KINKY BOOTS, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, and more Broadway Alumni Set for Staged Readings of WE ARE THE TIGERS: A NEW MUSICAL

The Gallery Players' Overtures New Musical Reading Series presents staged readings of the award-winning musical comedy WE ARE THE TIGERS: A NEW MUSICAL on February 6th and February 7th at 7pm. WE ARE THE TIGERS: A NEW MUSICAL is being staged in New York for the first time following an award-winning limited engagement at the Hudson Backstage Theatre in Los Angeles (2016 Ovation Award for Best Lyrics/Composition; Nomination for Best Musical (Intimate) and Best Music Direction).

In this original pop/rock musical, a new school year means a new beginning for the Tigers, the worst-ranked high school cheerleading team in the state. But when an innocent team-building sleepover becomes a mysterious murder scene, the Tigers will need more than just team spirit to survive the night - and each other.

With Book, Music, and Lyrics by Rebekah M. Allen (Remission, The Rage: Carrie 2, an Unauthorized Musical Parody), direction by Michael Bello, and music direction by Patrick Sulken, WE ARE THE TIGERS will feature performances by Broadway's Lauren Nicole Chapman* (Kinky Boots), Jenny Rose Baker* (Fiddler on the Roof), Chelsea Williams* (Mamma Mia!), and Kaitlyn Frank* (Newsies) with Leana Rae Concepcion, Gia-Rayne Harris, OriAnna Hilliard, Luke Hoback*, Emily Olcott, and Mia Weinberger.

*courtesy of Actors Equity Association

WE ARE THE TIGERS, An Overtures Staged Reading plays at The Gallery Players (199 14th St. Brooklyn, NY 11215) on February 6th and 7th at 7pm. Tickets are $10 and available at web.ovationtix.com/trs/cal/104.

MORE ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM

Rebekah M. Allen is a writer, composer, and lyricist living in New York City. Her work has been featured at the New York Musical Festival, Musical Theatre Factory, York Theatre, Songwriters' Salon, Second City Chicago, and Feinstein's/54 Below. Rebekah conceived and wrote book, music, and lyrics for WE ARE THE TIGERS, A NEW MUSICAL (Hudson Backstage Theatre, L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation winner for Best Lyrics/Composition, nominee for Best Production and Music Direction), REMISSION (NYMF Developmental Reading Series), THE RAGE: CARRIE 2, AN UNAUTHORIZED MUSICAL PARODY (Feinstein's/54 Below), and MY GAY KILLER HUSBAND: A LIFETIME ORIGINAL MUSICAL (Boo Festival Award Winner). Her original song "Look Alive" can be heard on Charging Moose Media web series, THE HUNTED: ENCORE. Rebekah is a graduate of the Second City Chicago Comedy Studies Program, alum of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop, and member of the 2016 TEDx Broadway Young Professional's Program and NewMusicalsINC New Voices Project. Follow her on all the things at @rebekahmallen.

Michael Bello (Director) is a Cuban-American director of musical theater with experience on Broadway, off-Broadway, and regionally. Recent directing credits include: In The Heights (NYIT nom: Outstanding Director), Next to Normal (NYIT nom: Outstanding Musical), The Last Word and What Do Critics Know? at NYMF, Hello Again (IRNE noms for Best Musical & Director), and We Are The Tigers (Ovation nom: Best Musical). Assisting: Doctor Zhivago (Broadway Theater, dir. Des McAnuff), Fly By Night (Dallas Theater Center, dir. Bill Fennelly), A Little More Alive (Kansas City Rep, dir. Sheryl Kaller), Candide (Huntington, dir. Mary Zimmerman), among others. Michael is the founding artistic director of The Script@Stage74, a new musical development program dedicated to fostering artists while giving back to the surrounding community. Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab. B.F.A. Emerson College. www.MichaelBello.com

Patrick Sulken (Music Director) is a New York-based music director and arranger. As pianist or conductor: Broadway's Something Rotten! (also 1st National Tour), Kinky Boots, Gigi. Others: Southern Comfort (Public Theatre), Gigantic (Vineyard Theatre), Ever After (Paper Mill), Peter and the Starcatcher (1st National Tour), and Little Miss Sunshine (2econd Stage). Recent credits as music director include Peter and the Starcatcher (St. Louis Rep, Milwaukee Rep, Cincinnati Playhouse) and We Are The Tigers (Hudson Theatre, Los Angeles - Ovation Award Nomination). Proud Northwestern University graduate. www.patricksulken.com // @patricksulken

MORE ABOUT THE GALLERY PLAYERS "OVERTURES" SERIES

After an overwhelmingly successful inaugural season, Gallery is pleased to announce, OVERTURES: A New Musical Reading Series: Season 3. The Gallery Players has often successfully produced new musicals as part of their season, such as Yank (2007) and Like You Like It (2008). To further this idea, Gallery Players has created a new program in order to directly support the development of new musicals. OVERTURES offers staged readings of six new musicals, thereby fostering the creation of new musical theatre and supporting the talented composers and writers as they refine their work. The series is helmed by theatre director and scholar, Barrie Gelles.

For more information on The Overture Series Readings, visit galleryplayers.com/overtures.