30 Days of NYMF: We're Back!

WE'RE BACK!
by Isaac Robert Hurwitz
Executive Producer, NYMF

I'm still having a hard time believing that we've reached our fourth season. If there's one thing that reminds me how far we've come, however, it's noting how many artists are back at NYMF for their second, third, or even fourth time.   

The list includes an incredible number of actors, among them Liz Larsen, Austin Miller, Marla Schaffel, Kate Shindle, Shonn Wiley, and Lynne Wintersteller.  Directors Michael Bush (The Piper), Elizabeth Lucas (The Last Starfighter), and Igor goldin (Unlock'd) are all directing their third NYMF productions in as many years; several others, including Jeremy Dobrish (I See London, I See France), Nona Lloyd (Sherlock Holmes: the Early Years), Jenny Lord (Going Down Swingin'), and Lynn Taylor-Corbett (Mud Donahue & Son),are back for their second year.   

Not to mention the writers: Larry Pressgrove, who musical directed (and performed in) [title of show] from our first season, has a show of his own (The Angle of the Sun) in this year's festival.  Marcus Hummon, whose Jim Thorpe oratorio Warrior graced the stage of St. Clements last season, is represented this year by his haunting musical drama, The Piper, featuring Nancy Anderson and Christiane Noll.  Matt Boresi and Peter Hilliard's comic opera Don Imbroglio was a sold-out smash hit in 2005, and this year are back with a dark comedy set in the world of 1950s radio, Going Down Swingin'.  And Paul Scott Goodman, who's had two shows at our festival (Rooms and Alive in the World) is back this year with a concert in our Ars Nova series – as are Jeremy Schonfeld (whose show Drift was one of last year's productions) and Todd Almond (author of 2005's People Like Us). 

It's always a joy to have returning artists working alongside or in repertory with newbies, because they help us build a communal experience that enriches everyone.  We work hard to bring everyone together onto the same page, working together wherever possible rather than just sharing a box office staff and a website.  It's one of our greatest challenges – but I firmly believe it's one of our greatest successes, and something that hopefully allows NYMF to be not just a platform to highlight new projects but also a training ground and launching pad for a new generation of musical theatre producers and artists.   

On Monday, September 17, we'll be celebrating not only the achievement of having premiered 100 new musicals, but also the extraordinary community that has made that achievement possible.  I hope you'll join us – and, in whatever capacity you can – join our efforts to get new work up and new voices heard.   

See you around the Festival!