New York Musical Festival Adds New Productions, Readings & More to 2016 Slate

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theater Festival, announced today additional productions and special events for NYMF 2016. THE GOLD, SINGLE, CAMP ROLLING HILLS, LUDO'S BROKEN BRIDE, ARTEMIS IN THE PARKING LOT, CRUDE, and MOLLY MURPHY & NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON ON OUR LAST DAY ON EARTHjoin the previously announced new musicals that will be presented at the 2016 New York Musical Festival from July 11 through August 7 in various venues in Midtown Manhattan. In addition, NYMF is proud to announce additional concerts and special events for the 2016 Festival.

NYMF Passes are now on sale and offer discounted tickets, early ticket booking, and priority seating. Individual tickets for NYMF 2016 go on sale in June. Visit nymf.org/tickets for more information.

Dan Markley serves as NYMF Executive Director & Producer. Curation of the 2016 Festival is led by Rachel Sussman, who joins NYMF this year as Director of Programming & Artist Services. A Grand Jury panel of industry experts helped to determine the musical lineup of the Festival.

This year's Grand Jury included Tony Award-winning actor Michael Cerveris, OBIE and Drama Desk Award-winning actress Donna Lynne Champlin, Two River Theater Literary Manager Anika Chapin, Creative Director, Fox Stage Productions Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Tony Award-winning producer Jane Dubin, Director of Theater Arts Program at The National Black Theater Jonathan McCrory, Tony Award and Drama Desk Award-nominated actor and writer Tony Sheldon, playwright, lyricist, and actress Gretchen Cryer, Drama Desk Award-winning actor Santino Fontana, Tony Award-nominated Broadway actress Montego Glover, Broadway director West Hyler, Tony Award-nominated director Leigh Silverman, and Laurence Olivier Award-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo.

The additional productions, readings, concerts and special events are as follows:

NYMF 2016 INVITED PRODUCTION SELECTIONS:

THE GOLD
Book by Phil Yosowitz and Andrea Lepcio; Music and Lyrics by Phil Yosowitz

Joseph Cohen, a Jewish-German boxer, finds his 1936 Olympic ambitions crushed as the Nazi's rise to power. He soon learns that his toughest fight lies outside the ring, as he is separated from the woman he loves and their young son. Set against the backdrop of the Holocaust and the creation of Israel, THE GOLD is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the journey of self-discovery that each of us takes as we search for purpose in our lives.

Learn more: nymf.org/thegold

SINGLE
Book by Karen Bishko and Nat Bennett, Music and Lyrics by Karen Bishko

Leah seriously needs to get over her ex! She began a career in pop music when she was 20 years old, and even wrote a huge hit song... but the record company didn't want her singing her own material and so she quit. Fast forward: Now she's 36 and a successful divorce attorney. Between her experience with the music industry and shepherding women through contentious divorces, she has understandably become more and more suspicious of men. In case you haven't guessed it... yep, she's single. But will she ever sing again?

Learn more: nymf.org/single

CAMP ROLLING HILLS
Book and Lyrics by David Spiegel and Stacy Davidowitz; Music and Lyrics by Adam Spiegel

Pack up your duffle bags and head to CAMP ROLLING HILLS for another wild summer of tune filled campfires, bunk beds, and treasure hunts (for missing underwear, that is!). From learning a new sport, to discovering a new talent, to finding their first love, these 12 tweens are off on an 8 week adventure that will forever change their lives. It doesn't matter if you are a nerd, a jock, a tomboy, or a girly-girl because true friendships are made when all the rules are broken. After all, there is a different definition of cool at Camp!

Learn more: nymf.org/camprollinghills

LUDO'S BROKEN BRIDE
Concept, Music and Lyrics by LUDO; Adaptation by Stacey Weingarten; Addt'l Story and Arrangements by Dana Levinson

Time-travel, dinos, and zombies, oh my! An expansion on the original concept album "Broken Bride" by alternative rock band LUDO, this is the epic tale of one man's time-traveling journey from the Beginning of Time to the End of Time, all to save his true love's life. Utilizing rock music from Ludo's entire discography, projections, dance, special effects and puppetry, this rock opera has it all! So... how far would YOU go to save your true love?

Learn more: nymf.org/brokenbride

NYMF 2016 DEVELOPMENTAL READING SELECTIONS:

ARTEMIS IN THE PARKING LOT
Book by Shayok Misha Chowdhury; Music by Laura Grill; Lyrics by Shayok Misha Chowdhury & Laura Grill

Stuck in the suburban jungle, a dirt-eating mama's boy digs up the truth about what lies beneath his high school's softball field. Together with a motley team of friends, enemies, and frenemies, he takes a stand to stop the town from turning the field into a parking lot and, along the way, comes face to face with love and death. An oddball coming-of-age story, ARTEMIS IN THE PARKING LOT is an ode to adolescent wisdom, the persistence of buried histories, and, of course, unabashed 90s nostalgia.

