NAMT Report: Lauren Worsham, Joel Perez in LIFT, About a Young Boy's Faith in What Seems Impossible

BroadwayWorld's Michael Dale reports on seven musicals being presented in 45 minute readings at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Annual Festival of New Musicals. These musicals are being presented before an audience of over 600 industry professionals and are in different stages of development, not to be reviewed. For more information on all of the musicals, visit namt.org.

LIFT

Music by Aaron McAllister
Book and Lyrics by Daryl Lisa Fazio

In a small Ohio town, Eve (Lauren Worsham) doesn't have the opportunity to properly mourn for her deceased husband James (Joel Perez) because her main concern is helping her young son Ethan (Jonah Halperin) adjust.

In flashbacks we see the close relationship Ethan shared with his father, particular over a love of birdwatching.

Eve's brother, Sam (Adam Monley), finds an affordable analyst to treat the boy (Louisa Flaningam) but he responds more to the caring of his new babysitter, the unconventional Bridget (Alexandra Socha).

When Ethan falls into a lake through a patch of thin ice, he's mysteriously rescued. As the first act ends, the boy is insisting his life was saved by a birdman.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre, founded in 1985, is a national service organization dedicated exclusively to musical theatre. Their mission is to advance musical theatre by nurturing the creation, development, production and presentation of new musicals, and to provide a forum for musical theatre professionals to share resources and exchange information. Our 200 members, located throughout 34 states and abroad, are some of the leading producers of musical theatre in the world and include theatres, presenting organizations, higher education programs and individual producers. Among the 228 musicals launched by NAMT's annual Festival of New Musicals are Thoroughly Modern Millie, Children of Eden, Honk!, The Drowsy Chaperone, It Shoulda Been You, Songs for a New World, I Love You Because, Striking 12, Vanities, Ordinary Days and many others, representing 420 writers.

NAMT's FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS is the cornerstone of NAMT's mission to nurture the creation, development and production of new musicals. The Festival highlights eight musicals in 45-minute presentations before an audience of over 600 industry professionals. In the short run, the Festival's goal is to connect producers with writers, so that their shows can continue their development trajectory. The long-term goal is to expand the musical theatre repertoire, bringing new musical theatre to thousands of audience members around the world.

The 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS is overseen by NAMT New Works Director and Festival Producing Director Branden Huldeen and Festival General Manager Lisa Dozier King.