Hoping to inspire and revive a fractured nation, one-armed Civil War veteran John Wesley Powell leads a daring expedition of veterans down the Colorado River to the Grand Canyon, in the spring of 1869. Aware of the physical dangers, Major Powell barely anticipates the emotional and spiritual challenges of the trip, leading back to the War. The guide of the expedition is Somers, who escaped from slavery and embraced the new world of the West. Major Powell's wife Emma Dean, a noted environmentalist of the day, is present in the minds and hearts of both Major Powell and his brother Walter, a survivor of Andersonville prison; as they are in hers. With a score of bluegrass, country, folk, littered with environmental elements, The Great Unknown is an American musical adventure.
Anthony Rapp presents his turbulent journey through the convergence of two life-changing events: the early days of Rent - including the untimely passing of Jonathan Larson - and the illness and death of his own mother. Based on his New York Times best-selling memoir, Rapp uses a mix of original music and songs by R.E.M. and Larson in a stunning one-man show about grief, hope, and triumph.
In order to grow we must confront our demons... An eccentric therapist is on the brink of falling in love for the first time in years when a neurotic rock musician comes to call. Dream play? Ghost story? Romantic comedy? Gothic Tragedy? Jonathan Spottiswoode and his cult band, Spottiswoode & His Enemies, bring a sexy expressionist twist to Don Giovanni that is tinged with jazz, blues, rock, gospel, classical and punk. They say love is a game - so who can you blame for playing?
A very scientific princess meets a frog she is determined to turn into a prince - with the assistance of a troupe of Celestial Tap-Dancing Taoist Masters. In this saucy 'n' swingin' new musical, will Clementine get the Prince of her dreams, or will she find herself in bed with just another horny toad? It's a bedtime story with a bawdy twist! Based on the Stephen Mitchell novella The Frog Prince.
Tess's spirited and innocent life unravels when her impoverished family's desperate need to connect to a once mighty bloodline results in an act of violence and shame. Desired by two men, forsaken by Victorian society, and burdened by secrets and duty, Thomas Hardy's dark heroine struggles to remain pure in a stained world as she is pulled towards her ultimate fate.
My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding is a true story musical comedy for anyone who's ever been in love. What do you get when a straight white male from Canada discovers that his mother's a lesbian? A hilarious and heartfelt story that celebrates love in all its forms. The hit of the 2009 Toronto Fringe, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding is based on a true story that will make you laugh, cry and realize that nothing's impossible. Click below for the preview!
Aspiring writer Keith has been a temp in a wacky office's soul crushing cubicle for six years. When an evil nemesis emerges to squash his coffee-stained hopes and dreams, Keith makes a decision that causes him to get summarily fired… with security escorts and everything! Naturally he retaliates by writing a musical. Based on a true-ish story. Some names have been changed to protect the guilty.
Locked inside the Tenth Floor, the Miami-Dade Correctional Facility's juvenile division, 16-year-old Victor Alvarez escapes into fantasy to escape the harsh realities of prison and his home life. Fueled by a contemporary rock, hip hop, and salsa-influenced score, this high-energy musical follows Victor as he struggles to come to terms with both the truth of his present and the ramifications of his past.
The History Of War is spun from the imagination of a 12 year old boy - a megalomaniac in training. As he struggles with homework assignments and peculiar visions, he conjures up seven of the most famous tyrants of all time. They did horrible things. He wants to do horrible things. His parents are worried. ...and everybody sings! ... well, almost everybody. Reality and pathology neatly converge in this terrifyingly subversive new musical.
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) presented a special preview of the 2010 offerings, featuring musical selections from: The Tenth Floor, I Got Fired, My Mother's Lesbian Jewish Wiccan Wedding, Tess, Above Hell's Kitchen, The History of War, Without You, and The Great Unknown. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage of the preview event below.
The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced preliminary casting and final music directors for its 22nd Annual Festival of New Musicals taking place on Thursday, October 21 and Friday, October 22, 2010 at New World Stages in New York City.
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced casting for the 2010 festival. Some of Broadway's and Off-Broadway's favorites are participating in the three week festival including Adinah Alexander (The Wedding Singer), Farah Alvin (Nine)
Brierpatch Productions' new musical production FROG KISS is an official selection of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's 2010 Next Link Project. This new saucy n' swingin' musical tale of transformation features book and lyrics by Charles Leipart with music composed by Eric Schorr. Frog Kiss will premiere on Thursday, September 30, 2010 at the Theater at St. Clements.
I remember seeing FOOTLOOSE in a theatre back in 1984, and I think I actually enjoyed it. I even have a cassette of the soundtrack somewhere, although I don't remember ever purchasing it. Still, it's the type of movie that can be easily tweaked for translation to the stage since the songs are already in place (for the most part), and the plot blends dance with romance. It is an undeniably infectious combination, especially for those of us who grew up with this music, for better or worse.
On Monday, June 21, New York Musical Theatre Festival hosted their 'Best of Fest' Gala. The event celebrated NYMF alumni and introduced some of the new projects NYMF alums are working on now.
Jennifer Cody (Shrek, The Pajama Game) will host The New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF) kickoff to the 7th season: BEST OF THE FEST a gala celebration to toast the achievements of the Festival's alumni.
The New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF) will hold a kickoff to the 7th season: BEST OF FEST, a gala celebration to toast the achievements of the Festival's alumni. The one night only benefit concert will take place on Monday, June 21st at 8 PM at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues).
Jennifer Cody (Shrek, The Pajama Game) will host The New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF) kickoff to the 7th season: BEST OF THE FEST a gala celebration to toast the achievements of the Festival's alumni.
Christiane Noll (Ragtime), Kerry Butler (Rock of Ages, Xanadu), Hunter Foster (Million Dollar Quartet), Nick Spangler (The Fantasticks, Winner: 'The Amazing Race') Alex Brightman (WICKED), Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening), Jamie LaVerdiere (The Producers), Leo Ash Evens (West Side Story 50th Anniversary Tour), and Brian Gonzales (Shrek) have joined the cast of the New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF) kickoff to the 7th season: BEST OF FEST, a gala celebration to toast the achievements of the Festival's alumni.
