Anne L. Nathan Leads CAROLINA BREEZE at NYTB in the D-Lounge Tonight, 8/13

Tonight, August 13, 2012, New York Theatre Barn will present NYTB in the D-Lounge, a monthly concert for emerging musical theatre writers (now in its 5th year), at the Daryl Roth Theatre. The August 2012 installment of NYTB in the D-Lounge features an excerpt from the new musical Carolina Breeze from writing team Joel Waggoner and Lori Mannette, as well as selections from the new musical Kingdom Come by Matt Webster. The monthly series is executive produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum.

The first set of the evening features selections from the new musical Kingdom Come with book, music and lyrics by Matt Webster. Kingdom Come is a new musical about stories, memories and connections. It features 14 stories all centered on the events of September 11, 2001. Led by interview-style vignettes, Kingdom Come strives to take you back to “where you were,” and challenges you to move into the future. The performers include MaryJoanna Grisso, Charlie Stoop, Collin Howard, Dale Sampson, Shira Elias, Katie Zaffrann, Catherine LeFrere (Once Upon A Time in New Jersey, NYMF’s Really Bad Things), Taylor Ferrera. Musical Direction is by Andy King with arrangements by Joshua Stubbs.

The second set of the evening features an excerpt from the new musical Carolina Breeze with book and lyrics by Lor Mannette and music by Joel Waggoner. Carolina Breeze is a new folk-rock musical that follows conservative Southern mother Pat Woodling on a cross-country journey to reunite with her gay son. Armed with only determination and charm, she must dig her way through Yankee territory to reunite her family. The performers include Anne L. Nathan (Once, Thoroughly Modern Miller), Nathan Yates Douglass, Drew Aber, Amy Burgess (CAP21’s Southern Comfort), Dana Aber (A Tale of Two Cities), Sol Baird, Joel Waggoner (CAP21’s Southern Comfort), and Sara Galm.

Lori Mannette is a writer, director, and stage manager. She served as Asstistant Director for Theater for the New City’s LES Festival of the Arts in 2011 and is the Festival Coordinator for the Dream Up Festival (ongoing!). Her writing credits include Caroline Breeze, a new musical with composer Joel Waggoner, which has been featured at Goodspeed Opera House, the Laurie Beechman, and was part of the Lincoln Center Songbook Series. She also works at Dramatists Play Service. Education: BA, Dramatic Arts (UNC-Chapel Hill); MFA, Musical Theater Writing (NYU). Awards: Paulette Goddard Award, Dramatists Guild Fellow 2011-2012. www.lorimannette.com

Joel Waggoner is an award-winning composer with an M.F.A from the NYU Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program. He is a faculty Music Director and Accompanist for the CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory. Currently, Joel is a 2012 Dramatist Guild Fellow. His work has been showcased at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Barrington Stage, Goodspeed Opera House, Merkin Recital Hall, and many other venues. Joel received the ASCAP Max Dreyfus Award for promise as a musical theater composer in 2009. An an actor, Joel appeared as a Violinst/Storyteller in the award-winning musical Southern Comfort at CAP21. Education: B.A., UNI, Vocal Performance and Violin. www.joelwaggoner.com

Matt Webster is a New York City based actor and writer. He graduated in May of 2011 with a BFA in Acting from West Virginia University where he was named the Outstanding Graduating Senior of the College of Creative Arts. Kingdom Comes was produced Off-Broadway in March as part of the Downtown Urban Theatre Festival. Out of over 200 submissions and more than 15 full productions, Kingdom Come was named Best Musical at the 2012 Festival, and can be seen in a full production September 11, 12, and 13th at the Signature Theatre in Long Island City. He has just finished writing his second musical Propaganda with collaborator Taylor Ferrera and is excited to showcase a new writing style! For more information about Kingdom Come visit: www.KingdomComeMusical.com.

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