War, Muslim Relations, Xenophobia and the struggles of disenfranchised youth are among the contemporary themes highlighted in Les Enfants de Paris, a world premiere musical premiering October 3rd as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Donna Drake directs a cast of seven including, Adam Halpin (Glory Days), Nadine Malouf , Sevan Greene (Aftermath, Betrayed), Megan Reinking (Million Dollar Quartet, Hair, Boardwalk Empire), Jed Resnick (Avenue Q), Dan Kohler (Blue Man Group), and Blake Segal. Seven performances will be held at the TBG Theatre, 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor, NYC 10018 beginning October 3, 2011.
The youngest writing team in this year's festival, David Levinson (music / lyrics) and Stacey Weingarten (book) have created a chanson and Arab-influenced score and libretto for Les Enfants de Paris. The streets of Paris are not safe after young Pierre Frollo's love for a fiery Muslim refugee sparks a series of cataclysmic events in this riveting musical about love and relationships, which re-sets Victor Hugo's Notre Dame de Paris amongst the disenfranchised youth and xenophobia of France 1958, and the Algerian War for Independence.
Les Enfants de Paris is presented by Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter Productions, with general management by Stuart Shefter. Rachel Routh is associate producer. Director/Additional Development: Donna Drake; Music Director: Mark Hartman; Choreographer: Rhonda Miller; Set Designer: Ann Bartek; Lighting Designer: Brian Tovar; Costume Designer: Kurt Alger; Sound Designer: Michael Eisenberg; Production Stage Manager: Robert Levinstein; Stage Manager: Tom Kosis; Casting: Michael Cassara, CSA; Publicity: Paul Siebold.
Donna Drake (Director / Additional Development) is known as one of the busiest directors in New York, Los Angeles, and regionally. Among her numerous directing credits are Newsical, Boobs! The Musical!, Christmas with the Crawfords, Romance in the Dark, Are You There God? It's Me, Ann-Margaret, Nothing Like a Dame (BC/EFA), and the current family hit, John Tartaglia's Imaginocean. She was the director of last year's NYMF audience award winning show Things As They Are. She has choreographed Catherine Zeta Jones for the American Film Institute Awards in 2009 and The AFI 2011 honoring Morgan Freeman and starring Betty White. She also served as choreographer for two seasons of the Disney Channel's Emmy nominated Johnny and the Sprites. As a performer she has appeared in the Broadway original casts of A Chorus Line, Sophisticated Ladies, Woman of the Year, The Wind in the Willows, The 1940's Radio Hour, and 5, 6, 7, 8...DANCE! Her work is the recipient of four Drama Desk nominations, a MAC Award nomination, an Emmy nomination, an Off Broadway Alliance Nomination, a Nightlife nomination, and a Theatre World Award.
David Levinson (Music and Lyrics) has written music and lyrics for finished shows Báthory and Les Enfants de Paris. David is also currently working on music and lyrics for Boys Lost, The Elliot's..., and Who Is Prester John? which are in development. Film scoring: The Missing Piece (Leila Manion dir.). Live theater scoring: The Boy Who Wanted To Be A Robot (written by Edward Einhorn, produced by Evolve co.). Music direction: Aida, Cabaret, Infancy. Concert Performances: Bringing Voices to Light - A Benefit Concert for Global Internet Access(The Laurie Beechman Theatre), Red Hot and New, The Music and Lyrics of David Levinson (Laurie Beechman Theatre), special guest at The After Party (The Laurie Beechman Theatre). Education: Manhattan School of Music Professional Musical Theater Workshop, New York City Opera Workshop. www.davidlevinsonmusic.com
