Benjamin Simpson News

Where Saturday Night Live meets Forbidden Broadway, Erica Vlahinos and Benjamin Simpson present PALiN: the Live Televised Musical Campaign (www.palinthemusicalcampaign.com), an outrageous new one-act comedy hit that follows Sarah Palin as she embarks on a one-night only, live televised event to set the record straight and announce her candidacy in the 2016 Presidential Election. A fast-paced, witty book paired with show tune parodies, PALiN sharply satires both musical theatre and politics in this laugh-out-loud musical-comedy campaign. So pack your bags, because we're about to have a Tea Party!

Last Monday, October 27, the Midtown International Theater Festival presented the awards for its 15th anniversary season. Meshelle, 'The Indie-Mom of Comedy,' hosted this New York independent theatre tradition which celebrates the outstanding work of the festivals and productions found in the Midtown International Theatre Festival, Midwinter Madness Fest, Commercial Division, Children's Theatre Program, Cabaret Showcase, Staged Reading Series, and the Short Play Lab. BroadwayWorld brings the results and pictures from the evening below!

Where Saturday Night Live meets Forbidden Broadway, Erica Vlahinos and Benjamin Simpson present PALiN: the Live Televised Musical Campaign (www.palinthemusicalcampaign.com), an outrageous new one-act comedy hit that follows Sarah Palin as she embarks on a one-night only, live televised event to set the record straight and announce her candidacy in the 2016 Presidential Election. A fast-paced, witty book paired with show tune parodies, PALiN sharply satires both musical theatre and politics in this laugh-out-loud musical-comedy campaign. So pack your bags, because we're about to have a Tea Party!

Where Saturday Night Live meets Forbidden Broadway, Erica Vlahinos and Benjamin Simpson present PALiN: the Live Televised Musical Campaign (www.palinthemusicalcampaign.com), an outrageous new one-act comedy hit that follows Sarah Palin as she embarks on a one-night only, live televised event to set the record straight and announce her candidacy in the 2016 Presidential Election. A fast-paced, witty book paired with show tune parodies, PALiN sharply satires both musical theatre and politics in this laugh-out-loud musical-comedy campaign. So pack your bags, because we're about to have a Tea Party!

Where Saturday Night Live meets Forbidden Broadway, Erica Vlahinos and Benjamin Simpson present PALiN: the Live Televised Musical Campaign (www.palinthemusicalcampaign.com), an outrageous new one-act comedy hit that follows Sarah Palin as she embarks on a one-night only, live televised event to set the record straight and announce her candidacy in the 2016 Presidential Election. A fast-paced, witty book paired with show tune parodies, PALiN sharply satires both musical theatre and politics in this laugh-out-loud musical-comedy campaign. So pack your bags, because we're about to have a Tea Party!

MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE - presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Crystal Theatre and Benjamin Simpson - has announced a second extension to its run with an additional performance on Friday, July 25 at 5:00 PM. The dramatic new musical inspired by the true story of the trailblazing labor organizer, which already has a sold out performance, will run from July 17 to 26, 2014. The show has book, music and lyrics by Cheryl E. Kemeny (co-founder of Crystal Theatre) and stars Lynne Wintersteller (A Grand Night For Singing and Annie on Broadway) and Robin De Jesus (two time Tony Award nominee). MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE is directed by Michelle Tattenbaum (Nobody Loves You at The Old Globe and Second Stage), choreographed by Clare Cook with music direction by Micah Young (Best Music Director, NYMF 2013). The show is an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Project.

MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE - presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Crystal Theatre and Benjamin Simpson - has extended its run with an additional performance on Saturday, July 26 at 2:00 PM. The dramatic new musical inspired by the true story of the trailblazing labor organizer, which already has a sold out performance, will now run from tonight, July 17 to 26, 2014.

MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE - presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Crystal Theatre and Benjamin Simpson - has extended its run with an additional performance on Saturday, July 26 at 2:00 PM.

Another exciting week at Les Mis! I return to Honestly Abe Off-Broadway to cover the role of Tom for the Father's Day matinee. We start a new Q&A segment "UR MUR GURD BURRICURD" with Benjamin Simpson (Warp Speed) and Heather Bithell (Razia's Shadow). Continue to send your questions to @anthonylogancole in twitter #BTB.

