Sam Willmot News

A total of 46 established and emerging writers, composers and lyricists will converge on the Goodspeed campus in East Haddam, CT this month to participate in the Johnny Mercer Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing nearly 30 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) has announced that its 2013 donation to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will total $1.4 million dollars, marking the largest single contribution in BC/EFA history and bringing the foundation's total contribution to BC/EFA to $8.35 million since 2005.

The ASCAP Foundation just honored Tony Award-winning lyricist and director of Annie Martin Charnin with the first-ever ASCAP Foundation George M. Cohan Award at their 18th annual Awards Ceremony last night, December 11th. The invitation-only event, hosted by ASCAP Foundation President Paul Williams, was held at the Allen Room, Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presented the ninth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, last night. The award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, was presented by Joel Grey at a by-invitation-only ceremony in the Penthouse Lounge of The American Airlines Theater. BroadwayWorld was there for the ceremony and you can check out photos below!

The Fred Ebb Foundation in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company presents the ninth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond. The award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, is presented by Joel Grey tonight, December 2nd from 6-8pm at a by-invitation-only ceremony in the Penthouse Lounge of The American Airlines Theater.

The Kennedy Center, under the auspices of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), presented a free, five-night ASCAP Centennial Celebration on the Millennium Stage, November 16 through the 18th and 20-21, 2013. Click HERE to watch Corey Cott and Kara Lindsay perform!

The Kennedy Center, under the auspices of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), presents a free, five-night ASCAP Centennial Celebration on the Millennium Stage today, November 16 through the 18th and 20-21, 2013.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) will present the ninth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond. The award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, will be presented by Joel Grey on Monday, December 2nd from 6-8pm at a by-invitation-only ceremony in the Penthouse Lounge of The American Airlines Theater.

Joshua Sherman presents Charmers, a new web series of short musical films with original music, lyrics and choreography for those obsessed with Movie Musicals and Broadway. Episodes are free to watch at JoshuaShermanPresents.com.

Following a star-studded concert at the Drama League on October 7, 6-10 Productions, LLC has announced the official release of the studio cast recording of PERFECT PICTURE. Featuring performances by some of Broadway's most distinguished artists, PERFECT PICTURE examines the chaotic love story of the iconic Norman Rockwell. He inspired all of America to believe in the perfect family…but he knew better. The CD is available at the BROADWAY CARES/EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS Online Store, the album's official online distributor.

The Kennedy Center, under the auspices of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP), presents a free, five-night ASCAP Centennial Celebration on the Millennium Stage November 16-18 and 20-21, 2013. This live showcase of musical theater works from the past 100 years features songs by some of the theater world's most talented composers and lyricists and concerts from a lineup of acclaimed musical theater performers. The celebration is part of the Center's daily, free Millennium Stage performance series streamed live on the Kennedy Center website and archived for future viewings. It is the first in a series of events across the country that will celebrate ASCAP's upcoming 100th birthday, on February 13, 2014.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) has announced final casting for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The Drama League presents the pre-release concert and celebration of the studio cast recording of the new musical PERFECT PICTURE, inspired by the life of Norman Rockwell, with original score by Gail C. Bluestone (music) and Eileen Bluestone Sherman (lyrics). Starring: Debbie Gravitte, Ron Holgate, Mark Jacoby, Andrea McArdle, Randy Skinner and Lillias White. With Musical Director Aaron Jodoin and hosted by Joshua Sherman and Eileen Bluestone Sherman tonight, OCTOBER 7 at 7pm.

The Drama League presents the pre-release concert and celebration of the studio cast recording of the new musical PERFECT PICTURE, inspired by the life of Norman Rockwell, with original score by Gail C. Bluestone (music) and Eileen Bluestone Sherman (lyrics). Starring: Debbie Gravitte, Ron Holgate, Mark Jacoby, Andrea McArdle, Randy Skinner and Lillias White. With Musical Director Aaron Jodoin and hosted by Joshua Sherman and Eileen Bluestone Sherman on MONDAY, OCTOBER 7 at 7pm.

New York Theatre Barn will release the new fully orchestrated demo recording of Small Town Story (formerly Speargrove Presents), a new musical commissioned by NYTB, in a concert sung by most of the demo cast and band at its signature new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City. The demo can be accessed online at https://soundcloud.com/nytheatrebarn/sets/small-town-story-demo starting on Tuesday, September 24.

The Dramatists Guild's Fellows Program will host their Annual Presentation at Playwrights Horizons in New York on October 7, 2013. The Fellows Program will present excerpts from new works written by the fourteen talented playwrights, composers and lyricists who were the 2012-2013 Dramatists Guild Fellows.

From today, June 23 to June 29, 14 emerging professional songwriters will participate in The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project at Northwestern University -- an intensive weeklong program on the Evanston campus that has produced 2013 Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (nominated for 'A Christmas Story, The Musical'), Fred Ebb Award-winner Sam Willmot, and Latin Grammy Award-winners Obed Bermudez and Jennifer Pena.

From June 23 to June 29, 14 emerging professional songwriters will participate in The Johnny Mercer Foundation Songwriters Project at Northwestern University -- an intensive weeklong program on the Evanston campus that has produced 2013 Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul (nominated for 'A Christmas Story, The Musical'), Fred Ebb Award-winner Sam Willmot, and Latin Grammy Award-winners Obed Bermudez and Jennifer Pena.

Celina Carvajal (Kinky Boots) and Bryce Ryness (Around the World in 80 Days,Hair) will star in a presentation of SALVAGE, a new musical by Harris Doran and Arthur LaFrentz Bacon tonight, May 13, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City as part of New York Theatre Barn's revolutionary new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge, executive produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum.

Celina Carvajal (Kinky Boots) and Bryce Ryness (Around the World in 80 Days,Hair) will star in a presentation of SALVAGE, a new musical by Harris Doran and Arthur LaFrentz Bacon onMonday, May 13, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City as part of New York Theatre Barn's revolutionary new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge, executive produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum.