New York Musical Theatre Festival News

In the glory days of the movie musical, folks joked that MGM stood for 'Makes Great Musicals' and it boasted more stars than in the heavens.

THE HAPPY EMBALMER -- a World-Premiere new musical with book, music and lyrics by Mark Noonan and Nick Oddy, directed and choreographed by Kelly Devine -- is presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival, starting October 6, 2009 at Theatre Row's Acorn Theatre (410 West 42nd Street, btw 9th and 10th Avenues) in New York City.

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and KIM VASQUEZ/ GRAY LADY ENTERTAINMENT, INC. team up again with this year's PLAGUED - A LOVE STORY with book and lyrics by VYNNIE MELI and music by CASEY L. FILIACI. Directed by SAMUEL BUGGELN (Bedbugs!) with musical direction by ZAK SANDLER.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Kellner-Avery Productions proudly present the World Premiere of HURRICANE. This epic new musical takes an all-but-forgotten moment in history and brings it to life with the largest cast in NYMF history, 30 in all. Directed by Michael Bush, HURICANE features a book by Michael Holland and Eric Bernat, and music and lyrics by Michael Holland. Performances begin September 28 at The Theatre at St. Clements.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Seeing Stars the Musical Inc. present the original musical SEEING STARS, Music by Don Breithaupt, Lyrics by Jeff Breithaupt, Book by Shelley McPherson and directed by Jenn Thompson.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) & Shea Sullivan will present R.R.R.E.D. A Secret Musical for FOUR PERFORMANCES ONLY, October 1-3 at the 45th Street Theater. Based on a true study, R.R.R.E.D., with music & lyrics by Katie Thompson & book by Adam Jackman, Patrick Livingston & Katie Thompson, is directed by Andy Sandberg (Tony Award winning Producer of Hair), with musical supervision by Charlie Alterman (Next to Normal).

Producer Theresa Wozunk and the New York Musical Theater Festival present a world premiere concert presentation of LIBERTY: A NEW MUSICAL for one night only on Tuesday, September 29, 2009 at 8 p.m. at Theatre Row?s Acorn Theatre (410 W 42nd Street). Casting will be announced shortly.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival will proudly present the World Premiere of Clear Blue Tuesday, a musical movie by Elizabeth Lucas on Thursday, September 10 at both 7pm and 9:15pm. The screenings will take place at the School of Visual Arts (SVA) Theatre (333 West 23rd Street between 8th and 9th Avenues).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Nothing to Lose Productions are proud to present present LIGHTER with Book, Music & Lyrics by Monica Bauer, Music Arrangements by Brent-Alan Huffman, choreography by DJ Salisbury, and directed by Craig J. George.

'So You Think You Can Dance' top three finalist Neil Haskell will replace Heath Calvert (who has been cast in HAIR on Broadway) in the role of Jake in the new rock musical comedy F#@KING UP EVERYTHING, written by David Eric Davis (music, lyrics, book), Sam Forman (book), with musical direction, orchestrations and arrangements by Matt Hinkley and directed by Stephen Brackett.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and The Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company present The Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company (DGDC) in ENCORE, conceived, directed and choreographed by Daniel Gwirtzman.

The original tap musical, Count To Ten, presented in this year's New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), sold out its October 17th performance on the first day tickets went on sale to the public.

The YORK THEATRE COMPANY (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is proud to announce two upcoming mainstage productions. Blind Lemon Blues-based upon more than 60 Blind Lemon Jefferson songs - will return to the York Mainstage in Fall 2009. Performances begin September 8th. Spring 2010 will see the Off-Broadway premiere of the new musical Yank!. Performances begin in February 2010.

Preliminary auditions were held over the weekend and out of hundreds of auditions, NYMF has selected the 10 finalists that will compete to be the 'Next Broadway Sensation.' Belting this year at New World Stages will be: Nathan Brisby, Catherine Brookman, Starr J. Busby, Lisa Marie Gargione, Nkrumah Gatling, Lyle Colby Mackston, Zak Resnick, Angelo Rios, Louise Stewart and Cassie Wooley

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL and BRIERPATCH PRODUCTIONS are pleased to announce the world premiere production of MARRYING MEG, directed by Dave Solomon. MARRYING MEG will play a limited engagement at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street, New York, NY 10036.)

Drama Desk Award-winner Everett Quinton (Charles Ludlam's Ridiculous Theatrical Company), Michael Winther (33 Variations, Damn Yankees, 1776, and Mamma Mia! on Broadway), and Marlon Sherman (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast on Broadway) are set to star in Max Understood, running at the 45th Street Theatre in the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Marlon Sherman will be playing the title role of Max.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and the Thomas Jefferson Musical Theatre Company of Mexico City with Executive Producer Jane Bergère will present the American Premiere of ANJOU, A Tale Of Horror, October 8th at 8:00 pm, October 9th at 1:00 pm, October 11th at 8:00 pm, and October 12th at 1:00 pm - The Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th St. - part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Mary Testa, two time Tony Award nominee ('42nd Street', 'On the Town') and Drama Desk nominee ('Xanadu'), Jenn Colella ('High Fidelity', 'Urban Cowboy'), Charlie Pollock ('9 to 5', 'Urinetown') and Casey Predovic star in the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) production 'All Fall Down', with musical staging by Josh Rhodes (Assistant Choreographer, 'The Drowsy Chaperone') and direction by Lonny Price ('A Class Act') and Matt Cowart (Assistant Director, '110 in the Shade').

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is proud to present the World Premiere of David Ingber's Bromatic Comedy, Fantasy Football: The Musical?, directed by Adam Arian with musical direction by Brian Usifer and choreography by Nancy Renee Braun. Performances will begin on October 1 -October 8 at The Barrow Group Theatre (312 West 36th Street).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Michael Minarik & Eleven Entertainment announced today that Carly Jibson (Cry-Baby, Hairspray), Clarke Thorell (Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray), Sarah Saltzberg (?Spelling Bee), Kristine Zbornik (A Catered Affair, Road Show) and Randy Blair (Adding Machine) will star in Fat Camp, a new, completely original musical, at the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival. With book by Blair and Timothy Michael Drucker (creators of the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival?s Outstanding Musical winner Perez Hilton Saves the Universe), lyrics by Blair, and music by Matthew Roi Berger, Fat Camp will play the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row from September 30th ? October 8th. The production will be directed by Obie Award-winning and Drama Desk Award nominee director Alex Timbers (Gutenberg! the Musical, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, ?Children?s Scientology Pageant).