Benjamin Velez News

I NEED SOME SPACE: The Lyrics of Robby Sandler will play Saturday, July 13 at 7:00pm - at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Downstairs at West Bank Cafe 407 West 42nd Street. Tickets are $15, for more information visit www.robbysandler.com.

This week's featured composer is Benjamin Velez. Benjamin Velez is a composer/lyricist and recent Columbia University graduate where he studied film and wrote the 114th Annual Varsity Show. He is a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater workshop where he was named the Jerry Harrington award winner for the 2nd year workshop. His work has been featured as part of AWOL's 8 Minute Musicals at NYMF, The Platform concert series, and in last year's NEO concert. He is currently workshopping his original musical Afterland with collaborator Kathryn Hathaway, and recently premiered the title song at Joe's Pub as part of the latest CEC concert. While originally from Miami, he is now happy to call New York home sweet home.

?The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Winter Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the 30th Floor Media Room of BMI's New York office at 7 World Trade Center/250 Greenwich Street on Thursday, January 31 at 5:00PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations are a must: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 220-3177. Running time is 70 minutes.

After sold out shows at the Canal Room, the Laurie Beechman, and NYMF, Cutting-Edge Composers will be presented at Joe's Pub on Monday, February 4th at 7:00pm. $25 tickets can be purchased at www.joespub.com.

Each week Joe's Pub at The Public presents some of New York City's most eclectic programming ranging from world to classical, pop, singer-songwriter, jazz and more. At the center of Joe's Pub's genre-blind booking is The Public Theater's mission to bring world-class performance to New York City's diverse cultural community.

After sold out shows at the Canal Room, the Laurie Beechman, and NYMF, Cutting-Edge Composers will be at Joe's Pub on Monday, February 4th at 7:00pm at Joe's Pub in New York City. $25 tickets can be purchased at www.joespub.com. Up-and-coming musical theater writers are teamed with Broadway's hottest performers in this concert series directed and produced by Laura Pietropinto (Next to Normal) and co-produced by Jillian Robbins with Musical Direction by Julie McBride.

THE PLATFORM is a new concert series created by composer Drew Gasparini for the purpose of giving new writers, singers and artists a Platform to showcase their work in front of a New York audience. The show will be at THE FLUTE in Gramercy.

Cutting-Edge Composers presented the next generation of musical theatre songwriters last night, July 23 at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 w. 46th Street). The event was directed and produced by Laura Pietropinto (Next to Normal), co-produced by Jillian Robbins and Musically Directed by Virginia Hart Pike. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and we bring you photos from the star-studded concert below!

The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Spring Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the 30th Floor Media Room of BMI's New York office at 7 World Trade Center/250 Greenwich Street tonight, April 26, at 5:30PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations are a must: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 220-3177. Running time is 70 minutes.

The BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop announces its Spring Smoker, a semi-annual showcase for new songs from Workshop writers. The event will be held in the 30th Floor Media Room of BMI's New York office at 7 World Trade Center/250 Greenwich Street on Thursday, April 26, at 5:30PM and is open to members of the entertainment industry as well as Workshop members. Reservations are a must: Ssantana@bmi.com or 212 220-3177. Running time is 70 minutes.

The York Theatre Company present NEO7, a benefit concert celebrating New, Emerging, Outstanding musical theatre writers, last night Monday, May 16 at its home at the Theatre at Saint Peter's. 'NEO' (an acronym for 'New, Emerging, Outstanding') celebrates songwriters primed to pen the next generation of musicals. Since the first NEO concert 6 years ago -- recorded by England's JAY Records-- musical theatre fans and York supporters eagerly anticipate each incarnation. NEO7 included songs by the following new musical theatre writers: Will Aronson & Bill Nelson; Andre Catrini; Adam David Cohen & Patrick Gallagher; Jonathan Matthew Gilbert & John Andrew Tarbet; Tom Gualtieri & David Sisco; Richard Isen; Steven Jamail; Mark McDaniels & Donald Garverick; Mary Liz McNamara; Michael Mitnick; Jonathan Monro; Benjamin Velez; and Derrick Wang. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present NEO7, a benefit concert celebrating New, Emerging, Outstanding musical theatre writers, on Monday, May 16 at its home at the Theatre at Saint Peter's.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present NEO7, a benefit concert celebrating New, Emerging, Outstanding musical theatre writers, on Monday, May 16 at its home at the Theatre at Saint Peter's. Following the 7:30 PM performance (featuring the voices of many of today's top musical theatre talent), there will be a champagne and dessert reception to end the evening.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present NEO7, a benefit concert celebrating New, Emerging, Outstanding musical theatre writers, on Monday, May 16 at its home at the Theatre at Saint Peter's. Following the 7:30 PM performance (featuring the voices of many of today's top musical theatre talent), there will be a champagne and dessert reception to end the evening.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present NEO7, a benefit concert celebrating New, Emerging, Outstanding musical theatre writers, on Monday, May 16 at its home at the Theatre at Saint Peter's.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announces 15 awards granted from their National Fund for New Musicals, a major funding program to support NAMT member not-for-profit theatres in their collaboration with writers to create, develop, and produce new musicals.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present NEO7, a benefit concert celebrating New, Emerging Outstanding musical theatre writers, on Monday, May 16th at its home in Saint Peter's Theatre.

Artists WithOut Limits (AWOL) Theatre Project, Inc. announces the launch of 8Minute Musicals, a new program that challenges emerging musical theatre writers and composers to create 8 original eight-minute musicals over a period of 10 days.

Artists WithOut Limits (AWOL) Theatre Project, Inc. announces the launch of 8Minute Musicals, a new program that challenges emerging musical theatre writers and composers to create 8 original eight-minute musicals over a period of 10 days.

Artists WithOut Limits (AWOL) Theatre Project, Inc. announces the launch of 8Minute Musicals, a new program that challenges emerging musical theatre writers and composers to create 8 original eight-minute musicals over a period of 10 days.