Tap Musical COUNT TO TEN Is An Official Selection For 2009 NYMF, To Play Theater At St. Clements 10/15-17

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and The Group Theatre Too (GTT) present the original tap musical Count to Ten. Book, music and lyrics by Michael Blevins; lyrics by Beth Clary; music by David Wollenberger, Scott Knipe, Bruce Sacks. Count to Ten is an official selection of the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival and plays at The Theater at St. Clements from October 15th through the 17th. The production features musical direction by Christine Riley, orchestrations by Gabe Toth, lighting design by Christopher Hoyt and sound design by Paul Gregorio. Count to Ten also received the NYT award for best new musical in 2008.

The show's co-creator and director Michael Blevins, who appeared in the films "Chaplin" and "A Chorus Line", has been developing the production with The Group Theatre Too for the past two years. "This is truly a collaborative effort," says Blevins, "we are thrilled NYMF has accepted the show and can't wait for new audiences to experience its story and exciting dance numbers." GTT's Producer, Justin Boccitto, adds "It's rare to see a completely original tap musical that appeals to audiences of all ages."

In Count to Ten, a tap-dancing writer's Broadway ambitions are thwarted because his new musical lacks a real love story. Forced to develop the show at a performing arts camp full of spoiled, rich, and in some cases neglected stars of tomorrow, he finds he can no longer tap-dance around his issues and succumbs to the true call of his heart. Count to Ten the new all-dancing musical everyone can tap into.

The NYMF production of Count to Ten plays Thursday, October 15th at 8pm, Friday, October 16th at 1pm and Saturday, October 17th at 5pm. Tickets are $20 and go on sale September 1st. School/group discounts are available. The Theater at St. Clements is located at 423 West 46th Street New York, NY 10036. Visit www.nymf.org/counttoten for tickets or call 212-352-3101. Also visit www.counttotenthemusical.com.

Since its inception in 2004, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has premiered more than 175 new musicals - many of which have gone on to award-winning productions on and off-Broadway, in nearly every state, and in over a dozen countries. NYMF alumni include the Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal, currently playing at the Booth Theater on Broadway; NYMF 2004 hit [title of show], which enjoyed a Tony Award-nominated run last season; and Altar Boyz, now in its fifth year off-Broadway at New World Stages.

Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre," the three-week annual festival works 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. Widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery, NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization.

NYMF 2009 is presented in association with BroadwayWorld.com, Production Resource Group and TheaterMania.com, and is supported by Barnes & Noble Booksellers, BroadwayBox.com, BroadwayInsider.com, Frank & Camille's Fine Pianos, King Displays, Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, Next Magazine, Panasonic Astrovision, Queerty.com, Tekserve, and TheMENEvent. Major supporters include The ASCAP Foundation, BMI Foundation, Inc., The Nathan Cummings Foundation with the support and encouragement of Jamie Mayer, The Charlie & Jane Fink Charitable Fund, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and The Theater League. NYMF is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Tickets to individual festival events will go on sale to NYMF Members on August 1 and to the general public on September 1. NYMF Memberships, which combine charitable contributions with valuable, flexible ticket packages and perks like early seating, are currently available for purchase at (212) 352-3101 or www.nymf.org.