My guest this week is author Deborah Phillips whose new book is titled: AND THIS IS MY FRIEND SANDY — SANDY WILSON’S THE BOY FRIEND, LONDON THEATRE AND GAY CULTURE. Sandy Wilson's The Boyfriend — for which he wrote the book, music, & lyrics — is one of the most successful British musicals of all time.
Photos: The 24 Hour Musicals - Anthony Rapp in THE WORLD IS ENDING
By: Walter McBride
On March 7, The 24 Hour Company teamed with the Exchange to produce The 24 Hour Musicals at The Gramercy Theatre. Four brand new musicals were written, cast, rehearsed and performed in a single day, featuring an star-studded line up of Broadway performers, composers, writers, directors, choreographers and musical directors. Creative director Ted Sperling (musical director of Light in the Piazza, South Pacific and Guys & Dolls), led some of the theatre's brightest talent from Broadway, film and television as they collaborated under one roof, in one day, to create original musical theatre. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you coverage of THE WORLD IS ENDING starring Anthony Rapp.
In all, the productions featured Debby Boone, Dee Roscioli, Jeffrey Kuhn, Savannah Wise, Todd Almond, Mandy Gonzalez (In The Heights, RENT), Golden Globe-winner America Ferrera ("Ugly Betty," Real Women Have Curves), Julian Fleisher (Coraline), Richard Kind (The Producers, "Mad About You"), three-time Tony Award-nominee Marc Kudisch (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Nellie McKay (Threepenny Opera), Anthony Rapp (RENT, "A Beautiful Mind"), and Nat Wolff ("The Naked Brothers Band"), Daneil Goldstein (Godspell), Jonathan Marc Sherman ("Things we Want"), Kate Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk ("Henry and Mudge," "Samantha Brown"), Kristofer Diaz ("The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Diety") for the event.
The creative process for THE 24 HOUR MUSICALS began Sunday, March 6th at 9 p.m. when all participating artists convened at the National Arts Club on Gramercy Park with a prop or costume piece to inspire the writers. After the company is briefed, the actors and directors left the writers to create the book, music and lyrics for their 15-minute musicals ...in just eight hours. At 7 a.m. Monday morning, the directors returned to read the completed musicals and finalize casting. An hour, the actors returned to begin a twelve-hour rehearsal process. At 8:00 p.m., ink barely dry, the four new musicals will be performed for a live audience. Although the actors only have one day to memorize lines, lyrics and music, create characters and learn blocking, the musicals are performed without scripts in hand.
For more information on the 24 Hour Company, visit www.24hourplays.com.
Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher, Dee Roscioli Performing in at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp & Ashlie Atkinson & Kat Pallardy Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Dee Roscioli Performing in at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Dee Roscioli & Ashlie Atkinson Performing in at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Julian Fleisher, Dee Roscioli Performing in at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp & Julian Fleisher Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Julian Fleisher & Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Julian Fleisher & Ashlie Atkinson Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Dee Roscioli, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Dee Roscioli, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher, Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher, Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher, Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher, Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher & Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher, Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher, Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher & Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher & Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Ashlie Atkinson, Julian Fleisher & Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Julian Fleisher & Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Julian Fleisher & Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Julian Fleisher & Dee Roscioli & Ashlie Atkinson Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Dee Roscioli, Julian Fleisher, Ashlie Atkinson Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Julian Fleisher, Ashlie Atkinson & Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
Anthony Rapp, Julian Fleisher, Ashlie Atkinson & Dee Roscioli Performing in 'The World Is Ending' at The 24 Hour Musicals after performance party at the Gramercy Theatre in New York City.
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