2015 Stages Musical Theatre Festival Comes to L.A. This Weekend

Los Angeles continues to be a hotbed of new musicals. After a dizzying number of new musicals appeared in the recent Hollywood Fringe Festival, soon the 18th annual Stages Musical Theatre Festival will be returning to Los Angeles this August. This prestigious festival features new musicals, which have been developed across the country, presented in concert readings. This year's festival features six musicals, presented in two venues over two weekends: This weekend, August 21-23 at New Musicals Inc., 5628 Vineland in North Hollywood and August 28-30 at 3D Theatricals, 1255 N. Knollwood Circle in Anaheim, CA 92801.

An annual Chicago tradition for 15 years in Chicago, Stages moved to Los Angeles in 2010, under the wing of New Musicals Inc. becoming a biennial festival. Submissions to the festival come from around the globe all year long, culminating in a round of finalists, from which the winners are chosen.

The shows featured this year will be Invisible by David Hollingsworth and David Orris; Off the Wall by Danny Abosch and Sarah Rebell; Anarchist Girl by J. Linn Allen and Cris Wo; Bagels! by Chana Wise and Carl Johnson; Darby O'Gill and the Leprechaun Queen, by Scott Guy and Ron Barnett; and an electric evening of selections from musical theatre writers under the age of 26, the final presentation of the 2015 New Voices Project. Featured will be the work of the New Voices Project winners: Jacob Combs & Madeline Myers, Bill Nelson and Joseph Trefler, and Michael Finke.

"We had so many wonderful submissions to the New Voices Project this year, we added a special Merit Award," explains festival producer Scott Guy, "and we'll be featuring some of the Merit writers as well in the festival." The Merit Award Recipients are: Mark Sonnenblick, Andre Catrini, Sam Chanse and Bob Kelly, and Ben Boecker.

"One of the most exciting things about the Stages Festival," says festival Artistic Director Elise Dewsberry, "is that audiences get to see musicals at different 'stages' of development, ranging from polished, wonderful shows ready for production to really raw exciting first drafts. Audiences get a close-up look at tomorrow's musicals being developed today, right now, right here."

Casting and producing the festival involves the talents of nearly 100 actors, pianists, directors, producers, stage managers, dramaturgs, box office staff, and ushers. The storylines and styles of the musicals are as different as the actors performing in them.

Invisible tells the story of two nerdy high school guys who decide to create a potion to make themselves popular, so they can go to prom with the school's cheerleading twins. But miraculously, the potion turns one of them invisible! Things start to sour between the friends when the visible one starts taking advantage of the situation, and doesn't want to help his one-time-buddy become visible again, leading up to an explosive prom night. It features a driving, young score with humor that's edgy and contemporary (but still family friendly!) Book by David Hollingsworth, lyrics and music by David Orris. Directed by Elise Dewsberry with musical direction by Bryan Blaskie.

Off the Wall - This musical comedy, loosely inspired by the 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa from the Louvre, won the 2014 Search for New Musicals. In this five-character, ninety-minute, original musical, the Mona Lisa is brought to life when a worker in the Louvre kisses her. Much to worker's dismay, Mona Lisa immediately starts causing chaos all over Paris. This fresh, tongue-in-cheek musical may take place in the Belle Epoque, but it whimsically explores contemporary themes, including the glorification of celebrity, the obsession with physical beauty, and the importance of taking a second glance at preconceived notions of love and art. Book and lyrics by Sarah Rebell, music by Danny Abosch. Directed by Allison Bibicoff with musical direction by Jan Roper.

Anarchist Girl - An edgy, provocative chamber musical about a young protestor who breaks into a house planning to kidnap a famous author, to make him a spokesperson for her cause, only to find that this former literary giant is now confined to a wheelchair, no longer able to speak. She turns her attention to the author's shut-in son, and tries to convince him to come with her into the dangerous world to stand up for what he believes in. This is an "existential" musical that will appeal to the audience that loves a challenge! Book by Cris Wo, lyrics and music by J. Linn Allen. Directed by Jon Sparks with musical direction by Ron Barnett.

Bagels! - The almost-true story of the man who invented the automated bagel-making machine; how it almost tore apart a family, and got some union bagel makers pretty upset. A family comedy, but with some adult moral dilemmas for the young inventor, this show has a charming, witty book and a lovely joyful score. Book and lyrics by Chana Wise, music by Carl Johnson. Directed by John Henry Davis, with musical direction by Emily Cohn.

Darby O'Gill and the Leprechaun Queen - We're in mythic Celtic Ireland, a land filled with magic, leprechauns, goblins, banshees, and the legendary trickster Darby O'Gill, who is bent on stealing the Leprechaun's Gold. Darby is forced to make a bargain with the Leprechaun Queen, whom he does not trust in the least little bit...and she trusts him even less. Darby's journey takes him to the very edge the Otherworld, ruled over by the frightening spectre of the Banshee, who has tormented the Queen's nightmares for years with an awful, terrible death. The musical palette is a kind of Celtic mythic folk rock. Book and lyrics by Scott Guy, music by Ron Barnett.

New Voices Project - A concert of songs and musical excerpts written by the winners of the 2015 New Voices Projects - all writers under the age of 26. This is the third year of this competition, with sponsorship by Walt Disney Imagineering Creative Entertainment.

Untitled - A seventh musical might be added, pending final rights-approval from the motion picture studio which is preparing for a simultaneous opening night on Broadway and a television series based on the same storyline. For legal reasons, New Musicals Inc. is not permitted to announce the title at this moment, but hopes to be able to add the show if the rights become approved.

The festival's first weekend will begin Friday August, 21st at 8:00pm at New Musicals Inc. in North Hollywood and will continue Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings through the 23rd. The Festival's second weekend will begin Friday August 28th at 8:00pm at 3D Theatricals in Anaheim and will continue Saturday and Sunday afternoons and evenings through the 30th.

Tickets are free, but a donation of $10 or more guarantees a seat reservation. For reservations and more information: www.nmi.org.