NOW.HERE.THIS. Opens at the Vineyard Theatre, 6/4
By: Lauren Wolman
The Developmental Lab Production of NOW.HERE.THIS. - the newest work from the creators and cast of the legendary musical [title of show], will begin performances on Saturday, June 4 at the Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street), with a special performance to benefit the non-profit theatre company on Sunday, June 19th at 7:00pm.
A limited number of tickets to NOW.HERE.THIS. are available to the public. Tickets for the Sunday, June 19th benefit performance are $125 and include admission to an after party with the artists. Premium tickets are available for $175 and include preferred seating at the performance, admission to the after party and a pre-show toast. Also available are a limited number of $1,000 "co-host packages," which include 4 premium tickets to the pre-show toast, performance and after party, as well as a program credit as "event co-chair," and recognition live at the theatre. Tickets are available to purchase online a twww.VineyardTheatre.org; by phone at 212-353-0303; or at the Vineyard Theatre Box Office - 108 East 15th Street. NOW.HERE.THIS. is written by Hunter Bell and Susan Blackwell, with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen. NOW.HERE.THIS. is based on a collaboration by Hunter Bell, Michael Berresse, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen and Larry Pressgrove. Musical direction and arrangements are by Larry Pressgrove. NOW.HERE.THIS. is directed by Michael Berresse, who along with Mr. Bowen and Mr. Bell won Village Voice Obie Awards for their work on [title of show].It has been a thrill for The Vineyard to have the cast and creative team behind [title of show] - which The New Yorker called "a joy from start to finish" - return to The Vineyard to develop and launch their newest collaboration, NOW.HERE.THIS. - an original "theatri-concert" that investigates and celebrates living in the present, featuring autobiographical stories, songs, and a multi-piece band. According to Hunter, Jeff, Susan, Heidi, Michael and Larry, "the piece explores what goes down in the space between the past and the future, and how the universe conspires to bring people together." NOW. HERE. THIS. also promises to solve the mysteries of JCPenney plain pocket jeans, middle school talent shows, and the space time continuum. Vineyard Theatre Labs are developmental productions which are not open for review.[title of show] -- an enormously popular musical called "delectable entertainment" by The New York Times -- made its Off-Broadway debut at The Vineyard on February 15, 2006, and extended three times before reopening in a commercial Off-Broadway production at The Vineyard from July to October of that year. Two years later, [title of show] realized the dream come true depicted in the musical itself and moved uptown, opening on Broadway in July 2008.Hunter Bell earned an OBIE Award, a Drama League nomination, and a 2009 Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical all for the original Broadway musical [title of show]. Other credits include the books for SILENCE! THE MUSICAL, BELLOBRATION! (137th Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus), and VILLAINS TONIGHT! (Disney Cruise Lines). Hunter is a co-creator of the web series the [title of show] show and has developed new works with ABC television, at the O'Neill Center and Ars Nova. Susan Blackwell's credits include [title of show] - on Broadway and Off-Broadway at Vineyard Theatre; THE KID (The New Group); SPEECH AND DEBATE (The Roundabout); ANON (The Atlantic Theatre Company), Working Title and VILNA'S GOT A GOLEM (American Jewish Theatre), as well as playing Peter Patrone in THE HEIDI CHRONICLES. Television appearances include 'The Sopranos', 'Third Watch', 'All My Children' and various 'Law & Orders'. Films include Margin Call, P.S.: I Love You, Margot at the Wedding, Bun Bun, Changing Lanes, and Night Int. Trailer for the feature film Ten Minutes Older.
Jeff Bowen wrote the music and lyrics for and starred in the Broadway musical [title of show] for which he won an Obie Award, as well as a GLAAD Media nomination and a Drama League nomination. He was awarded the Jim Owles Human Rights Award and was named one of the 100 most influential people in OUT MAGAZINE. He has written music and lyrics for VILLAINS TONIGHT! for the Walt Disney Company , numerous BC/EFA events, the Easter Bonnet competition for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the Actors Fund 125th Anniversary Gala, the Vineyard Theatre's 25th Anniversary Gala, the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards, Broadway in South Africa, and Broadway Bares 18: Wonderland. He has composed music for several shows at P.S. 122 including AVANT-GARDE-A-RAMA IN SPARKLEVISION, HELLO, MY NAME IS AVANT-GARDE-A-RAMA; SPARKLEFEST 2000 at Dixon Place; THE A-TRAIN PLAYS; and the film Boat Mime.
Photo Credit: Dirty Sugar Studios
