TV: NYMF 2009 - OPEN THE DARK DOOR

Banned in Russia, David Lefort Nugent brings his next show, Open the Dark Door, to The New York Musical Theatre Festival beginning October 8th at 8pm.

In 2006, Yale graduate David Lefort Nugent's Ugo's Last Dance was banned in Russia. A Russian producer and fan of Nugent's work translated the play into Russia's native tongue for submission to an arts festival.. The show flew through the approval process, but when the producers read the script, a meager couple of weeks before opening, they cancelled all the performances, citing that the play's themes wouldn't resonate with Russian audiences. According to an unofficial source, though, the true fear was that Nugent's exploration of religion in the piece was simply too controversial to bring to the Russian stage.

This year Nugent brings his new indie rock musical, Open the Dark Door, to The New York Musical Theatre Festival. Open the Dark Door confronts the American justice system with singing freaks, a two-faced judge and mystery-meat hot dogs. Nugent's fictional Mortland, USA is good, clean town with an unusual, but highly effective way of keeping its streets clean. Its functional Death House sends public offenders to their doom, keeping Mortland residents safe.

The show proudly features Paul Kandel (Tommy, Titanic, Superstar), Mary Ellen Ashley (original cast, Annie Get Your Gun), Andrew McGinn (Coast of Utopia) and Laura Jordan (Cry Baby). Also appearing in the show are Alex Emanuel, Paul Louis Lessard, Ryan Hilliard, Kendal Hartse, Jake Loewenthal, Bennett Pologe, and Patrick Jude.

Open the Dark Door's team is comprised of Zane Philistrom (Set Designer), Scott Bolmon (Lighting Designer), Emily Robhelz (Costume Designer), Ted Pallas (Sound Designer), Mary Madsen (Choreographer), Kris Kukal (Musical Director), Lisa Timmel (Dramaturg), Halo Askew Entertainment (General Manager), Gloria Yetterberg (Production Stage Manager).

Directed by Susanna Gellert. Music performed by The Middle Eight, acclaimed indie-rock band.

Venue: American Theater of Actors, Chernuchin Theater, 254 West 55th Street, 2nd Floor, New York , NY Tickets: www.nymf.org/openthedarkdoor