Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Justin Guarini, Patti Murin & More to Lead Industry Reading of Stageworks Media's GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN, 6/20

Stageworks Media will present an industry reading of GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN, a New High School Musical written by Eric Price and directed by Daniel Goldstein (Godspell). Set in a prep school, GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN is a modern retelling of the Jane Austin classic Emma, and features a score comprised of contemporary pop songs made famous by female singers, songwriters, and female-led bands. GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN will be presented on Friday, June 20th at 11:00 am at 54Below (254 West 54th Street, NYC).

Featured in the cast of GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN are Emilee Dupre (Chaplin), Justin Guarini (Wicked, Romeo & Juliet), Adam Kantor (Next to Normal), Andrew Keenan-Bolger (Newsies, ... Spelling Bee), Caitlin Kinnunen (The Bridges of Madison County), Janet Krupin (If/Then, Hands on a Hardbody), Lorinda Lisitza (The Ted & Lo Show), Marla Mindelle (Cinderella, Sister Act), Patti Murin (Fly By Night, Lysistrata Jones), Ryann Redmond (If/Then, Bring It On), Brian Sears (The Book of Mormon), and Zakiya Young (Stick Fly, The Little Mermaid).

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN has as score which features hit songs made famous by artists such as Sara Bareilles, Whitney Houston, Katy Perry, Alanis Morissette, Avril Lavigne, Blondie, Shania Twain, Salt 'N' Pepa, Natasha Bedingfield, and Cyndi Lauper, among others. The music director is Paul Staroba (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), and musical arrangements are by Michael Holland (Godspell).

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN is the second project developed by Stageworks Media as part of The Stageworks Collection -- musicals that are conceived, developed, and delivered with the high school performing artist in mind. The first, Cyrano de Burger Shack, is currently having its first pilot productions presented at schools / youth arts programs such as the Avenues School in NYC and the French Woods Festival in Hancock, NY.

"As a high school Theatre Director, it is often difficult to choose a musical that is perfectly suited for students. Not only do you need to choose material that fits your student roster, but also content that is suited for high school-age kids. We need new work with popular music, created by theatre professionals, and scored and adapted for teenage voices, bands and orchestras. The Stageworks Collection provides us with a great opportunity to combine popular music and high school-set stories. It also put parents and school administrators at ease," says David Weinstein, Director, French Woods Festival, Hancock, NY.

Founded in September 2013 by Michael Barra, Stageworks Media is a multi-platform production company focused on adapting content for stages around the globe, and developing theatrical-inspired stories for film, TV, digital, and publishing. Stageworks Media develops new work for the stage, connecting large, branded intellectual property owners -- film studios, music publishers, book publishers, etc. -- with the thriving theatrical licensing marketplace. Allowing content owners to activate their otherwise dormant library assets, Stageworks Media works with these companies to select properties to develop as stage musicals, with a special focus on the regional, community, university and high school theatre licensing markets through its Stageworks Collection. They will also in turn package those resulting new musicals for a life in TV and film.

Stageworks Media also produces and manages the immersive theatre hit Speakeasy Dollhouse - the original, Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Bloody Beginning, and its newest chapter, Speakeasy Dollhouse: The Brother Booth (performed at the historic Players Club).

For more information on the presentation of GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN or the Stageworks Collection, call Stageworks Media at (212) 268-0600 or email info@stageworksmedia.com.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.