THE ROAD TO QATAR Nominated for 2013 Musical Theatre Network Awards

The European Première of Stephen Cole and David Krane's autobiographical musical The Road to Qatar has been shortlisted for a coveted Musical Theatre Network 2013 Award.

Musical Theatre Network has been running its annual awards at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2007, with the purpose of highlighting the talent that exists within the genre and raising the profile of the work. Awards are made for Innovation, Best Book, Best Lyrics, Best Music and Best New Musical, but can also include discretionary awards from the judges to recognise outstanding talent or achievement.

In an exciting twist for 2013, shows shortlisted do not know what category or how many categories their show has been shortlisted. Producer Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment said "The company have worked extremely hard in bringing Stephen Cole and David Krane's hilarious musical to life, I am delighted that we had the chance to produce the European première and excited that their hard work has been acknowledged in such a fantastic way."

The Road to Qatar tells the true tale of how the Emir of Qatar commissioned Cole and Krane to write him an arena style musical production. When two Gay New York Jewish writers Michael (James Robert-Moore) and Jeffrey (Josh Rochford) are commissioned to do the impossible: write a gargantuan Broadway musical for the Emir of Qatar including 100 British actors, 30 Qatari camels, 20 Arabian stallions, 17 fire-eating Croatian acrobats, 30 Russian ballet dancers, 5 falcons and Muhammad Ali, what can possibly happen? Musical Comedy breaks out in the Middle East! Unbelievable side-splitting surprises abound as the New York Jews travel from NYC to Dubai, London, Bratislava and, finally, to Qatar in their own private Bob Hope and Bing Crosby wide screen adventure with a modern up-to-date and off-the-wall twist...The Road to Qatar!

The Road to Qatar is Produced by Katy Lipson for Aria Entertainment, directed by Kate Golledge and stars James Robert-Moore, Josh Rochford, Sami Lamine, Richard Morse, and Natasha Karp.

Photo by: John Roberts