Drew Fornarola News

Following the success of August's ROAD TRIP, (mostly)musicals will return to the E Spot Lounge on Monday, September 19 with UP FOR DEBATE, the company's 19th entry in a series of themed cabarets. 'It's nearly time for the big election in November, but we wanted to put together a party people could really get behind!' explains producer Amy Francis Schott.

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has selected Broadway's Allie Trimm (13 The Musical, Bye Bye Birdie), Brandon Espinoza (Tuck Everlasting, Gypsy) and L'ogan J'ones (The Spongebob Musical) as guests of honor at the fifth edition of the Bistro Awards Critics' Pick Madame Mathieu's Soiree.

Broadway's Lindsey Brett Carothers (Bring it On, WICKED (National Tour)) will premiere her new one-woman show, THE VOICE WITHIN, on August 7 at 9:30pm at The Duplex Cabaret Theater.  Written and performed by Carothers, the show is directed by Marshall Pailet with music direction by Andrea Grody. Drew Fornarola and Madame Mathieu Productions will produce.

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has tapped Broadway's Elena Wang (Allegiance, The King and I (West End)) and drag personality Chelsea Piers as guests of honor at the fourth installment of the Bistro Awards Critics' Pick Madame Mathieu's Soiree. The show will be held at Duplex on July 14th at 9:30.  Described as "an Ed Sullivan Show for a new generation" (Gerry Geddes), this variety show with an avant garde twist is as unpredictable as the patroness herself. The eclectic evening will feature an all new group of rising stars in stand-up, poetry, dance, songwriting, and performance art while Wang and Piers will accept creative dares that arise from Mme. M's insane imagination.

Prospect Theater Company, under the leadership of Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director and Melissa Huber, Managing Director, in partnership with producer Alexander Baron, continues its 2016 IGNITE Series at The TimesCenter (242 W 41st Street), with a one-night concert of Vote For Me: A Musical Debate, by Drew Fornarola and Scott Elmegreen, authors of the recent Off-Broadway hit, Straight.  

Prospect Theater Company, under the leadership of Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director and Melissa Huber, Managing Director, in partnership with producer Alexander Baron, continues its 2016 IGNITE Series at The TimesCenter (242 W 41st Street), with a one-night concert of Vote For Me: A Musical Debate, by Drew Fornarola and Scott Elmegreen, authors of the recent Off-Broadway hit, Straight.  Vote For Me is an irreverent, 90-minute one-act musical that pits two fictional Presidential candidates against each other, singing their way through the three-ring circus of American politics and hot-button issues, with the outcome of the debate -- and finale of the show -- determined by audience vote.  The concert will take place on Saturday, June 25 at 8pm at The TimesCenter (242 West 41st Street, NYC).

Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) will celebrate its 10th Anniversary with exciting new programming and expanded international destinations, including Russia and Brazil. The 2016 Summer Tour, GENERAT10N, will visit cities across the U.S. and Canada when it kicks off in Atlanta, GA on May 31, 2016. In each location, the premier non-profit performing arts training program will present an incredible roster of Broadway directors, performers, and industry insiders who will offer highly personalized musical theatre training and mentoring through unique, week-long performing arts intensive workshops for students of all ages, skill levels, and socio- economic backgrounds.

The World Premiere of Straight, a new play written by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola and directed by Andy Sandberg (Application Pending), will conclude its off-Broadway run this Sunday, May 8 after having played 101 performances at The Acorn Theatre @ Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036).

The next installment  of 'LC Originals: Songwriters,' at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center will offer an evening of new songs inspired by Lincoln Center, created by some of Broadway and Off-Broadway's leading songwriters, and performed by four outstanding actors.  It takes place Monday, May 2 at 7:30 pm.  Admission is free. The event will be live-streamed, free-of-charge, and available for 24-hours at lincolncenter.org/lc-live.

The next installment  of "LC Originals: Songwriters," at the David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center will offer an evening of new songs inspired by Lincoln Center, created by some of Broadway and Off-Broadway's leading songwriters, and performed by four outstanding actors.  It takes place Monday, May 2 at 7:30 pm.  Admission is free. The event will be live-streamed, free-of-charge, and available for 24-hours at lincolncenter.org/lc-live.

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has designated actress Meghann Fahy (Next to Normal) and dancer/choreographer Maxx Reed (Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark; Michael Jackson's This is It) as guests of honor at the third installment of Madame Mathieu's Soiree at The Duplex on May 12th.

Dramatic Publishing Company has acquired the professional, stock and amateur theatrical performance rights to the hit Off-Broadway play STRAIGHT, co-authored by Scott Elmegreen & Drew Fornarola, and directed by Andy Sandberg.

On Monday, April 4, 2016, acclaimed musical theater writer Drew Fornarola (COLLEGE: THE MUSICAL, STRAIGHT, CLAUDIO QUEST) presented his first full-length concert of his work in Los Angeles at Bar Fedora at Au Lac. Check out photos from rehearsals and the show below!

The workshop of award-winning composer/lyricist/playwright/performer Max Vernon's new musical THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, directed by Scott Ebersold and with choreography by Spencer Liff and music direction by Matt Aument, will hold their industry presentations this week, starting today, March 31st, and continuing tomorrow, Friday, April 1st, in New York City.

The workshop of award-winning composer/lyricist/playwright/performer Max Vernon's new musical THE VIEW UPSTAIRS, directed by Scott Ebersold and with choreography by Spencer Liff and music direction by Matt Aument, began rehearsals last week in New York City and will culminate in three industry presentations on March 31st and April 1st. THE VIEW UPSTAIRS is produced by Invisible Wall Productions, and they are proud to announce the cast and creative team.

Award-winning musical theater writer Drew Fornarola (STRAIGHT, CLAUDIO QUEST) will present his first full-length concert in Los Angeles on April 4 at 8pm at Bar Fedora at Au Lac.

Before every show, Straight star Jenna Gavigan warms up with Disney songs. Last week, she had her fellow cast members Jake Epstein and Thomas E. Sullivan participate in 'The Disney Challenge,' where they were played a clip from a Disney song and had to correctly name the movie it came from. It was a close call - watch the video below to see who won!

The world premiere of STRAIGHT, a new play written by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola and directed by Andy Sandberg (Application Pending), officially opened off-Broadway last night, February 29, and will run through May 8, 2016 at The Acorn Theatre @ Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

The world premiere of STRAIGHT, a new play written by Scott Elmegreen and Drew Fornarola and directed by Andy Sandberg (Application Pending), officially opens off-Broadway tonight, February 29, and will run through May 8, 2016 at The Acorn Theatre @ Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036).

Cabaret patroness Madame Mathieu has chosen Lindsay Brett Carothers (Bring It On, WICKED Tour) and Robi Hager (Spring Awakening, How to Succeed…) to be the guests of honor at her next soiree at The Duplex on Thursday, March 10th. Back by popular demand, the eclectic evening will feature an all new group of rising stars in stand-up, poetry, dance, songwriting, and performance art while Carothers and Hager will accept creative dares that arise from Mme. M's insane imagination. A variety show with an avant garde twist, the Soiree is as unpredictable as the patroness herself.