New Musical Comedy HEIST! Announces Special Preview
HEIST!, the new musical comedy about an enterprising team of thieves who attempt the biggest con Broadway has ever seen, will make its world premiere this summer, in a limited sneak peek preview engagement beginning Thursday, August 9th and continuing through Sunday, September 2nd only, at The Players Theatre (115 MacDougal Street, between West 3rd and Bleecker Streets).
Directed by James Will McBride, Heist! features book and lyrics by Alex Koceja, music by Michael Uselmann and choreography by Jenna Haimes. Koceja and Uselmann, making their Off-Broadway debut, are recent graduates of the prestigious NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program (Winnie Holtzman, Joe Iconis, Rachel Sheinkin, Kirsten Childs, Rachel Chavkin, among others).
Jack, retired from the heist game after his partner in crime dies on his watch, gets roped into one last job: to infiltrate the cast of a Broadway revival and steal a very valuable necklace off the leading lady on stage. With a team of young thieves-turned-actors, Jack attempts to escape the mistakes of his past while dealing with directors, double-agents and Actors' Equity. Just before opening night, Jack's old partner arrives, having faked his death, and reveals he's also after the necklace! The second act of Heist! is the entirety of Three Card Monte - audiences see the heist unfold, onstage and off. Think Oceans 11 meets Kiss Me, Kate!
The cast of Heist! features Kable Barnhart, Christopher Bober, James Cella, Chandler Converse, Javier Taylor Fox, Alec Irion, Claire Leyden, Blair Medina, Cordara Newson, Patricia Sabulis (Friends! The Parody Musical), and Alicia Thomas.
Heist! features scenic & costume design by Sonya Plenefisch and lighting design by Kenzie Carpenter.
Alex Koceja is a lyricist based in New York City. Alex received a Bachelor's degree in Dramatic Art from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a Master's in musical theatre writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. He work has been featured as part of the Broadway's Future Songbook series, as well as New York Musical Festival. Most recently, Alex worked as Assistant Lyricist on a workshop of Kerrigan and Lowdermilk's new immersive musical The Bad Years.
Michael Uselmann is an award-winning composer and music director based in New York City. His works have been performed as part of the Broadway's Future Songbook series as well as by the NOW Ensemble and the Lawrence Symphony Orchestra. Michael received a bachelor's degree in Music Theory/Composition from Lawrence University where he received the Pi Kappa Lambda composition award and a master's in musical theatre writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts where he wrote and premiered two original musicals: Heist! and The Great Divide. Michael's music directing/conducting credits include: The Sound of Music (national tour), Elf the Musical (national tour), Ragtime (Ogunquit Playhouse), Big Fish, Young Frankenstein (Timber Lake playhouse), Hello Dolly! (Wagon Wheel Theatre).
James Will McBride is a New York-based director of plays and musicals. He has conceived and produced concerts and cabarets at Feinstein's/54 Below in New York City as well as venues in Houston, New Orleans, DC, and Hartford. He served as the resident assistant director at Hartford Stage for two seasons and is a former Directing Candidate in The American Theatre Wing's SpringBoardNYC program. He's assisted directors including Darko Tresnjak, Kent Thompson, Mark Lamos, Michael Wilson, Maxwell Williams, and Giovanna Sardelli. Last spring, he directed the NYC premiere of Naomi Wallace's The War Boys. Most recently, James was a visiting instructor at Loyola University New Orleans where he directed Informed Consent. For more visit JamesWillMcBride.com
Performances of Heist! will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7PM with matinees Sunday at 2PM.
Tickets from $32 are available online at HeistMusical.com, by phone 866-811-4111 or in person at The Players Theatre Box Office prior to each performance. The Players Theatre is located at 115 MacDougal Street (between West 3rd and Bleecker Streets).
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