Rhinebeck Writers Retreat Hosts 16 Award-winning Musical Theatre Writers For Summer Residencies

Rhinebeck Writers Retreat will host 16 award-winning musical theatre writers of eight new musicals for eight consecutive weeklong residencies between July 3 and August 28. Writers include FUN HOME's Joel Perez, Jonathan Larson winners Jay Adana, Paulo K Tiról, and Rona Siddiqui; and Fred Ebb award winners Tidtaya Sinutoke and Benjamin Velez. Each writing team lives in a private home to focus solely on writing for one week. Writers receive a stipend, food, pianos, and supplies, and they will work with a member of Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's Sounding Board of artistic advisors for dramaturgical support.

Executive Director Kathy Evans said: "It's exciting to see these musicals embrace the totality of what it means to be American, with characters originating from the Philippines, Thailand, Afghanistan, and India, and questions about race and gender. I can't wait to work with these writers from diverse backgrounds throughout the USA."

The eight musicals were selected from 145 applications representing 290 musical theatre writers, which were reviewed by 23 readers in the first round and five readers in the final round: Neil Bartram, Composer/Lyricist; Anika Chapin, Director of Artistic Development, Signature Theatre; Timothy Huang, Composer, Lyricist, Librettist & Rhinebeck alum; Khiyon Hursey, Writer, Composer & Rhinebeck alum; and Raymond J. Lee, Actor.

All the writers' costs are covered by donors, including an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, The New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund, and The Noël Coward Foundation. Concord Theatricals is this year's Premium sponsor of the writers' home. Major individual support comes from Liz Armstrong; Rick Farrar and Jeff Zadroga; Molly McEneny; Liz and Bill Mills, Steve and Paula Reynolds, and Alex Robertson. Bios and synopses can be found at www.rhinebeckwriters.org

The writers and musicals selected for this summer and the supporters underwriting each week are:

· Jul 3 - Jul 10: Zeniba Now, Jay Adana, THE LOOPHOLE, with Lead Support from The Noël Coward Foundation, in honor of Geoffrey Johnson, and Underwriting Support from The John Levin & Diane Keefe Fund

· Jul 10 - Jul 17: Paulo K Tiról, Noam Shapiro, ON THIS SIDE OF THE WORLD, with Lead Support from Molly McEneny

· Jul 17 - Jul 24: Lisa DeSpain, David Simpatico, THAT HELL-BOUND TRAIN, with Lead Support from Rick Farrar and Jeff Zadroga

· Jul 24 - Jul 31: Rona Siddiqui, SALAAM MEDINA: TALES OF A HALFGHAN, with Lead Support from The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund

· Jul 31 - Aug 7: Jasmine Joshua, Heather Ragusa: HERE AND THEIR, with Lead Support from Steve and Paula Reynolds

· Aug 7 - Aug 14: Tidtaya Sinutoke, Lily Ali-Oshatz, Naomi Matlow: DEAR MR. C, with Lead Support from Liz and Bill Mills

· Aug 14 - Aug 21: Shayok Misha Chowdhury, Laura Grill Jaye: HOW THE WHITE GIRL GOT HER SPOTS AND OTHER 90S TRIVIA, with Lead Support from Paul Feuerman & Bruce Grivetti

· Aug 21 - Aug 28: Joel Perez, Benjamin Velez: LOST CITY RADIO, with Lead Support from Liz Armstrong