Brett Smock News

Based on James Joyce's 1951 wartime novel that inspired the Academy Award-winning film, the creators are making revisions from the musical's 2013 West End production.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, will present two of musical theater's most exciting young composers LANCE HORNE and DREW BRODY in a special evening on Wednesday, May 11 at 9:30 PM with special guest Beth Malone, the Tony Award-nominated star of Broadway's Fun Home.

The Nazareth College Theatre and Dance Department and Theatre League are pleased to present Floyd Collins - a musical inspired by the true story of a man in search of his American dream - as the second show in the department's 2015-2016 production season.

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival's landmark 2016 was announced last week by Producing Artistic Director, Brett Smock who stated, "Halfway through our season, this is a time for us to reflect on our successful season thus far and also a time for us to look ahead.  From a gripping "West Side Story" to an emotional journey through "The Light in the Piazza" to the world premiere of the new North American production of "Saturday Night Fever," we've had surprising and fulfilling artistic experiences all summer long.  We have enjoyed success at the box office and are anticipating a strong remainder of our season.  We have crafted an ambitious but highly appealing season with - literally -- something for everyone!  Next year represents our largest and most ambitious season to date." 

AUBURN, N.Y-The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide, proudly produces the world premiere of the new North American production of SATURDAYNIGHT FEVER.  Performances run from July 22 through through August 12. Based on Nik Cohn's 1975 article 'Tribal Rites of the new Saturday Night' and Norman Wexler's 1977 screenplay it inspired, this iconic time capsule centers around Tony Manero, a Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local dance hangout. There, he escapes into the admiration of the crowd, a growing relationship and the pulse of the beat that enables him to forget the realities of his life, his dead-end job and his gang of deadbeat friends. This new production delivers all the favorite tunes and dance sequences while bringing out the dimension and layers of the story and the landscape of such an iconic snapshot in American history.  Adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes, this new North American version features songs by The Bee Gees, is adapted for the stage by Sean Cercone and features additional music and lyrics by David Abbinanti.  

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival, by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide, proudly produces the world premiere of the new North American production of SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.  Performances run from July 22 through through August 12. Based on Nik Cohn's 1975 article 'Tribal Rites of the new Saturday Night' and Norman Wexler's 1977 screenplay it inspired, this iconic time capsule centers around Tony Manero, a Brooklyn youth whose weekend is spent at the local dance hangout. There, he escapes into the admiration of the crowd, a growing relationship and the pulse of the beat that enables him to forget the realities of his life, his dead-end job and his gang of deadbeat friends. This new production delivers all the favorite tunes and dance sequences while bringing out the dimension and layers of the story and the landscape of such an iconic snapshot in American history.  Adapted for the stage by Robert Stigwood in collaboration with Bill Oakes, this new North American version features songs by The Bee Gees, is adapted for the stage by Sean Cercone and features additional music and lyrics by David Abbinanti.  Check out a first look at highlights below!

The regional premiere of THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA opened at the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival and runs through July 15.  1950s Florence, Italy.  A love story for everyone. On a trip to Florence, Margaret and her daughter Clara have a chance encounter with a young Italian man named Fabrizio. Clara and Fabrizio begin to fall for each other while Margaret wrestles with her concerns over Clara and her future. Book by Craig Lucas, Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettel.

The Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival 2015 season will feature a slate of top-notch directors, choreographers, musical directors and designers. The flagship theatre, the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, will house West Side Story, The Light in the Piazza (Regional Premiere), Saturday Night Fever (US Regional Premiere), Sweeney Todd, the all new The Calamari Sisters' Big Fat Italian Wedding, and the first ever holiday show at the Playhouse -- Forever Plaid: Plaid Tidings. The season also brings the hilarious comedy, Late Nite Catechism, downtown to Auburn Public Theater. And for the fourth consecutive year, the new-works series, The PiTCH, returns with new writing teams from all over the country presenting their new musicals in development. The PiTCH will run from June 11 - August 1.

Tom Wopat - famed for his role as Luke Duke on 'The Dukes of Hazzard' - will play the title role of Will Rogers in the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival's production of 'The Will Rogers Follies.' The show runs from today, Sept. 3 - 24 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (MGR) in Auburn, New York.

Tom Wopat - famed for his role as Luke Duke on "The Dukes of Hazzard" - will play the title role of Will Rogers in the Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival's production of "The Will Rogers Follies." The show runs from Sept. 3 - 24 at the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse (MGR) in Auburn, New York.

DBD PRODUCTIONS will present the world premiere of HALFWAY, NEBRASKA as part of the 18th Annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC, written by Briandaniel Oglesby (She Gets Naked in the End - Latinidad Award) and directed by Daniel R. Melnick.

DBD PRODUCTIONS will present the world premiere of HALFWAY, NEBRASKA as part of the 18th Annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC, written by Briandaniel Oglesby (She Gets Naked in the End - Latinidad Award) and directed by Daniel R. Melnick.

TREASURE ISLAND ~ A NEW MUSICAL set to sail at Arkansas Rep on March 8, 2013. Featuring a book by Brett Smock and Carla Vitale and music and lyrics by Corinne Aquilina, the show is directed and choreographed by Brett Smock. Watch the video below as cast and crew replicate storms on the high seas in 'Hispaniola'!

Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival have officially merged under the producing umbrella of the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse. The Playhouse is the parent organization, building on its reputation in the community and theater industry. The Merry-Go-Round Playhouse now comprises Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, Merry-Go-Round Youth Theatre and Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival.

TREASURE ISLAND ~ A NEW MUSICAL will set to sail at Arkansas Rep on March 8. Featuring a book by Brett Smock and Carla Vitale and music and lyrics by Corinne Aquilina, the show will be directed and choreographed by Brett Smock.

BroadwayWorld brings you the Best of Central NY in the year 2012. Check out the Top Theatre Stories from each month during in the year 2012. We look forward to another exciting year of theatre in 2013!

Voting is now underway for the Central NY Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

Voting is now underway for the Central NY Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Central NY Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Brett Smock has joined the Merry-Go-Round Playhouse and Finger Lakes Musical Theatre Festival as general manager and associate artistic director. In this role, Smock will work with Producing Director Ed Sayles and assume the responsibilities currently assigned to the interim managing director, while placing a particular emphasis on talent negotiations, cost control and new play development. Smock is based in New York City. He is a well-known creative producer, director and choreographer within the theater industry with a special interest in developing new plays and musicals.