Carmel Dean News

As a fan of S.R. Bindler's acclaimed and quirky 1997 documentary, I closely followed the creation and development of HANDS ON A HARDBODY. Previews for the initial La Jolla Playhouse production begin in April 2012, and it officially opened on May 12. The musical was well received by critics and audiences alike in California, generating buzz for it transfer to Broadway. The entire La Jolla cast reunited for the New York premiere of the show, which started previews on February 23, 2013 and officially opened at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on March 21, 2013. Sadly, the well-reviewed small show had a hard time finding an audience and had its final Broadway bow on Saturday, April 13. However, Ghostlight Records excited fans and those of us who were interested in the project when that announced they'd be recording an Original Broadway Cast Recording on that same fateful Saturday in April.

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODYwith two special events in September. Amanda Green, the show's co-composer and lyricist and book writer Doug Wright, as well as several stars of the show, will appear at an in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble on the Upper East Side (150 East 86th Street, between Lexington and Third Avenues). The event will feature original Broadway cast members Keith Carradine, Keala Settle, Janet Krupin, Corey March, Kathleen Elizabeth Monteleone, Jim Newman, Connie Ray, Jon Rua and Dale Soules.

Producer David Stone has announced the creative team and complete casting for If/Then, the upcoming world premiere musical by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning creative team behind Next To Normal, Tom Kitt (music), Brian Yorkey (book and lyrics), and Michael Greif (director). Tickets for the world premiere engagement in Washington, D.C. go on sale to the general public on Sunday, September 8 and will be available at thenationaldc.com, by phone at (800) 514-3849, or in person at the National Theatre box office (1321 Pennsylvania Avenue NW).

Ghostlight Records will present the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY both in stores and via online outlets today, August 27.

The York Theatre Company, launches the NEODevelopmental Reading Series with the workshop presentation of the new musical, A Girl Called Vincent, based on the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay, with music written and composed by Carmel Dean, directed by Dick Scanlon and music direction by Charity Wicks. The six-member cast will feature Gerard Canonico, Van Hughes, Tamika Sonja Lawrence, Kelvin Moon Loh, Bonnie Milligan and Dani Shay. A single performance is scheduled for today, August 8, 2013 at 3:00pm.

The York Theatre Company, launches the NEODevelopmental Reading Series with the workshop presentation of the new musical, A Girl Called Vincent, based on the poetry of Edna St. Vincent Millay, with music written and composed by Carmel Dean, directed by Dick Scanlon and music direction by Charity Wicks. The six-member cast will feature Gerard Canonico, Van Hughes, Tamika Sonja Lawrence, Kelvin Moon Loh, Bonnie Milligan and Dani Shay. A single performance is scheduled for Thursday, August 8, 2013 at 3:00pm.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) presents Tony nominee Amanda Green (Hands On A Hard Body, High Fidelity, Bring It On!), Kleban Award winner Julia Jordan (Murder Ballad, Bernice Bobs Her Hair) and Jonathan Larson Award winner Julianne Wick Davis ((Southern Comfort) in The Music Box: An Evening Of Lady Composers beginning July 21 at PTC Performance Space.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) present The Music Box, An Evening of Lady Composers. Recent Tony-nominee Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody) is set to appear and Karen Azenberg (Artistic Director - Pioneer Theatre, Salt Lake City) will direct this special one-night-only concert event.

On July 15th Sparkification Productions presents An Evening Celebrating Emerging Female Composers: a concert to promote gender parity in musical theatre. The concert will feature the songs of Jennifer Lucy Cook, Shoshana Greenberg, Kathryn Hathaway, Janine McGuire, Julia Meinwald, Nicky Phillips and Sarah M. Underwood with contributions by Carmel Dean, Laura Kleinbaum, Tina Lear, Gordon Leary, Jeffery Dennis Smith, and Stephanie Smith. Performers include Erin Davie, Lesli Margherita, Christiane Noll, Alice Ripley, Krysta Rodriguez, Betsy Wolfe, and more to be announced. The evening features Musical Direction by Mary-­?Mitchell Campbell.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) present The Music Box, An Evening of Lady Composers. Recent Tony-nominee Keala Settle (Hands on a Hardbody) is set to appear and Karen Azenberg (Artistic Director - Pioneer Theatre, Salt Lake City) will direct this special one-night-only concert event.

