UNDER to Play NYC Fringe Festival

Under: A New Musical, with book and lyrics by Monica Hannush, music by Julian Drucker and directed by Alexandra Cadena, will have its official premiere at the 2015 New York International Fringe Festival, the largest multi-arts festival in North America, which is celebrating its 19th anniversary, this August 14th - 30th.

This timely musical shines a light on the silent mental health crisis on the rise among students attending some of America's most prestigious universities. Under follows Yale undergrad Serena, a patient at the Yale Psychiatric Hospital, as she retraces her steps over the past year of manic peaks and depressed troughs with fellow Yalies--deciphering how that world and population landed her in the psych ward. And it calls into question Yale's archaic policies (withdrawal and readmission) in dealing with students facing mental health issues.

These policies have been cited in a number of recent articles as the cause of much consternation among this fragile group of students, who will often forego treatment for fear of being withdrawn or hospitalized. Under: A New Musical, is based in large part, on playwright Monica Hannush's personal struggles with depression and bipolar disorder. The project began as the audacious idea of five daring young people at Yale, who saw a way to give voice to the insecurities, doubts, lost love and fears that often accompany university life.

Under first premiered at Yale's Morse Crescent Theatre in April of 2015. As part of Fringe NYC 2015, Under will have a limited run engagement at Theatre 80 (80 St Marks Place, between First and Second Avenues, NYC): Wednesday, August 19 at

8:45pm - Thursday, August 20 at 9:45pm - Friday, August 21 at 6:30pm - Saturday, August 22 at 9:45pm and Sunday, August 23 at 3:45pm.

Michaela Murphy, a rising junior at Yale College, leads the cast as Serena Lazarre (Yale production of Cabaret, Rocky Horror; voice-over roles in Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender). The rest of the principal cast is comprised of James Lee as Noah (Yale productions of The Heights, Next to Normal); Aaron McAleavey as Billy (regional productions of Rent, West Side Story); Jordan Schroeder as Mark (Yale productions of Next to Normal, I Love You Because); Zina Ellis as Charlie (Yale productions of Spelling Bee, Ordinary Days). Erin Krebs, Sarah Householder, Jon Gluckner, Tom Robertshaw and Lilly Sherman make up the ensemble players.

The production crew is headed by Sarah Sutphin (producer), Donald Woodson (stage manager), Jacob Rodriguez (set designer & technical director), Rebecca Karabus (assistant producer), Travis Gonzalez (projection designer), Greg Dugdale (costume designer), Eve Houghton (dramaturge), and Veronique Ory (ACR).

Tickets for Under: A New Musical are $18.00 and can be purchased online or on your Smartphone starting on July 17th. To purchase tickets visit the festival's Show Schedule Page and choose the performance (a convenience charge applies). Alternately you can purchase tickets in person at FringeCENTRAL, 56 East 1st Street (between First and Second Avenues), or at the show's venue box office, 80 St. Marks Avenue, starting August 7th.

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