Bill Nabel; a veteran actor of eight Broadway shows with 30 plus years on Broadway with over 9400 performances, a member of the original casts of "42nd Street" and "Beauty and the Beast" - the latter of which he was the only cast member to do the entire 13 year run; has switched hats and will now see two of his many works mounted within weeks of each other. Utah Shakespeare Festival will present the World Premiere of Mr. Nabel's new play LYING TO SPIELBERG at the Auditorium Theatre (351 West Center Street) in Cedar City, Utah on August 11, 12 and 31. And the Village Theatre will present the West Coast Premiere of TAKE ME AMERICA, a new musical with book and lyrics by Mr. Nabel and music by Bob Christianson from September 14 through November 20 at the Village Theatre of Issaquah, WA and the Village Theatre of Everett, WA.
LYING TO SPIELBERG, part of Utah Shakespeare's New
American Playwrights Project, focuses on a holocaust survivor who is all set to have
Steven Spielberg's Shoah Foundation film his story of escape from a concentration camp. Then, he receives a shocking visitor who challenges his story, his life and his Jewish legacy, which may compel him to-lie to Spielberg. David Ivers directs. Charles Metten stars. For more information on LYING TO SPIELBERG and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.bard.org/plays/napp2011.html.
Seven desperate refugees know their chance for safety rests in the decision of three American agents. TAKE ME AMERICA is a gripping new musical about those who seek asylum in the United States, and the people who bear the responsibility of determining their fate. Inspired by true stories from across the globe, this compelling rock musical explores the humor in our humanity, the power of acceptance, and the delicate balance between caution and compassion. TAKE ME AMERICA will play the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre (303 Front Street North, Issaquah, WA) from September 14 through October 23, and the Everett Performing Arts Center (2710 Wetmore Avenue, Everett, WA) from October 28 through November 20.
Jerry Dixon directs.
Aaron Finley stars. For more information or to purchase tickets to TAKE ME AMERICA please visit http://www.villagetheatre.org/.
Bill Nabel is a recipient of a 2009 State of Connecticut Playwright Fellowship Grant and a finalist for the American Academy of Arts and Letters
Richard Rodgers Prize for TAKE ME AMERICA. Other credits include the books and lyrics for LOVE ON ICE, the world's first cryogenic musical; WHO KILLED
Mario Lanza?; GOLLYWOBBLE, a musical based on "The
Andy Griffith Show" for
Paramount Pictures; HABEAS CORPUS, the nom-de-plume musical and GO ASK YOUR FATHER, the musical that asks: "What would you do if you could confront your father about things that happened to you when you were a kid?"
He has written the plays LYING TO SPIELBURG; LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I DROVE; MILF; HUBBLE, a multi-media astronomical fantasy about Edwin Hubble, the astronomer; THE SCHWARZCHILD RADIUS and THE CHAMP. Mr. Nabel is an alumnus of the
Lehman Engel-BMI Musical Theater Workshop, Tufts University and is a member of the
Dramatists Guild and the Abingdon Theatre New Playwrights.
Mr. Nabel appeared on Broadway for the entire thirteen year run of Disney's "BEAUTY AND THE BEAST" for which he did original readings for Michael Eisner and
Jeffrey Katzenberg (when they were speaking to each other). Mr. Nabel has appeared in over 9000 Broadway performances. But who's counting? Since his theatrical debut as "Tony" in WEST SIDE STORY under the tutelage of
Leonard Bernstein, Mr. Nabel has appeared in eight Broadway shows including the original A CHORUS LINE, SWEENEY TODD, and 42nd STREET, HOME SWEET HOMER, AIN'T BROADWAY GRAND, EVITA and THE MOST HAPPY FELLA. He has worked with
Susan H. Schulman,
Gower Champion,
Hal Prince,
Gene Saks,
Gerald Gutierrez,
Stephen Sondheim,
Alan Menken,
Cy Coleman,
Mitch Leigh,
Lee Adams,
Russell Baker,
Barbara Fried, and
Linda Woolverton.
TAKE ME AMERICA won "Best Musical, Best Actor (
Eric Chan), Best Supporting Actress (
Jan Leslie Harding) Best Supporting Actress (Ana Andricain, nom.)" at the 2007 Midtown International Theatre Festival in New York City and was a "Must See" in
New York Magazine. TAKE ME AMERICA was presented at 2008 "Stages" New Works at Theatre Building of Chicago; the 2008 York Theatre (New York) Musicals in Development Series and at Penn State New Musicals in 2008. TAKE ME AMERICA was also a finalist for the American Harmony Prize. LOVE ON ICE was a finalist in the "Stages" New Works Festival (2008) at Theatre Building of Chicago.
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