NYTB's New Works Series to Return Next Week with THE WHITE ROSE and MATCHES

New York Theatre Barn, which incubates, develops, and produces new musicals that tell untold stories, today announced that the company will present "The White Rose" and "Matches" on Monday, September 19 as a part of its New Works Series. The productions each focus on the turmoil and hardships young people experience when confronted with war and death.

Said Joe Barros, Artistic Director, New York Theatre Barn, "The themes addressed in 'The White Rose' and "Matches' resonate well beyond the stage as we face the effects of war and tension over social issues. I know these pieces will help inspire a meaningful dialogue among our audience. Both of these musicals underscore New York Theatre Barn's mission to tell untold stories."

"The White Rose," with book and lyrics by Derek P. Hassler and Music by Landon Braverman, is a new rock musical. Set in Germany in 1942, it focuses on six students at the University of Munich who begin a non-violent underground resistance while observing the effects of World War II. The presentation will be directed by Srda Vasiljevic (SPRING AWAKENING), with musical direction by Luke McGinnis, and the cast includes Alex Boniello (Spring Awakening), Ethan Crystal, Kerri George, Kurt Hellerich (The Theory of Relativity), Katie Lee Hill (Poster Boy, The Wildness), Robert Lenzi (Tuck Everlasting), Simone Les, Chiara Trentalage, and Luke Wygodny (Once).

An original French book by Anthony Michineau and original French lyrics by Ludovic-Alexandre Vidal, the book and lyrics for "Matches" have been adapted into English by Michael Conley. The musical was nominated for a 2016 Les Molieres Award. With music by Sulien Salvia. This premiere English presentation will be directed by Michael Bello, with musical direction by Patrick Sulken. The cast includes Lindsay Bayer, Danny Caraballo, Michael Enright, Gabe Gibbs (The Book of Mormon), Mary Mossberg (Mamma Mia), Emily Olcott, Prescott Seymour (Bunnicula), Raleigh Shuck (Beaches), and Tina Stafford (Once). This original re-adaptation of Andersen's The Little Match Girl tells the story through the eyes of a little girl, Emma, sent to an orphanage after the death of her grandmother.

The performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. at The Cell, located at 338 W. 23rd St. Tickets are $20 and are available for purchase at www.nytheatrebarn.org.

New York Theatre Barn (NYTB) incubates, develops, and produces new musicals that tell untold stories. Each story is inspired by the lives of real people and actual events. The company has two innovative core programming presentation platforms: 1) New Works Series presents bi-monthly "pre-premieres" of new musicals in the incubation stage of development; and 2) The Choreography Lab is the only curated choreography platform where choreographers and writers collaborate to develop movement for new musicals during incubation. NYTB is a member of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre and the Alliance of Resident Theatres / New York. New York Theatre Barn is a 501(c)(3) Manhattan based non-profit theatre company founded in 2007. Visit www.nytheatrebarn.org.