Mariana Elder News

Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, today announced that Signature Theatre is expanding its American Musical Voices Project (AMVP) for a fourth year with the commission and production of a new musical by Adam Guettel for its 2011-2012 season. Also announced as part of The Next Generation segment of the AMVP were two additional musical commissions awarded to Peter Foley and Marisa Michelson as well as honoree grants given to Chris Miller and Scott Davenport Richards for the development of future musical ideas. Signature, with the support of The Shen Family Foundation, has awarded $595,000 to artists in honors and commissions in the past three years. The American Musical Voices Project is the largest single musical theater commissioning and producing initiative at any non-profit theater in America.

Casting has just been announced for Vassar & New York Stage and Film Powerhouse Theater's three musicals of the 25th anniversary season.

Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater announces the cast for the first of three Mainstage productions of the 25th anniversary season: Ninety, by Joanna Murray-Smith, directed by Maria Mileaf, beginning performances June 30 and running through July 12, and new additions to the star-filled line-up for the 25th anniversary gala benefit, 'Silver Celebration under the Stars,' June 27.

Playwrights Horizons, under the leadership of Artistic Director Tim Sanford and Managing Director Leslie Marcus, proudly announces the sixth and final production of its upcoming 2009/2010 Season, as well as additional casting. Presented at the theater company's home at 416 West 42nd Street, the new production will be: A COOL DIP IN THE BARREN SAHARAN CRICK - the World Premiere of a new play by Playwrights Horizons alumna Kia Corthron (Breath, Boom at Playwrights Horizons, Force Continuum), directed by Obie Award winner Chay Yew (Durango at The Public). A co-production with The Play Company (Kate Loewald, Founding Producer) and Culture Project (Allan Buchman, Artistic Director).

Vineyard Theatre announces cast and creative team for Lab Production of new musical THE BURNT PART BOYS Developmental Lab Production set to conclude June 6 at The Vineyard Theatre

THE BURNT PART BOYS -- a new musical by Mariana Elder (book), Nathan Tysen (lyrics) and Chris Miller (music) -- will be presented as a developmental Lab Production, May 26-June 6 at The Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) in Manhattan. Erica Schmidt (HUMOR ABUSE) is set to direct.

THE BURNT PART BOYS -- a new musical by Mariana Elder (book), Nathan Tysen (lyrics) and Chris Miller (music), directed by Erica Schmidt ('Humor Abuse') -- will have an innovative production and development schedule on its way to an Off-Broadway premiere in the spring of 2010 when it will be presented as a co-production by Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director, Tim Sanford; Managing Director, Leslie Marcus) and the Vineyard Theatre (Artistic Director, Douglas Aibel; Executive Director, Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell) at Playwrights Horizons, it has been announced by both non-profit theaters.

Beginning June 26, Vassar & New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater will celebrate its 25th anniversary season. Powerhouse provides its audience a window into the creative process of some of the nation's top artists and writers as they engage in the rigorous development of plays and musicals, before going on to larger stages in New York, across the country, and around the world.

The Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) will open its 2009-10 season with the New York premiere A BOY AND HIS SOUL, written and performed by Colman Domingo (PASSING STRANGE), set to begin previews in September.

THE BURNT PART BOYS -- a new musical by Mariana Elder (book), Nathan Tysen (lyrics) and Chris Miller (music), directed by Erica Schmidt ('Humor Abuse') -- will have an innovative production and development schedule on its way to an Off-Broadway premiere in the spring of 2010 when it will be presented as a co-production by Playwrights Horizons (Artistic Director, Tim Sanford; Managing Director, Leslie Marcus) and the Vineyard Theatre (Artistic Director, Douglas Aibel; Executive Director, Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell) at Playwrights Horizons, it has been announced by both non-profit theaters.

The Zipper Factory Theater (336 West 37th Street) is pleased to present MONUMENTAL EVENING WITH MILLER & TYSEN, featuring the songs of Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen performed by a 'newly appointed cabinet of musical theatre bad asses' on Monday, January 19 at 8:00 p.m. Chris (music) and Nathan (lyrics) will debut new material from their upcoming commissions at Lincoln Center and Playwrights Horizons, plus songs from The Burnt Part Boys (opening this season in the Vineyard Theatre's lab series). Accompanied by a 5-piece string band, the performers will include Norm Lewis, Leslie Kritzer, Matt Caplan, Allison Case, Charlie Brady, and a reunion of the Drama Desk nominated cast of Fugitive Songs (Halle Petro, Todd Pettiford, Ben Roseberry and Lucia Spina).

The Zipper Factory Theater (336 West 37th Street) is pleased to present MONUMENTAL EVENING WITH MILLER & TYSEN, featuring the songs of Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen performed by a 'newly appointed cabinet of musical theatre bad asses' on Monday, January 19 at 8:00 p.m. Chris (music) and Nathan (lyrics) will debut new material from their upcoming commissions at Lincoln Center and Playwrights Horizons, plus songs from The Burnt Part Boys (opening this season in the Vineyard Theatre's lab series). Accompanied by a 5-piece string band, the performers will include Norm Lewis, Leslie Kritzer, Matt Caplan, Allison Case, Charlie Brady, and a reunion of the Drama Desk nominated cast of Fugitive Songs (Halle Petro, Todd Pettiford, Ben Roseberry and Lucia Spina).

The world premiere of 'The Mysteries of Harris Burdick', a new musical by Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen, inspired by Chris Van Allsburg's (Jumanji and The Polar Express) illustrative book, opens the third season of Barrington Stage Company's acclaimed Musical Theatre Lab, under the mentorship of William Finn.

The premiere of Fugitive Songs, a new musical by the emerging team of composer Chris Miller and lyricist Nathan Tysen, will be presented by Off-Broadway's Dreamlight Theatre Company, from March 8 - 30 at the 45th Street Theatre

The second season of Disney Channel's 'Johnny and the Sprites,' which combines the music talent of Broadway's finest with endearing puppet characters, premieres Saturday, January 19

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick, the new musical by Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen, the team who created last season's Musical Theatre Lab premiere of The Burnt Part Boys, inspired by Chris Van Allsburg's (Jumanji and The Polar Express) children's book, is next at Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab

Funked Up Fairy Tales, the new hip musical by Kirsten Childs at Barrington Stage Company's Musical Theatre Lab, has been extended through August 18, due to popular demand

Barrington Stage Company has announced updates in its Musical Theatre Lab schedule, including the extension of The Burnt Part Boys and the addition of Travels with My Discontent and Disorder: A Mother/Daughter Vaudeville

Under the mentorship of Tony Award-winning composer/lyricist William Finn, Barrington Stage Company will present a new musical, The Burnt Part Boys, the inaugural production of its new Musical Theatre Lab. The show will be presented June 21 through July 9,

The Barrington Theatre Company's first Musical Theatre Lab will feature workshops of three new shows, including one by the creators of Grey Gardens