executive Director, Bruce Lazarus. "We are excited to highlight some of the great musicals and artists in our catalog with the Sing and Tell concert."

"We are excited to host New Forms of Musical Theater in The Music Hall at The Dramatists Guild Fund for #MusicalsWeek," says Andrew Lippa, President of the Dramatists Guild Fund. "We are very grateful for Samuel French's support of DGF's programs and services for writers across the country."

Tickets are now on sale for Sing and Tell at 54 Below (Thursday, October 1 at 9pm). Click here to purchase, and for more information.

Reservations for #MusicalsWeek panels are encouraged, but not required. E-mail Samuel French to reserve your seat. Panels will also be livestreamed on HowlRound.com. Follow @MrSamuelFrench and #MusicalsWeek for live-tweeting.

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#MusicalsWeek features the following four panels:

Promotion and Protection of Musicals
Mon, Sept. 28, 6:30PM at Samuel French Offices, 235 Park Avenue South, 5th Fl. NYC)
Moderator: Sam Willmott (composer/lyricist, Yo, Vikings)
Panelists: Sean Patrick Flahaven (Senior Vice President of Theatre & Catalogue Development, Warner/Chappell Music), Bruce Lazarus (Executive Director, Samuel French), Ryan Scott Oliver(composer/lyricist, Jasper in Deadland, 35mm: A Musical Exhibition), and Georgia Stitt (composer/lyricist,Danger year, Big Red Sun)

Development of a Musical
Tues, Sept. 29, 6:30PM at Samuel French Offices (235 Park Avenue South, 5th Fl. NYC)
Moderator: TBA
Panelists: Kathy Evans (Founder/Executive Director of the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat), Chris Miller(composer, Tuck Everlasting), Nathan Tysen (lyricist, Tuck Everlasting)

Diversity and Equality in Musical Theatre
Wed, Sept. 30, 6:30PM at Samuel French Offices (235 Park Avenue South, 5th Fl. NYC)
Moderator: Sarah Schlesinger (lyricist/librettist; Chair, Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program & Associate Dean of the Institute of Performing Arts, New York University Tisch School of the Performing Arts)
Panelists: Kamilah Forbes (Associate Director of Holler if You Hear Me, Assistant Director of A Raisin in the Sun revival), Ali Stoker (actress, Deaf West's Spring Awakening), Michael R. Jackson(composer/lyricist)

New Forms of Musical Theatre
Thurs, Oct. 1, 6:30PM at Dramatists Guild Fund (356 West 40th St, 2nd Floor, NYC)
Moderator: Kent Nicholson (Director of Musical Theatre, Playwrights Horizons)
Panelists: Michael Friedman (composer/lyricist, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Jackson Gay (director,These Paper Bullets), Branden Huldeen (New Works Director & Festival Producing Director, National Alliance for Musical Theatre), Shakina Nayfack (Founding Artistic Director, Musical Theatre Factory)

For further education on intellectual property and Samuel French's stance on artists' rights, check out the videos and articles from last year's RightsWeek, as well as Owning Their Words: Understanding the Playwright, Protecting Their Work & How You Can Help.

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Established in 1830, Samuel French is the largest publisher and licensor of stage plays and musicals in the world. The Samuel French catalog includes some of the most acclaimed plays and musicals ever written for the stage, as well as work by writers at the forefront of contemporary theatre. Samuel French proudly advocates for playwrights, composers and lyricists and celebrates all those who make theatre happen.

HowlRound is a knowledge commons by and for the theatre community made up of an online journal, a livestreaming TV channel, an interactive data map, and more. It's a place for theatremakers to share feedback, learning, expertise, and vision. Anyone can participate in our open platforms, for free.

The Dramatists Guild Fund (DGF) is the public charity arm of The Dramatists Guild of America and has provided resources to dramatists and nonprofit theaters nationwide for over 50 years. Each year, DGF awards grants to nonprofit theatrical organizations across the country that produce works by American writers, provides emergency aid to writers facing illness or other unforeseen circumstances, and supports numerous educational programs and writing development opportunities for dramatists.