Learn more: nymf.org/artemis

CRUDE
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Maureen Condon; CRUDE Album Musical Production and Arrangements by John McKenna

CRUDE is a musical romp through the world of big oil and high stakes PR, where solar start-ups and the press are pawns in a game of corporate intrigue. Will sexy PR dynamo Cassidy Sullivan succeed in steamrolling her CEO Dad and his oil giant, End-Run, Inc., into the green energy eusiness? Will she get her revenge on CFO Chad Cook when she discovers he's betrayed her in business and love? Will Cassidy find true love with the investigative journalist digging up the dirt on End-Run, Inc.

Learn more: nymf.org/crude

MOLLY MURPHY & NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON ON OUR LAST DAY ON EARTH

Created and Written by Molly Beach Murphy; Music and Lyrics by Loren Berí

MOLLY MURPHY & NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON ON OUR LAST DAY ON EARTH is part indie lecture series and part musical cabaret. The story follows famous astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson and his biggest fan girl through the Hayden Planetarium in the last 24 hours before the Earth is swallowed by a super-massive black hole.

Learn more: nymf.org/mollyandneil

NYMF 2016 CONCERT SERIES SELECTIONS:

FAC @ the FEST

The Musical Theatre Factory teams up with NYMF to present a one-night only concert featuring celebrated MTF artists and special guests sharing work they've written and the musical idols that inspired it.

Learn more: nymf.org/mtf

NYMF 2016 SPECIAL EVENTS

iLLA! A HIP HOP MUSICAL
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Ronvé O'Daniel; Music by Jevares Myrick
Story Consultant J Kyle Manzay; Music Consultant Will Stone

Set against the 2008 financial meltdown we meet Prince, a classically trained dancer who dreams of becoming a rap star. After suffering a humiliating defeat at a local open mic competition, Prince struggles to redeem himself in the eyes of his friends and family. He falls hard for a girl named Stacy but his parents' prejudice threatens to tear them apart. Can Prince overcome his fears and troubled home life to achieve his Hip Hop dreams? It's a journey of swagger, survival and the search for self. Do you have what it takes to be iLLA?

Learn more: nymf.org/illa

BREAKING THE MOON
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Amy Steinberg

Hard hitting, character driven rock musical about teen suicide. BREAKING THE MOON highlights causes of the epidemic; sexuality, drugs, guns and divorce. We watch as 7 teens struggle to explore the fear of visibility and the healing power of connection. Finding the strength to survive, they each break through to a hopeful knowing. Nationally renowned musician Amy Steinberg brings a brave book and a killer, fresh score, reminding us all of our own darkness and every human's hunger to live a meaningful life.

Learn more: nymf.org/breakingthemoon

QUICK AND FUNNY MUSICALS

The Upright Citizens Brigade's 'Quick & Funny Musicals' Company enjoys skewering everything you care about...through the power of musical theater! With short, irreverent song and dance numbers - mocking anything from crime shows to one night stands - Quick and Funny Musicals is UCB LA's longest running musical mainstay. In their NYC debut this company of musical comedians will present 3 of their best mini- musicals, full of snark, wit and a little of that jazz.

Learn more: nymf.org/quickfunnymusicals

CHOREOGRAPHY SPOTLIGHT

How a choreographer approaches and devises contemporary, traditional, and immersive styles of dance for musical theater.

Participants will engage with Choreographer Jennifer Jancuska and dancers from her company, The BringAbout, as collaborators in her unique approach to dance as a narrative tool in new musical theater development. Material will specifically reflect Jennifer's 2016 collaborations with composers Kait Kerrigan & Brian Lowdermilk, PigPen Theater Company, and Zack Zadek. $50 fee to participate. Limited to 40 participants.

Learn more: nymf.org/choreospotlight

MUSICAL SONGWRITING WORKSHOP

LED BY ANNA K. JACOBS

This introductory workshop led by Anna K. Jacobs (POP!; Harmony, Kansas; Teeth; Echo) takes participants through an authentic musical theater songwriting process. Past participants have explored the relationship between music and language, learned key songwriting tools, discovered the power of collaboration, performed original work, and received guidance and feedback in a safe and open environment. This week-long experience culminates in an open presentation and songwriting master class with a Guest Artist. Past artists have included Laurence O'Keefe (Legally Blonde, Bat Boy, Heathers) and Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family). $130 fee to participate.

Learn more: nymf.org/songwriting

AUDITIONING FOR THE MUSICAL THEATER

LED BY MICHAEL CASSARA, CSA

Work out your musical theater audition material with guidance from a leading casting director! Michael Cassara will hear your best audition song and work with you from his unique vantage point "behind the table." Class will include a Q&A and a discussion of the "business of the business." Michael Cassara has cast more than 70 NYMF productions and has served as the Resident Casting Director for NYMF since 2007. $100 fee to participate; $10 fee to observe.

Learn more: nymf.org/auditionmasterclass