NYMF 2019

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 7/6/19 at 11:58pm

It doesn't seem like NYMF generally gets much buzz on this board which is a shame, but is anyone going this year? Which shows seen the most interesting to you?

I would love to see Bisland and Bly but the tickets are only available to passholders, and I'm still trying to figure out if there's any other show that I would want to look into.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 7/7/19 at 3:12pm

Illuminati Lizards has a really catchy theme. I remember it being part of another year (I didn't see it then either).

I think I would like Leaving Eden more if it were like Hadestown or even The Apple Tree but a vaguely contemporary musical theater sound doesn't appeal for the subject matter.

I could not tell if Savage would be good or terrible.

I'm mildly curious about Ladyship.

But ultimately this was another year when the offerings weren't interesting enough to be worth buying a pass. 

[Susanswerphone]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 9:50am

It does seem kind of ho-hum this year. Still, I bought TDF seats for Illuminati Lizards, Ladyship and Buried.

Updated On: 7/8/19 at 09:50 AM

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 7/8/19 at 11:53pm

I did get tickets for Buried on TDF but I'm still not quite sold on Illuminati Lizards, though hopefully we'll start to hear more buzz about specific shows once NYMF really gets into the swing of things.

[mostly_musicals]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 1:55am

Hiya!

I have reservations for all 11 of the developmental readings, Illuminati Lizards (say the words Brian Charles Rooney and i am THERE), Joe Iconis in Concert, and Intersecting Chords. I'll probably see *most* of the productions. The schedule is a nightmare this year, with only one venue for full productions, of which there are only 10 (!). Over 4 weeks (!!). (Of course there are, as always, concerts and other special events, etc, some of which are at the Beechman.)  But, it does leave a lot of time to see other things while i am there.

I missed 2018 due to scheduling conflicts, but have seen quite a few shows, concerts, and readings there for at least the last 10 years. I have a strong interest in new musicals/musicals in development, and i don't think i have ever seen a NYMF roster where i was familiar with so little.

Interesting. Fingers crossed. 

:)

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 11:06am

cant wait to see MY REAL MOTHER.

[lightguy06222]

Posted: 7/9/19 at 11:06am

cant wait to see MY REAL MOTHER.

[Susanswerphone]

Posted: 7/15/19 at 4:44am

Only got through the opening of Illuminati Lizards before the show was called due to the blackout. It looked promising and am hoping to see it through at another time.
Sunday's performance of Buried was wonderful! Great score!
Looking forward to.more this week.

[mostly_musicals]

Posted: 7/15/19 at 11:50am

Since Thursday, i have seen 5 readings, 2 productions, and a concert at NYMF - all but one have closed:

ILLUMINATI LIZARDS: i really wanted this to be more fun than it was, i think the production values were too high in some ways, and it'd be better off as a scrappy little basement show. Brian Rooney and a couple others seemed to really get it right as far as camp level / over the top comedy, but in general this was a miss for me.

LADYSHIP: We saw this on Saturday afternoon when the leading LADY was out sick, so they did a concert version with one of the writers filling in. I liked it quite a bit, the songs were enjoyable and the cast was very strong. Book-wise it may have fallen into some cliche traps, but in these circumstances, it was easier to ignore..

SAVAGE (CONCERT): I was very excited about this, it's a story i have not heard - Wanda Savage, native american sharpshooter, vaudeville star, and silent film actress... unfortunately the result was a disappointment. Even allowing for the fact that this was a concert, with limited dialog and stage directions, we are given no clear idea of the events of Wanda's life, much less any insight into it. The show has a nice sound, but the lyrics need a helping hand, there are prosody issues throughout. I'd hope the creator moves forward with this, perhaps with new collaborators?

Note: the Beechman is COLD. Like icy arctic breezes cold, if you see something there, come prepared.

READINGS

FREEDOM SUMMER: Black and white activists fighting for civil rights in Jim Crow Mississippi in 1964, leading to the deaths of 3 of them. The show felt very very new, and somehow incomplete, like it was act 1 (and it was only about 75 minutes). i'd be interested in seeing a more fully realized version. More historical context would help - i think the authors assume the audience has knowledge that they may not.

QUEEN E: Strong leads with weak support, it was a fun feminist bible story about Esther and the origin of Purim (something i was only slightly familiar with) with a modern flair and humor. Some aspects felt like a kids show, but not entirely, and i hope they decide which way they want it to go. This could be a successful seasonal family show

EVERYTHING IS OKAY: Millennial angst. Not my cup of tea. Nope. THEIR description calls it a 'hot mess musical', i'll leave it at that.

THE DISAPPEARING MAN: This was the event i was most excited about, and it lived up to it. It is a kind of dark folk opera about a traveling circus during the 1930s. The cast is excellent. The songs are great. The story is compelling. There is one more presentation, Thursday at 10:30 am (!) and if you can go, GO. (here's info and a recording of an earlier version: https://jahnsood.com/theater/the-disappearing-man/)

HERO: the delightful surprise for me thus far.  A kinda meta superhero origin story that also dips into issues of race, sexuality, gentrification, and family. Pop songwriting, offbeat sense of humor, a really good time. I wish this still had performances, i'd be sending folks there.

 

I'm missing KAFKA'S METAMORPHOSIS today due to a cold, and seeing another, non-NYMF, reading tonight.

This week has in store:

readings: BROTHER NAT, UNDERGROUND, BISLAND & BLY, and ABDUCTION

concerts: JOE ICONIS in concert and hopefully FINDING BEAUTIFUL

i'm up in the air about the 2 productions this week, BLACK HOLE WEDDING and LEAVING EDEN - happy for any reports!