WINDYWOO AND HER NAUGHTY PETS Reading Set for NYMF

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) presents a developmental reading of Windywoo and Her Naughty Naughty Pets, a new musical based on the popular Naughty Naughty Pets franchise, featured on Cartoon Network and Disney's Hyperion Books for Children. The developmental readings will take place July 11 at 1pm and July 13 at 4pm and 7pm at the Studio Theatre at Theatre Row (410 West 42nd Street).

Windywoo and Her Naughty Naughty Pets is a new musical for children of all ages. Windywoo is devastated to learn that her beloved apartment building is being sold to a big-time real estate developer. Her neighborhood is changing fast, and Hector, the landlord, wants Wendy and her many pets out! But where will they go? With The Big Apple as their background, Windywoo and her Naughty Naughty Pets sing and dance in this jazz-infused musical, as they learn that change is inevitable, but against all odds they band together to stand up for themselves, their home, and what's really important, family.

Remy Zaken (Spring Awakening, Brooklynite, Freckleface Strawberry) leads a cast that includes Gretchen Bieber (Hairspray), Ryan Bloomquist (Bombshell), Brittany Campbell, Ryan Duncan (Shrek The Musical), Daniel Everidge (Grease, Found), Jeffery Schecter (Nice Work If You Can Get It), LoraLee Gayer (Follies), and Sam Simahk. Jonathan Cerullo (Band In Berlin, Big Apple Circus, Anna Karenina) directs and Seaview Productions (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, Side Show) produces. The creative team includes Solomon Hoffman (Music Director), Carol Schubert (Associate Director), Madeline Smith (Music Supervisor), Stephanie Bianchi (Music Consultant),

Michael Cassara (Casting), and Cameron Berne (Stage Manager).

Wendy Ann Gardner (Book, Music, Lyrics) is an artist originally from Toronto, Canada. Wendy began her career as a painter. She studied at the Ontario College of Art and Design and moved to New York City to work as an illustrator. Wendy Ann Gardner loves dogs, cats, chickens and pets of all kind. One day she met a French Bulldog and the Naughty Naughty Pets unique line of plush toys were born. The toys have been sold in boutiques, design stores, gifts shops, and museums throughout the world. Wendy Ann Gardner's illustrations of the Naughty Naughty Pets characters have been licensed worldwide to create various products including children's clothing, stationery, lollipops, stickers, watches, wallets, tote bags, t-shirts and pajamas. Disney's Hyperion Books published her series of four children's books, in 2002. In 2006, she produced an animated TV series based on the characters with Decode Entertainment/DHX Media. The series

aired on Cartoon Network, CBC Canada, BBC UK, Canal Plus France, NHK Japan and throughout the world, translated into several languages. She lives in New York City with

her husband, two children, a big dog and her cats, Artie and Marty Cohen.

Jonathan Cerullo (Director): Broadway: Choreographic Consultant: Say Goodnight Gracie, Assistant Director and/or Choreo: Band In Berlin, Anna Karenina, The Three Musketeers Original Cast: Legs Diamond, National Tour: CATS and Sweet Charity with Donna McKechnie. Choreographer for Carnivale! & Picturesque for the Big Apple Circus at Lincoln Center. Director and/or Choreographer: Off-Broadway for the NYMF 2009 Best of Fest, Under Fire La Mama; Pins and Needles, NYMF, HB Playwrights Foundation; Festival of Short Plays, Midsummer Nights, Wonderful Town, and Uta Hagen's 50-Year Tribute. TV: Assistant Director and/or Choreo: Great Performances "Evening At Pops," Donny Osmond's "This Is The Moment," "Natalie Cole's Christmas Special." Film: "The First Wives Club," "The Stepford Wives," "Mr. Abbott Awards" SDCF Promo. Regionally: Goodspeed, Arena Stage, Big Apple Circus', Camelot; Berkshire Theatre Festival, private dance instructor, Uta Hagen in Six Dance Lessons; Geffen Playhouse. Jonathan is set to direct, Willie and Me, In The Spotlight Again, The Emmett Kelly Story, which he also co-wrote, based on the life of the famed circus artists, Emmett Kelly. Member: SDC, AEA, and the DGA, The Drama League, and proud to serve on the SDC Callaway Award Committee. For more info please

visit www.jsctheatricals.com.

Seaview Productions (Producer) is a Tony Award wining Broadway production company, committed to redefining on-stage storytelling through strategic innovation in creative development, audience experience, consumer engagement, and investment management. Our shows include: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (Broadway), Side Show (Broadway), Gypsy (London), The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey (Off-Broadway), Invisible Thread (Off-Broadway). Seaview Productions has also made investments in several current and past Broadway shows including Of Mice and Men, It's Only a Play, Fun Home, and Something Rotten. Leading the Seaview production team are Executive Producers Greg Nobile & Jana Shea, Associate Producer Colin Sheehan,

and Creative Development Associate David Manella. www.SeaviewProds.com

For more information please visit www.nymf.org/windywoo

The New York Musical Theatre Festival nurtures the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theatre.

Now in its twelfth year, the Festival is the premier musical theatre event in the world. The preeminent site for launching new musicals and discovering new talent, the Festival provides an affordable platform for artists to mount professional productions that reach their peers, industry leaders, and musical theatre fans. More than 90 Festival shows have gone on to productions on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters in all 50 states, and in

more than 20 countries worldwide. Festival alumni have received a wide array of awards including the Tony Award® and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, NYMF received a special Drama Desk Award in recognition of its work "creating and nurturing new musical theatre, ensuring the future of this essential art form."

NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF 2015 is sponsored by Fuzzrocket, PRG, TheaterMania, Clear Channel Spectacolor, and The Village Voice, and is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and from the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

The NYMF PASS is a great way to experience The New York Musical Theatre Festival. With a NYMF PASS, you can get into the theater before individual ticket holders. Passes also offer the exclusive ability to book tickets before they go on sale to the public. NYMF Passholder ticket booking begins June 1. Individual tickets go on sale June 15.

The 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival will take place July 7-27. For more information, please visit: www.nymf.org