MTAP Incubator Sets Two New Musicals to Premiere at Charles Gray Auditorium

MTAP-Musical Theatre Artists of Pittsburgh has wrapped monthly meetings for the season, but its Hot Metal Musicals Incubator will be relaunched this summer with two free public readings, to be presented with extensive cooperation and support from the Pittsburgh CLO. The Incubator, aimed at helping creative teams move their work forward by thrusting it in front of an audience, will kick-off Monday, June 27, 2016 with Dear Boy, book and lyrics by Jeanne Drennan and music by David Berlin, followed by Me, Myself and Others by Eva Rainforth on Monday, August 29, 2016. Both will be presented at Pittsburgh CLO's Charles Gray Auditorium at 7:00 pm.

Incubator show #1, Dear Boy, presents the true story of parental love gone haywire in the 18th century. The Earl of Chesterfield seems to control every detail of his illegitimate son's life but in fact knows nothing of the son's secret life as a husband and father. The show has seen much development since its debut reading in 2010 under the guidance of producer Stephanie Riso while at Pittsburgh Irish and Classical Theatre (PICT). The piece has continued to evolve, benefitting greatly through the MTAP collective, which was established in 2011. Bookwriter/lyricist Jeanne Drennan, also MTAP's Managing Director, explains the likely impact of the Incubator reading at this stage of development: "Since that initial reading David and I have made huge changes to the work: to the music, to what parts of the story get pulled into the foreground, to the inherent theatricality and the comedy that goes along with it. But since 2010 we haven't had the opportunity to see the entire show presented as seamlessly as possible. So that, and the immediate audience response to the show, will tell us what more we need to do before the show is ready for production." This Incubator reading will be produced by MTAP member Vince Ventura, Artistic Director of 12 Peers Theater directed by Stephen Santa.

Incubator Show #2, Me, Myself and Others, presents a theatrical tapestry of original songs, poems and monologues, all written by mezzo soprano and composer Eva Rainforth and ranging from the deeply disturbing to the poetically poignant, with much of it leavened by inspired lunacy. The piece has previously been presented for friends and family, but the author sees an opportunity to test out new ideas and gain objective feedback through the Incubator reading. The reading will be produced by MTAP member Joe Domencic.

The Incubator allows a public audience to become involved in the early stages of a new musical's long and often arduous journey toward full production. Creative teams benefit by working with a director and music director, along with the artistic and production team. The collaboration often helps to illuminate or clarify the storytelling or song intention as the team prepares the work for presentation. The most recent Incubator reading drew a full house in November 2015 to a presentation of Kitty, with book by John Keating and music and lyrics by Sandra Lowell.

MTAP welcomes new members, including performing talent, bookwriters, librettists, lyricists, composers, musicians, directors, managers and producers. Please visit MTAP.weebly.com or email MTAPgh@gmail.com for more information about how to get involved.

MTAP - Musical Theatre Artists of Pittsburgh is a sponsored project of Fractured Atlas, a non-profit service organization, and has garnered support from individual donors and grantmaking entities including The Heinz Endowments Small Arts Initiative Program. The Heinz Endowments supports efforts to make southwestern Pennsylvania a premier place to live and work, a center for learning and educational excellence, and a region that embraces diversity and inclusion. Contributions for the charitable purposes of MTAP must be made payable to Fractured Atlas only and are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

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