The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Silverwolf, LLC present Man of Rock. Performances will take place from Monday, September 26 through Wednesday, October 5 at TBG Theater (312 W. 36th Street). Official Opening is set for Wednesday, September 28 at 8pm.
Man of Rock is an adaptation of George Etherege's restoration comedy, The Man of Mode, featuring all original songs, including Lovesnake, Love Doesn't Matter, and Rock N Roll Don't Lie. Dorimant, lead singer of Silverwolf, wowed the Shore in 1982 with his power ballad "Come Down Angel." But now it's 1986 and he hasn't composed a new song in years. When JJ Rock rolls into town with his band Hammer, looking to unearth the soul of rock, Dorimant must step it up or lose his band, his bar and the only girl he's maybe ever kinda sorta loved, Toni. Man of Rock embraces the era of greatest modern excess, the 80's, in this modern story of hard rock, tight pants, big hair, and the people inside them, ultimately just trying to figure out what is "real."
Man of Rock stars Michael Zygo (Rock of Ages, nat'l tour; Once, NYTW (upcoming)), Nick Cordero (Rock of Ages, nat'l tour; The Toxic Avenger), Vanessa Reseland (The All-for-Nots), Lisa Birnbaum (Italian American Reconciliation, Longwharf), and, original San Francisco cast members Danielle Levin and Lance Gardner. Designers include Andrew Boyce (sets), Chris Studley (lights) and Karl Ruckdeschel (costumes).
Man of Rock was commissioned and developed by the Climate Theater in San Francisco and received a production in December 2010.
More information at www.manofrock.com
Creative Team
Daniel Heath (Book and Lyrics) Daniel Heath is a San Francisco playwright. Recent productions of full-length plays include MAN OF ROCK (Climate Theatre, San Francisco, 2010) SEVEN DAYS (SF Playhouse Sandbox, San Francisco, 2010) and A MERRY FORKING CHRISTMAS (PianoFight, San Francisco, 2010). He is a two-time recipient of commissions from PlayGround (2009 and 2010), and his award-winning short plays have been performed across the country from San Francisco to NYC.
Ken Flagg (Music) Ken Flagg is an award-winning composer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and performer based out of Brooklyn. His songs have been featured in numerous independent films as well as on prime time television shows including 'Desire' and 'Fashion House.' He is the touring keyboard player for nerdcore superstar MC Frontalot and "Teenage Dirtbag" chart-toppers Wheatus, as well as playing bass for former Mendoza Line leader Timothy Bracy's Collection Agency. In addition to having released two solo albums, he also fronts local electro-pop outfit Edible Norris.
Jessica Heidt (Director) is an award winning director & artistic director of San Francisco's Climate Theater. She served as associate artistic director of Magic Theatre for 9 years where she directed world premiere productions by Taylor Mac (LILY'S REVENGE), Betty Shamieh (The Black Eyed, TERRITORIES) and Chantal Bilodeau (PLEASURE & PAIN). At Climate Theater she recently directed the first full production of MAN OF ROCK, as well as BRIGHT RIVER by Tim Barsky, and the world premiere of (((JAWVOX))) by Joshua Walters, and at Aurora Theatre she recently directed the world premiere of COLLAPSE by Allison Moore. www.jessicaheidt.com
NYMF Now in its eighth year, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is the largest annual musical theatre event in America and is widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery. NYMF provides a launching pad for the next generation of musicals and their creators to ensure the continued vitality of one of America's greatest art forms. Hailed as the "Sundance of Musical Theatre," NYMF discovers, nurtures, and promotes promising musical theatre artists and producers at all stages of development, and inspires a diverse audience through vibrant, accessible, powerful new work.
NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF 2011 is presented in association with BroadwayWorld.com, Production Resource Group, and TheaterMania.com, and is supported by American Eagle Outfitters, Back Stage, BroadwayBox.com, BroadwayInsider.com, Clear Channel Spectacolor, FOX 5 New York, King Displays, NASDAQ OMX, New World Stages, Next Magazine, PMD Promotions, The Port Authority of NY & NJ, Queerty.com, Season of Savings, Thomson Reuters, TheMenEvent.com, Times Square Squared, and Yelp. Major supporters include The ASCAP Foundation, BMI Foundation, Inc., The BWF Foundation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation with the support and encouragement of Jamie Ariel Phinney, Cameron Mackintosh Foundation, The New Musical Development Foundation, The Jerome Robbins Foundation, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and The Theater League. NYMF is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council, and from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.
