NYMF'S FAT CAMP Opens 9/30 At The Acorn Theatre

The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Michael Minarik & Eleven Entertainment announced today that Carly Jibson (Cry-Baby, Hairspray), Clarke Thorell (Catch Me If You Can, Hairspray), Sarah Saltzberg (…Spelling Bee), Kristine Zbornik (A Catered Affair, Road Show) and Randy Blair (Adding Machine) will star in Fat Camp, a new, completely original musical, at the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival.  With book by Blair and Timothy Michael Drucker (creators of the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival’s Outstanding Musical winner Perez Hilton Saves the Universe), lyrics by Blair, and music by Matthew Roi Berger, Fat Camp will play the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row from September 30th – October 8th.  The production will be directed by Obie Award-winning and Drama Desk Award nominee director Alex Timbers (Gutenberg! the Musical, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, …Children’s Scientology Pageant).

The cast will also feature Matthew David Allen, Melissa Bergland (Blue Eyed Soul), Ally Bonino (Darling), Nancy Renee Braun (Gypsy), Brooke Engen (Hairspray), Molly Hager (TV’s “Young Hearts Unlimited”), Cale Krise (regional Twelfth Night), Michael Mendez (regional The Full Monty), Ryah Nixon (regional Aida), Larry Owens (Prisoner of Second Avenue), Jessica Lea Patty (9 to 5, A Chorus Line), Marc-Sully Saint-Fleur (the film Gloria & Eric), Josh Segarra (The Electric Company), Kate Weber (Fringe 2009’s The Office and the Metal Blog), and Tracy Weiler (Upright Citizens Brigade).

Choreography is by Connor Gallagher (Perez Hilton Saves the Universe) and musical direction by Jason DeBord (Shrek, Legally Blonde). Fat Camp features scenic design by Wilson Chin (10 Things to do before I die), costumes by Emily Rebholz (Six Degrees of Seperation, Gutenberg! the Musical), sound design by Daniel Baker (Classic Stage Co’s Uncle Vanya), lighting by Jason Lyons (Rock of Ages, Threepenny Opera) and casting by Michael Cassara, C.S.A.

Nothing is going to make rock-and-roll rebel Robert Grisetti change this summer. That is, except for one ex-Navy Seal father, two suspiciously cheery camp counselors, and a 12-foot barbed wire fence. Visit Camp Overton, a weight loss retreat for hefty teenagers, as secrets, sex, S'mores, and self-image collide in this new musical comedy exploring the trials and triumphs of being "the fat kid."

NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF 2009 is presented in association with BroadwayWorld.com, Production Resource Group and TheaterMania.com, and is supported by Back Stage, Barnes & Noble Booksellers, BroadwayBox.com, BroadwayInsider.com, Broadway.TV, Clear Channel Spectacolor, DFD-TV, Frank & Camille's Fine Pianos, King Displays, Manhattan Movement & Arts Center, New World Stages, NASDAQ OMX, Next Magazine, PMD Promotions, Queerty.com, Reuters, Sweet Caroline's, Tekserve, TheMenEvent.com, The Tank, and Times Square Squared.  Major supporters include The ASCAP Foundation, BMI Foundation, Inc., The Broadway League, The BWF Foundation, The Nathan Cummings Foundation with the support and encouragement of Jamie Mayer, The Charlie & Jane Fink Charitable Fund, 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.  This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council. NYMF's programs are made possible with public funds from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

Fat Camp plays at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row as follows:

Wednesday, Sep 30th, 2009 at 8:00 pm

Friday, Oct 2nd, 2009 at 9:00 pm

Saturday, Oct 3rd, 2009 at 1:00 pm

Sunday, Oct 4th, 2009 at 1:00 pm

Wednesday, Oct 7th, 2009 at 9:00 pm

Thursday, Oct 8th, 2009 at 5:00 pm

Tickets are $20 and can be purchased online at www.nymf.org or by calling (212) 352-3101. For more information, please visit www.NYMF.org.

For more information on the show, please visit www.fatcampmusical.com.