Year 2014 marks Year 15 for the MITF and John Chatterton is celebrating in a big way. Prolific producer John Chatterton has been a fixture of the Manhattan theatre scene for two decades. For much of that time, his brainchild, The Midtown International Theatre Festival, has been celebrating the diversity of theatre becoming a leader in presenting powerful works from around the world - and one of the best reasons to come to New York in the summer. The once bachelor MITF now has a full family of arts programs: The Short Play Lab, which will be part of this year's festivities; Cabaret MITF - featuring Broadway and cabaret performers - also be part of this summer's festivities; and the Commercial Division spotlighting works whose production values and subject matter are the stuff for Off- [and on] Broadway; and, of course, the founding Midtown International Theatre Festival. The Midwinter Madness Short Play Festival and the MITF Children's Theatre Festival shared in the fun earlier this year.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Crystal Theatre and Benjamin Simpson will present MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE - the dramatic new musical inspired by the true story of the trailblazing labor organizer - from July 17 to 24, 2014. The show has book, music and lyrics by Cheryl E. Kemeny (co-founder of Crystal Theatre) and stars Lynne Wintersteller (A Grand Night For Singing and Annie on Broadway) and Robin De Jesus (two time Tony Award nominee). MOTHER JONES AND THE CHILDREN'S CRUSADE is directed by Michelle Tattenbaum (Nobody Loves You at The Old Globe and Second Stage), choreographed by Clare Cook with music direction by Micah Young (Best Music Director, NYMF 2013). The show is an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Project.

Tonight, June 5th at 7pm Marissa Miller (Wicked) will make her solo cabaret debut at the Laurie Beechman Theatre with her new show 'Castles in the Air.' Tedd Firth serves as musical director and pianist alongside Dave Berger on drums, Steve Doyle on bass, and Sean Harkness on guitar. Direction is by Benjamin Simpson (Mother Jones).

On Thursday, June 5th at 7pm Marissa Miller (Wicked) will make her solo cabaret debut at the Laurie Beechman Theatre with her new show "Castles in the Air." Tedd Firth serves as musical director and pianist alongside Dave Berger on drums, Steve Doyle on bass, and Sean Harkness on guitar. Direction is by Benjamin Simpson (Mother Jones). Heres how the show is billed:

We have 55 HOURS LEFT to make a CRYSTAL THEATRE DREAM COME TRUE!

WARP SPEED: the SciFi Parody Musical previously titled Where No Man Has Gone Before: The Unauthorized Star Trek Parody Musical, which will debut at the Midtown International Theatre Festival's Commercial Division, has announced it's intention to move Off-Broadway following the festival.

Benjamin Simpson, producer for WARP SPEED: a SciFi Parody Musical, previously titled Where No Man Has Gone Before: The Unauthorized Parody Musical, written by Clara Hoch and Eva Thorpe, announced that the Show has been accepted into the 2014 Midtown International Theatre Festival's Commercial Division. Christopher Noffke will be taking the helm as director. This follows a previous announcement for a Fall 2014 New York debut following a workshop production in Washington, DC, and a one-night concert production at New York's Metropolitan Room. The festival runs from July 14th-August 10th with specific performance dates to be announced shortly. The production is aiming for an Off-Broadway transfer following the festival run. Simpson will be crowdsourcing the funds needed for the festival via a KickStarter campaign, which runs through March 17th and can be found at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/636943231/warp-speed-the-sci-fi-parody-musical.

SuEllen Estey (Sweeney Todd, State Fair, Barnum) leads the upcoming reading of Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade with book, music, and lyrics by Cheryl E. Kemeny of Crystal Theatre. The cast will also feature two time Tony nominee Robin de Jesus (In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles, Domesticated, Rent), N'Kenge (Motown, Sondheim on Sondheim), Sadie Sink (Annie), Marissa Miller (Wicked), Julie Benko (Spring Awakening, Les Miserables), Ava Demary (Matilda), Peter Davenport (The Sound of Music), and Kaye Tuckerman (Mamma Mia).

Where No Man Has Gone Before- The Unauthorized Star Trek Parody Musical, which has set its sights on a Fall 2014 Off-Broadway Opening Night, presents a special one night only concert featuring songs and scenes from the show at Manhattan's Metropolitan Room tonight, October 14th at 9:30pm.

Where No Man Has Gone Before- The Unauthorized Star Trek Parody Musical, which has set its sights on a Fall 2014 Off-Broadway Opening Night, will present a special one night only concert featuring songs and scenes from the show at Manhattan's Metropolitan Room on October 14th at 9:30pm. The concert will feature members from the very successful DC workshop cast including Anthony Logan Cole (who will reprise his role as Gary Mitchell) and will be narrated by WNMHGB writers Clara Hoch and Eva Thorpe. The concert is presented by Benjamin Simpson of Box 5 Theatricals and Eva Thorpe of Curtain Love Theatre Company. Tickets are available at Metropolitan Room.com.

Broadway star Robin DeJesus (2-time Tony award nominee for In The Heights and La Cage aux Folles) and rising star Benjamin Simpson (recent Boston Conservatory graduate and Equity actor) will perform a benefit for Crystal Theatre, where it all started for them.