NewArts to Present Two Musicals This Summer

By: Jul. 02, 2015
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Broadway veterans JoAnn M. Hunter and Shannon Lewis will be the choreographers for this summer's productions (Newtown, CT) -- NewArts: Newtown Musicals, a division of the 12.14 Foundation, under the artistic direction of Michael Unger, is pleased to announce its 2015 summer season.

TICKETS AND INFORMATION AT WWW.NEWARTSCT.ORG

The anchor of each season are two musicals, which incorporate 200 children from the Newtown area as a continuation of the 1214 Foundation to promote personal development through high-level performing arts programs.

The first show will be the regional premiere of Liberty Smith with performances on Friday, July 31st at 7pm; Saturday August 1st at 2 and 7pm; and Sunday, August 2nd at 2pm.

The second show Disney's The Lion King Jr. will be performed on Thursday, August 6th at 7pm, Friday, August 7th at 7pm, Saturday, August 8th at 2 and 7pm, Sunday, August 9th at noon and 5pm.

The venue for both productions is Newtown High School, which is located at 12 Berkshire Road in Newtown, CT.

A hysterically historical new musical, Liberty Smith, is filled with comedy, romance and adventure, recounting the possibly true and fantastical tale of America's forgotten founding father. It's Forrest Gump meets meets 1776, where everyone, no matter how seemingly unimportant, can change the course of history... whether they make it into the textbooks or not. Liberty Smith was somehow responsible for all the major events in the American Revolution, yet his astonishing story has never been told... until now. This madcap musical romp through Revolutionary America features music by Michael Weiner (First Date, Secondhand Lions); lyrics by Adam Abraham (Man of the Century); and book by Marc Madnick, Eric. R. Cohen and Adam Abraham.

The regional premiere of Liberty Smith will be directed by Michael Unger (NewArts artistic director and associate artistic director of Off Broadway's York Theatre), choreographed by JoAnn M. Hunter (Broadway's School of Rock, The Nutty Professor), with music direction by Jeffrey Saver (A ROCKIN' Midsummer Night's Dream, Seussical). The cast is made up 54 Newtown performers between the ages of 10 and 20.

The African savannah comes to life on stage in Disney's The Lion King, Jr, with Simba, Rafiki, Nala, Pumbaa, Timon and an unforgettable cast of characters as they journey from Pride Rock to the jungle and back again in this inspiring coming-of-age tale. The production is based on a book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi, with music and lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice.

Disney's The Lion King, Jr. will also be directed by Mr. Unger, choreographed by Shannon Lewis (Claudio Quest, Lord Tom), with music direction by Newtown's own Brett Boles (The 101 Dalmatians Musical). The cast will feature 120 Newtown students between the ages of 5 and 13.

Thirty additional Newtown students will participate in all areas of set, prop and costume construction, lighting and sound crews, as well as the running crew and the orchestra.

ADDITIONAL EVENTS INCLUDE:

  • Monday Night Movie Musicals July 6th, July 13th, and July 20th at 7pm.

  • Newtown Dance Concert with local dancers and choreographers - July 30th at 7PM

FOR TICKETS:

For tickets and more information, please visit www.newartsct.org or call (352) 639-2787.


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