THE FACEBOOK FIGHTER Takes Home 5 Awards at SOUND BITES 4.0

Theatre Now New York presented its 4th Annual festival of new musicals, Sound Bites 4.0 (sponsored by Music Theatre International and Disney Theatrical Productions) to a sold-out house at the Perishing Square Signature Theatre. An after-party was held in the theatre lobby where awards were given. Sound Bites showcases ten 10-minute musicals or musical excerpts in one evening.

The Facebook Fighter brings home five awards this year including Best Music, Best Lyrics, Best Actor (Chris Kerrigan), Best Direction (Amanda Connors) and Best Musical.
A Most Average Musical's Sarah Smithton received Best Actress. The audience voted their favorite musical to be The Wild and Wonderful Whites of West Virginia by Justin Anthony Long, music by Garrit Guadan.

This year's festival included:

CONNECTED
book, music & lyrics by Alanya Bridge

Express
book, music & lyrics by Janine McGuire and Arri Lawton Simon

The Facebook Fighter
book, music & lyrics by Chris Kerrigan

Franklin Pierce: Dragon Slayer (The Untold Story of America's Debatably Least Effective President)
book & lyrics by Rebekah M. Allen, music by Will Buck

Happenstance
book by Caitlin Gallo, choreography by Jimmy Burgio

The Medium...The Music...and Me
book, music & lyrics by DonnaD Lipari, creative direction by John DiGiorgio

A Most Average Musical
stage adaptation & lyrics by Jonathan Keebler, music by Bob Kelly, based on a screenplay by Talia Berger

The Pound: A Musical for the Dogs
book, music & lyrics by Phil Darg & Julie Ana Rayne

Superhots!
book & music by Joel Esher, book & lyrics by Blair Bodine

The Wild & Wonderful Whites of West Virginia
book & lyrics by Justin Anthony Long, music by Garrit Guadan

Staff of Sound Bites 4.0: Thomas Morrissey (Artistic Director), Stephen Bishop Seely (Producer), Matthew ZanFagna (Associate Artistic Director), Chris Giordano (Managing Director), Andrew Bryce (Production Manager), Cindy Shumsey (Lighting Designer), Ellie Kahn (Music Coordinator), Michael Tosto (Production Stage Manager), Jessica McIlquham (Assistant Stage Manager), Elinor Frances (Director of Press and Marketing), Juan Garcia (Crew Head), Lauren Downie (Box Office), Lauren Draper (Graphic Design), Carlos Zamora (Illustrations)

Theatre Now New York Artistic Director, Thomas Morrissey, has helped develop and produce new plays and musicals including the East Coast Premiere of Kingdom, the world premiere of The Last Sunday in June, and the East Coast Premiere of The Break-Up Notebook. Stephen Bishop Seely, Literary Manager of Theatre Now New York and Producer of Sound Bites, has helped develop several Off-Broadway and Broadway shows including Disney's Tarzan, Rock Wilk's Broke Wide Open, Rock Wilk's Brooklyn Quartet, and 8 Million Protagonists.

The mission of Theatre Now New York is to facilitate the creation and development of new theatrical works, the reimagining of previously produced known titles and the reinterpretation of classic works through readings, productions, workshops and work-in-progress presentations and to promote the understanding and appreciation of live theatre and its process by the general public and provides opportunities for emerging, mid-career and established theatre professional in their ongoing creative process. In keeping with this mission, Sound Bites' goal is to seek out and cultivate new writers and composers and develop new musicals.

For more information on Theatre Now New York, visit www.tnny.org. For more information about Sound Bites, go to www.tnny.org/soundbites.

SOUND BITES 4.0 is made possible in part with public funds from Creative Engagement / Creative Learning Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council. Lower Manhattan Cultural Council empowers artists by providing them with networks, resources, and support, to create vibrant, sustainable communities in Lower Manhattan and beyond. www.LMCC.net