BWW Spotlight: Village Originals 10th Annual Festival of New Musicals

Village Theater presented their "Village Originals 10^th Annual Festival of New Musicals" over the weekend presenting 6 new musicals from up and coming writers and composers.  Fostering the advancement of new works, the festival boasts the Early Stages of shows that have gone on for full mainstage runs ("The Gypsy King", "Chasing Nicolette", "Stunt Girl", "Iron Curtain") as well as a few which have recently gone on to Broadway runs ("Million Dollar Quartet" and the Pulitzer and Tony Award winning "Next to Normal").  So getting in at these Early Stages is a real treat and you never know what future hit smash you might see. 

The shows presented at this year's festival were as follows...

  IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU
 Book & Lyrics: Brian Hargrove
 Music: Barbara Anselmi

 What begins as a typical wedding, replete with              indecisive mothers and jealous siblings, escalates to   new levels of hysteria in this outrageous new musical comedy. As dissatisfied mothers fire snide comments at one another and ex-boyfriends make unsolicited appearances, arguments arise and secrets unfurl. With an uproarious score, It Shoulda Been You is a  rollercoaster of laughs full of shocking twists that will leave your head spinning.

BUDDY'S TAVERN
Book: Raymond De Felitta
Music: Kim Oler
Lyrics: Alison Hubbard
Based on the movie TWO FAMILY HOUSE, written and directed by Raymond De Felitta

Despite a pattern of failed professional endeavors, ambitious Buddy Visalo refuses to accept defeat. The year is 1956, and much to the chagrin of his wife, Buddy is setting out to open a flourishing bar where he can pursue his true passion: singing. Unfortunately, nothing ever seems to go quite as planned for Buddy, whose dreams are smothered by financial woes, his wife's doubts, and, to add to the chaos, an Irish American tenant with a mixed race child. Torn between his conscience and the pressure of his peers, Buddy is transported onto a road of twists and turns that just might lead to everything he's ever wanted.

PLANE CRAZY
Books, Music & Lyrics: Suzy Conn

Attention, attention please. Now boarding is Faith Hope, winner of the Miss Teen Toledo pageant and recent graduate of the Venus Airlines Stewardess Academy. It's 1965, and Faith is about to learn that being a stewardess is more about girdles and groping hands than onboard meals and emergency exits. Just as Faith enters the fray, Venus Airlines takes on a bold, new advertising symbol of the living breathing example of blossoming female sexuality...the stewardess. Little do they know that their chosen "Miss Venus", the once naïve Faith Hope, will soon become their worst nightmare: empowered. This quirky and upbeat new musical is an uplifting and hilarious story about fighting back and demanding respect.

IN YOUR EYES
Book: Brian Yorkey and the KIDSTAGE COMPANY
Lyrics: Brian Yorkey
Music: Tom Kitt

In this captivating new musical, the students of Lakeshore high school are sent into a full-blown lock down (not to mention a flood of animosity, fear, and insecurity) when a plot of gun violence is suspected. As a group of unsupervised students attempts to make sense of the chaos, they end up learning more about themselves and their classmates-from the troubled rocker spitting lyrics, to the sarcastic fashionista pointing fingers from her pedestal. Penned by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning duo, Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt, this musical is an engrossing tale of high school survival.

CLOAKED
Book: Michelle Elliott
Music: Danny Larsen
Lyrics: Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen

In this potent new musical, a young girl and a heroic knight venture into the woods in search of love and identity...but who are they, really? In the online world, you never know. This tantalizing tale will lead you deep into the dangerous, yet extraordinarily alluring landscape of the internet, where you can escape from reality and create a different life...but what happens when right and wrong become blurred and you lose yourself in the fantasy? With a modern, innovative score that blends computerized tones and haunting melodies, this intriguing story explores the reality of what the internet has become: a wilderness that can be your best friend or your worst nightmare.

LINCOLN IN LOVE
Book & Lyrics: Peter Kellogg
Music: David Friedman

Step into history and watch as the young Abraham Lincoln dips in and out of trouble and makes his way as a future political leader. In the year 1842, young Abe is found slipping into the shoes of an aspiring lawyer, not to mention serving as a comedian among the townspeople. Enter the fervent and beautiful Ms. Mary Todd, who sends the young men of Springfield into a romantic flutter. This whirlwind new musical will take you through a witty and inspirational adventure as this future President grapples with his everyday ways and takes on his first real defense trial-while fumbling with The Temptations of love and marriage.

While it's too early to discuss the merits or downfalls of any of these new works, it's was definitely exciting to see what's coming down the road.  Not to mention the tremendous hope that musical theater geeks like me get from seeing that not only festivals like this exist all around the country but also in our own back yard.

For more information on Village Theatre's "Village Originals" program, visit them online at www.villagetheatre.org.

Photo Credits: Sam Freeman

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