Benj Pasek, Kellen Blair, Joe Kinosian, David Spencer and More Set for YOUR HOLIDAY ASSIGNMENT IS...Concert Today

New works hub New York Theatre Barn is teaming up with the Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop to take a trip down memory lane by presenting an evening of "assignment songs" from BMI alumni. Hosted by BMI Fun Committee members Kate Anderson, Timothy Huang and Sara Wordsworth, "Your Holiday Assignment is...." takes place tonight, Monday, December 16, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the D-Lounge of the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City as part of New York Theatre Barn's revolutionary new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge, produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum. Patrick Cook, director of the Musical Theatre Workshop, is also producing.

Every fall, the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop welcomes a dozen emerging musical theatre writers into its multi-tiered training program. During the First Year, songwriters explore the basics of writing for the musical theatre through a series of assignments, which culminates in the creation of a 10-minute musical presented at the conclusion of the year. Those assignments include writing a "happy goodbye" and a "sad hello", a song in the voice of Blanche from A Streetcar Named Desire, and a comedy song inspired by Angels in America. Usually put away in each writer's trunk to collect dust, for one night only, a dozen of BMI's graduates will perform these forgotten gems from their earlier years.

Writers include Kristen Bair, Kellen Blair (Murder for Two), Patrick Cook, Chris Cooley, Anna Dagmar, Greg Edwards (Neurosis: The Musical), Beth Falcone (Wanda's World), Rick Freyer, David Gaines, Timothy Huang, Andy Karl, Joe Kinosian (Murder for Two), Benj Pasek (A Christmas Story, Dogfight), Adam Mathias (See Rock City), Andy Monroe (The Kid), Michael Mott, Zoe Samuel, Brian Sherman, Mishaela Shields, David Spencer (Weird Romance with Alan Menken), Kevin Wanzor and Sara Wordsworth (In Transit).

Performers include Justin Beck, Jennifer Blood (Unlock'd), Brett Boles (Benjamin Button), Patrick Cook, Anna Dagmar, Janine DaVita (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Natalie Charlé Ellis (Forbidden Broadway), Timothy Huang, John Kownacki, Adam Mathias, Andy Monroe, Travis Nesbitt (Altar Boyz), Ryan David O'Byrne, Aaron Phillips, Parker Pogue, David Purdy, Gayle Rankin (Tribes), Ravi Roth (Altar Boyz), Paul Sabala, Marcus Stevens (Forbidden Broadway), Cody Stine (Murder Ballad), Hansel Tan (Unlock'd) and Sara Wordsworth.

Now in its 6th year at the Daryl Roth Theatre, NYTB in the D-Lounge provides a revolutionary community-based format for new work development different than any other program across the country, and one that is highly sought after by writers looking for an artistic home. Through NYTB in the Lounge, two sets of writers or writing teams showcase 35 minutes each of musical and/or book material from either a musical in development, or songs from their catalogue, to friends, industry professionals, and fans. The professional, but comfortingly casual lounge setting allows for an intimacy between artist and audience, and immediacy with feedback, that far eclipses anything that a standard reading environment can provide. With beer in hand, writers and their performers can expand their community with their performance as fodder for discussion. The results are electrifying: new creative partnerships are forged between writers, the writers and performers expand their communities and fan bases, and the future of musical theatre is discussed and developed in an open forum amongst musical theatre enthusiasts and practitioners alike. Since its inception, New York Theatre Barn has developed over 215 writers in more than 60 concerts through NYTB in the D-Lounge- including Adam Gwon, Robert Waldman, Peter Mills and many more.

For more information, go to NYTheatreBarn.org.

Cover charge is $15 ($10 for Students / BMI members). Doors open at 7 PM, show starts at 7:30 PM, in the D-Lounge, just below the Daryl Roth Theatre (101 East 15th Street, just east of Union Square.) For tickets, go to https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9830953.