New York Musical Theatre Festival News

The Gig, a musical by Douglas J. Cohen (No Way to Treat a Lady, The Big Time), based on the 1985 film by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize Winner Frank D. Gilroy (The Subject Was Roses), is a selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), making its New York City debut at the PTC Performance Space, July 15 - July 21.

New York Theatre Barn will present the next installment of their New Works Series, featuring musical theater writers Michael Cooper and Timothy Huang on Monday, June 23rd at 7:30pm at the DR2 Theatre (Daryl Roth Theatre, 101 E. 15th Street).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will present THIS IS 30! a special one-night-only engagement on July 9th, 2014 at 9pm at The Laurie Beechman Theater at the West Bank Cafe.

Coming of Age, a theatrical song cycle - a collection of short stories about growing up - will have its New York premiere this summer as an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrating its 11th Anniversary Season. With a book, music and lyrics by Jon Provan, Coming of Age will be presented at Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Aves.). Directed by Ryan Pifher, performances will begin on July 7th and continue through July 13th.

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL (NYMF) and Mount Elise Entertainment, in association with Kim Vasquez / Gray Lady Entertainment, are pleased to announce the American premiere of DEPLOYED the musical. With a book, music and lyrics by Jessy Brouillard, music direction by Martyn Axe, and direction by Mindy Cooper, DEPLOYED begins its limited engagement in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd Street) on Wednesday, July 16th, 2014.

Drama Desk Award Nominee CHRISTINA BIANCO (Forbidden Broadway; NEWSical The Musical) and South Pacific's LAURISSA ROMAIN ('Finally Famous'; 'The Voice') join the starry line-up of special guests for Tim Realbuto's upcoming (not so) solo show at 54 Below entitled Tim Realbuto: Alone (With Plenty of Help).

Contributing composers have been announced for the a new edition of Marc Eardley's EPIC FAIL directed by Marc Eardley and presented Off-Broadway at The Laurie Beechman Theater by Graydon Gund and The New York Musical Theatre Festival. There will be three performances of EPIC FAIL July 8th at 9:30, and July 12th at 5:00 and 8:00pm. Tickets for EPIC FAIL went on sale June 16th.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will present two concert performances of the original musical Sing Me Home Sunday, July 20 at 8 p.m. and Monday, July 21 at 1 p.m.

The 15th Annual Midtown International Theatre Festival (MITF) presents Eddie and the Palaceades, a new rock and roll musical with book and lyrics by Roy O'Neil and music by Stephen Feigenbaum.

The Snow Queen will have its New York premiere this summer as part of The New York Music Theatre Festival (NYMF), celebrating its 11th Anniversary Season. With a book by Kirsten Brandt & Rick Lombardo, music byHaddon Kime, lyrics by Kirsten Brandt, Haddon Kime and Rick Lombardo, with additional music by Rick Lombardo, this new musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's fantastical coming-of-age adventure will be presented in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street - between 9th & 10th Aves.). Directed by Mr. Lombardo, performances will begin on July 14th and continue through July 20th.

Altar Boyz introduces a struggling Christian boy band from Greenville, Ohio, who are on the last night of their 'Raise the Praise' U.S. tour and determined to make the big time. The Boyz - Matthew, Mark, Luke, Juan and Abraham (he's Jewish) - are intent on saving souls and raising spirits.

'Days of Our Lives' star Kevin Spirtas leads a cast of 13 in the new musical comedy MR. CONFIDENTIAL, presented as part of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced that Tony Award winning director Jack O'Brien has been named the honorary chair of the 2014 Festival.

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances will be: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm. The multi-talented cast of 12 will perform a dozen musical numbers. They are: Brenda Braxton (Spam King), Jason C. Brown (Narrator/Morgan Freeman), Trey Harrington (Kurt), Michael Mahany (Adam Levine/Mark Zuckerberg), Noah Marlowe (Young Peter), Alison Novelli (Jacqui), Heather Jane Rolff (Mrs. Oglesby), Lucas Schultz (Young Kurt), Barry Shafrin (Mittens McMittens/Emoticon), Adam B. Shapiro (Santa/Jeeves), Perry Sherman (Peter), and Bob Walton (Mr. Oglesby).

The Yale Institute for Music Theatre announces the creative teams and casting for the two original book musicals, Afterland, music and lyrics by Benjamin Velez and book and lyrics by Kathryn Hathaway, and Clouds are Pillows for the Moon, music by Tidtaya Sinutoke and book and lyrics by Ty Defoe, which will be developed in an intensive lab setting in New Haven, June 3-15. The Institute culminates with open rehearsal readings of each project, presented as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas, on June 14 and 15.

The world premiere, new musical SEARCHING FOR ROMEO - book, music and lyrics by Brian Sutton, directed by Laura Josepher, musical direction by David Sisco - will be presented as an official selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

This week, Jay Productions LTD released the original cast album of Jonathan Brielle's critically acclaimed musical 'Himself and Nora' about the tumultuous romance of famed writer James Joyce and his muse, lover and most ardent supporter, chambermaid Nora Barnacle. After it's success at the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival in July, 2012 at The Theater at St. Clements, Michael Bush's critically production was then presented last season at Hamilton Stage in Rahway, New Jersey.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in association with Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter, LLC present Rescue Rue, a new musical fairytale with puppets; Concept, Book and Additional Lyrics by Stacey Weingarten, and Music and Lyrics by Kate Steinberg & Joshua Zecher-Ross. Stacey Weingarten directs a cast of seven including Jennifer Barnhart* (Bway: Avenue Q), Nate Begle(Off Bway: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), Sarah Liz Haines* (Off Bway: Freckle Face Strawberry), Jason Jacoby* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Lisa Helmi Johanson* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Brendan Malafronte (Nat. Tour: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), and Gretchen Wylder* (Off Bway: 'Til Divorce Do Us Part). Rescue Rue will be staged at the Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th and 10th Avenues) in NYC for five performances from July 8-20, 2014. A special TDF Autism-Friendly performance will be held at July 20th at 11am. The Pershing Square Signature Center is the official hub of The New York Musical Theatre Festival. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

The hysterical new musical Academia Nuts has been selected to kick off the first week of the celebrated New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances from July 9-13, 2014 at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street). Academia Nuts has book and lyrics by Becca Anderson & Dan Marshall, and music by Julian Blackmore, with direction by Thomas Caruso, musical direction by Martyn Axe, and choreography by Ryan Kasprzak. It is produced by Charissa Bertels in association with CAP21 Theatre Company.

The New York Musical Theater Festival, Stella Entertainment and Quill & Quaver Associates will present the world premiere of the new Australian Musical, THE MAPMAKER'S OPERA, based on the novel "The Mapmakers Opera" by Bea Gonzalez, with a dynamic score based on Gypsy Flamenco, Latino and regional Mexican infused musical styles, July 9-20 at the Pearl Theatre, 555 West 42nd St. A moving love story set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, and an Official Selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Project, THE MAPMAKER'S OPERA is directed by Donald Brenner with book and Lyrics by Victor Kazan and music by Kevin Purcell.