Ghostlight Records will present the Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY both in stores and via online outlets on August 27. The musical features a book by Doug Wright (Pulitzer Prize winner, I Am My Own Wife), lyrics by Amanda Green (Bring It On: The Musical), and music byTrey Anastasio (Phish) and Amanda Green. The show was nominated for three 2013 Tony Awards, including "Best Original Score," and nine 2013 Drama Desk Awards, including "Outstanding Musical," "Outstanding Music" and "Outstanding Lyrics." The album features "The Tryers," a special bonus song that was cut from the show. To pre-order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/handsonahardbody.html.

Sierra Boggess and Caissie Levy join the previously announced Erin Davie, Lesli Margherita, Christiane Noll, Alice Ripley, Krysta Rodriguez, and Betsy Wolfe for Sparkification Productions presents An Evening Celebrating Emerging Female Composers: a concert to promote gender parity in musical theatre. The July 15th concert will feature the songs of Jennifer Lucy Cook, Shoshana Greenberg, Kathryn Hathaway, Janine McGuire, Julia Meinwald, Nicky Phillips and Sarah M. Underwood with contributions by Carmel Dean, Laura Kleinbaum, Tina Lear, Gordon Leary, Jeffery Dennis Smith, and Stephanie Smith. The evening features Musical Direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell.

On July 15th Sparkification Productions presents An Evening Celebrating Emerging Female Composers: a concert to promote gender parity in musical theatre. The concert will feature the songs of Jennifer Lucy Cook, Shoshana Greenberg, Kathryn Hathaway, Janine McGuire, Julia Meinwald, Nicky Phillips and Sarah M. Underwood with contributions by Carmel Dean, Laura Kleinbaum, Tina Lear, Gordon Leary, Jeffery Dennis Smith, and Stephanie Smith. Performers include Erin Davie, Lesli Margherita, Christiane Noll, Alice Ripley, Krysta Rodriguez, Betsy Wolfe, and more to be announced. The evening features Musical Direction by Mary-­?Mitchell Campbell.

Completing the programming for the 10th annual New York Musical Theatre Festival, NYMF announced several additional concerts, a series of educational workshops, and a "Musicals on Television" screening series in partnership with the Paley Center for Media. This year's Festival will begin July 8th and continue through July 28th. Single tickets are currently on sale.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director), present a one-night only benefit concert celebrating up and coming musical theatre writers, with the NEO 9 on Monday, May 20, 2013 at The York Theatre. Check out a look back at the night, featuring performances by LaChanze, Lisa Brescia, Titus Burgess, and more!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director), present a one-night only benefit concert celebrating up and coming musical theatre writers, with the NEO 9 on Monday, May 20, 2013 at The York Theatre (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a champagne and dessert reception to toast the evening.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director), will present a one-night only benefit concert celebrating up and coming musical theatre writers, with the NEO 9 on Monday, May 20, 2013 at The York Theatre (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a champagne and dessert reception to toast the evening.

The York Theatre Company will present a one-night only benefit concert celebrating up and coming musical theatre writers, with the NEO 9 on Monday, May 20, 2013 at The York Theatre (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a champagne and dessert reception to toast the evening.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher will be the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," Joe Iconis & Family, actress/producer/singer Rita Wilson, legendary powerhouse voice Lachanze, Broadway's Ken Page and Carmel Dean, and more.

Ghostlight Records has announced plans to preserve HANDS ON A HARDBODY with an Original Broadway Cast Recording. The album will be recorded next month and released in June 2013. The show will play its final Broadway performance tonight, April 13, 2013 at 8pm after playing 28 preview and 28 regular performances at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street). HANDS ON A HARDBODY began previews on Saturday, February 23, 2013 and officially opened on Thursday, March 21, 2013.