Alice Ripley & More Join Judging Panel For SOUND BITES 6.0

Theatre Now New York (TNNY) is pleased to announce the official judging panel for SOUND BITES 6.0, the Sixth Annual Festival of 10-Minute Musicals, which is scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 7pm at Merkin Hall at Kaufman Music Center, 129 West 67th Street, New York, NY 10023. SOUND BITES 6.0's selected judging panel of industry professionals includes Alice Ripley (Broadway: Next to Normal - Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, American Psycho, Side Show, Sunset Boulevard, The Rocky Horror Show; Upcoming Off-Broadway: The Pink Unicorn), Barbara Anselmi (Broadway: It Shoulda Been You - Composer and Concept; Off-Broadway: Music Director - The Velveteen Rabbit, Gay Divorce, Primrose, Cabin in the Sky), Casting Director Alison Franck (National Tours of An American in Paris, Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Legally Blonde, A Christmas Story: The Musical), Casey McLain (Artistic Director of Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival and Director of Operations at Samuel French, Inc.), James Darrah (Lead Producer - Deconstructing Patti, starring Patti LuPone and Seth Rudetsky; Choreographer - Far From The Madding Crowd (NYMF Festival); Director - Fantastic Sportstacular starring Eli Manning, Joe Namath and Bryant Gumbel), Julie Haverkate (Literary & Editorial Associate at Disney Theatrical Group), and Robert W. Schneider (Original Programming Producer at Feinstein's/54 Below - MAC Award; Co-host of podcast Behind The Curtain: Broadway's Living Legends; Theater Director - Ovation & StageSceneLA Award; Faculty at Penn State and Musical Theatre at NYFA).

SOUND BITES 6.0 grants composers, lyricists, and librettists the unique opportunity to present their work in front of a live audience. This one-night only event, now in its sixth year, showcases 10 new musicals by up-and-coming musical theatre writing teams. SOUND BITES 6.0's musical finalists will compete for top festival honors, including Best Musical, Best Direction, Best Book, Best Choreography, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Music, and Best Lyrics. These award winners will be determined by votes from the judging panel and announced in the venue lobby following the performance. The audience will also vote for their favorite musical, which will earn the coveted Audience Choice Award. A musical is not limited on the number of awards it can receive.

Tickets are $25, $35, and $45 and are available for purchase at www.tnny.org or by calling 855-254-SHOW [7469]. TNNY Members receive 20% off their ticket purchase (with no service fees). To become a member, visit www.tnny.org. Ticket prices increase by $5 on the day of the festival. Proceeds from SOUND BITES 6.0 will go toward the creation, development and production of new musicals.

SOUND BITES 6.0 TOP 10 FINALISTS:

Ant and Grasshopper
Book & Lyrics by A. J. Freeman, Music by Dimitri Landrain
Ant and Grasshopper (from Fables) is based on the classic tale by Aesop. Hardworking, miserable Ant meets fun-loving, irresponsible Grasshopper. Together they learn that everyone needs both discipline and creativity, and that life is better shared with a friend!

Behind The Bar
Book & Lyrics by Audrey Martells, Music by Audrey Martells & Etienne Stadwijk
A single mother struggles to raise her two sons in the middle of the civil rights era. One son is at the forefront of the fight for justice, while the other has huge dreams of being a dancer and changing the world through art.

Bittersweet Lullaby
Book by Will Lacker, Music & Lyrics by Dylan Glatthorn
Two struggling songwriters live in the same apartment decades apart. In one magical night, their voices connect through time and they begin a collaboration that leaves them forever changed.

Bleeding Kansas
Book by Anderson Cook, Music & Lyrics by Ben Lapidus & Amanda D'Archangelis
In 1856, notorious abolitionist John Brown is frustrated with the endless debates, marches, and protests to end slavery - all without any action. So he takes his family to the new state of Kansas to take a stand and drive the pro-slavery Border Ruffians from the territory, by any means necessary. But Brown's fervor quickly ignites conflict, leading to the death of his son, and a violent rampage that sets the stage for the brutality of the Civil War. Bleeding Kansas is a punk musical that demands you declare what you stand for.

Book Lovers
Book & Lyrics by Talaura Harms, Music by Jonathan Bauerfeld
Charlotte is secretly in love with the librarian. She rejects the idea of romance until three of literature's "greatest" lovers escape from their books to convince her to take a chance on love.

Eighth Grade President
Book & Lyrics by Jacey Powers, Music & Lyrics by Ashkon Davaran
Madison is an eighth grade girl who wants to change the world, but worries she needs literal balls to do it. In a world of Tamagotchis and Trapper keepers, Madison wrestles the familiar eighth grade demons-an uncertain self-identity, low-self esteem, popular girls, gym class, periods and of course, boys who work half as hard to get twice as much.

Gollum Owned a Tropical Smoothie
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Ethan Crystal & Garrett Poladian
Gollum Owned a Tropical Smoothie tells the story of Ian (a regular high school kid) and Kyle (a stoner college dropout) working at a Tropical Smoothie in Panama City Beach, Florida. Together, along with Ian's older sister Gabby, they explore love, life, weed, smoothies, and what it means to grow up. Oh...and their boss is Gollum.

Jack & Jill
Book & Lyrics by Zackry Childers, Music by Patrick Thompson
Frustrated with their small cottage and strict parents, Jack and Jill run away from home; wishing for a life free of rules and full of adventure. But, when they stumble upon a wishing well in the darkest part of the forest, they quickly realize they should be careful what they wish for...

Maya & Me
Book & Music by Cheeyang Ng, Book & Lyrics by Kathy Ng
Maya & Me is an exploration of one Chinese-American girl's relationship with an iconic piece of public art. As she digs deeper for answers she may never find, her connection with Maya Lin blossoms into something she has never expected.

The Only Thing That Matters
Book, Music, & Lyrics by Chris Kerrigan
Three adult sisters have dinner together at one of their homes in the suburbs. Kerri, the middle child and black sheep of the family is determined to not be undermined by the judgments and critiques of her two more well-adjusted and successful sisters. But as soon as alcohol and discussions of social issues descend upon the evening, all bets are off.