ASCAP Announces Four New Musicals For Workshop

The ASCAP Foundation announced that four new musical works have been selected for presentation at the 13th Annual ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles. The winning proposals were selected from more than 160 applicants.   The workshop will take place April 7, 9, 28, 29, 30 and May 1, 2008, at 7:00 p.m. sharp, at the Disney Feature Animation Studio Lot in Burbank, CA.

The workshop will be directed by Academy and Grammy Award-winning composer/lyricist, Stephen Schwartz, whose credits include the Broadway smash "Wicked," "Godspell," "Pippin," the Walt Disney films Pocahontas and "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," and the Dreamworks' film "The Prince of Egypt."  The selected musical theatre writers will have the opportunity to make short presentations from their original works-in-progress for professional critique by a panel of the most prominent theatre producers, directors and composers.

All aspiring musical theatre writers, and those who submitted musicals for the workshop, are encouraged to attend.  The workshop is free of charge and open to everyone, regardless of performing rights affiliation.  Admission is on a first come, first served basis.

The ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop in Los Angeles is part of an ongoing series of workshops sponsored by The ASCAP Foundation to nurture new American musicals.  For more information about the program, please contact Michael Kerker at ASCAP at 323-883-1000 or 212-621-6264.

The 13th Annual ASCAP Foundation/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop is part of "ASCAP I Create Music Week" -- an entire week of events being held in Los Angeles to celebrate the voice of the music creator.  For more details, please visit www.ascap.com

The selected writers and their musical works are listed below, and will be presented on the following dates:

Monday, April 7 and Wednesday, April 30- HOW THE NURSE FEELS. Book and Lyrics by David Green; Lyrics by Debbie Lamedman; Music by John Glaudini Lincoln Park High School is presenting "Romeo and Juliet". But the show is headed for disaster. The drama teacher has left town and the production has been turned over to the football coach.  Tess Powell is the Nurse but has no idea how to do it.  Bailey O'Neill, Tess' gay best friend, plays an "out and proud Romeo" and Trudy Painter, a popular and promiscuous cheerleader, plays Juliet.  Tess wades through her angst and faces her own prejudices about her peers, realizing what is really important - that every life, no matter how small, matters. And, she can finally play the Nurse.

Monday, April 7 and Thursday, May 1-WILLOUGHBY TREE. Book, Music and Lyrics by Jason Mayland; Music by Greg Chun "Willoughby Tree" is the story of two elm trees that are planted outside a drive-in theater in a Mid-Western farming town.  Inspired by this taste of show business, they dream of a world where trees can pull up their roots and walk, dance, and even make movies of their own -- in a magical place called Hollywood.

Wednesday, April 9 and Monday, April 28-BUBBLE BOY. Book, Music and Lyrics by Cinco Paul; Book by Ken Daurio Based on the movie of the same name, "Bubble Boy" tells the story of Jimmy Livingston, born without immunities and confined to a plastic bubble room. When he finds out the girl of his dreams is getting married, he builds a bubble suit and sets off on a cross-country quest to stop the wedding, encountering cult members, bikers, circus freaks, and his controlling mother along the way.

Wednesday, April 9 and Tuesday, April 29-HEARTLAND. Music by Philip Westin; Libretto by Burt Peachy "Heartland," inspired by Willa Cather's "O Pioneers!," tells the story of immigrants who settled on the plains of Nebraska in the mid 19th Century. Set to a sweeping score, we follow the life of Alexandra Bergstrom, a strong Swedish girl, who becomes a successful landowner, and the hardships, triumphs and tragedies she experiences over her life. Along the way we become involved with her best friend, Marie and others whom she loves and looses.

About The ASCAP Foundation- Founded in 1975, The ASCAP Foundation is a charitable organization dedicated to supporting American music creators and encouraging their development through music education and talent development programs. Included in these are songwriting workshops, grants, scholarships, awards, recognition and community outreach programs, and public service projects for senior composers and lyricists. The ASCAP Foundation is supported by contributions from ASCAP members and from music lovers throughout the
United States. www.ascapfoundation.org

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