TV: NYMF presents - The Jerusalem Syndrome Part I

The Jerusalem Syndrome is an original musical comedy with book and lyrics by 2006 Kleban Award winners Laurence Holzman & Felicia Needleman and a score by Kyle Rosen. This tuneful show brings to life the strange but real psychological phenomenon that makes ordinary tourists in Jerusalem come to believe they are figures from the Bible. When a host of characters including Noah, Jesus, God, and not one, but two Virgin Marys are led by Moses in an Exodus from the hospital psych ward, the result is a journey that is both hilarious and heartwarming. The production will be directed by Annette Jolles, whose credits include Little by Little, That Time of the Year, Wall to Wall Sondheim at Symphony Space, and TV's "9/11 Memorial from Ground Zero," for which she received an Emmy Award. David Snyder (Forever Plaid) will musical direct.

This episode of The Jerusalem Syndrome "Road to NYMF" chronicles the first week of rehearsal with interviews with the director on working with her collaborators, the writers discuss how they came up with this zany story, and cast member Felicia Ricci sings a sample of "You Can Lead". Also, cast members Liz Larson, Stuart Zagnit, and Austin Miller perform a few numbers from the show at the TheaterMania street fair.

The Jerusalem Syndrome opens on September 23rd at 37 Arts. Performances will be Tuesday, Sept. 23rd at 8:00 pm, Wednesday, Sept. 24th at 1:00 pm, Friday, Sept. 26th at 9:00 pm, Saturday, Sept. 27th at 1:00 pm, Thursday, Oct. 2nd at 9:00 pm, and Saturday, Oct. 4th at 1:00 pm.

Laurence Holzman and Felicia Needleman's other collaborations include That Time of the Year, an original holiday musical revue that had its off-Broadway premiere at the York Theatre (original cast recording due out on JAY Records this fall); Wallenberg, a musical drama about Raoul Wallenberg which premiered at the New York Musical Theatre Festival in 2006; Suddenly Hope, an original musical comedy that played at the Denver Civic Theatre and the Stamford Center for the Arts; and a musical version of the 1942 film I Married a Witch, for which they earned ASCAP's Sammy Cahn Award for Outstanding Lyricists.

In addition to The Jerusalem Syndrome, Kyle Rosen composed music for the shows Suddenly Hope and That Time of the Year. He also orchestrated the music for the NBC Movie-of-the-Week, A Child Lost Forever. He is the recipient of the Milton Lyon Award for songwriting and is a former president of the Princeton Triangle Club.

Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre," The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize one of America's greatest art forms by discovering, supporting and promoting new musical theater artists, producers, and projects, and by introducing a diverse audience to the vibrancy of contemporary musical theater. Since its inception in 2004, the three-week annual festival has premiered more than 130 new musicals - many of which have gone on to award-winning productions in New York, in regional theaters and on tour in 38 states, and nine countries worldwide.