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But I'm A Cheerleader To Debut At NYMF With Chandra Lee Schwartz, Kelly Karbacz, Natalie Joy Johnson, John Hill And More

By: Aug. 25, 2005
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But I'm a Cheerleader: The Musical with book and lyrics by Bill Augustin and music by Andrew Abrams, based on Lions Gate's 1998 cult film by Jamie Babbit and Brian Wayne Peterson, will have its world premiere as part of the second annual NY Musical Theatre Festival. Performances will begin September 13th at the Theatre at Saint Clements (423 West 46th Street), and continue through September 25th only.

Featured in the cast of 20 will be Chandra Lee Schwartz (Hairspray) and Kelly Karbacz (currently appearing as Maureenin Rent). This Equity workshop presentation will be directed by hot young director Daniel Goldstein(Associate Director of All Shook Up), with choreography by Wendy Seyb (Dreams This Way) and music direction by Brian Nash.

But I'm a Cheerleader is a wacky coming-of-age comedy about Megan(Schwartz), a typical high school cheerleader who has the perfect life. That is, until she finds out that everyone thinks she's a lesbian and her parents send her away to a "rehabilitation" camp called "True Directions." It is at this camp, under the strict tutelage of headmistress Mary Brown that Megan meets Graham (Karbacz), a sexy tomboy who shows her exactly what her "true direction" is.

Also in the cast are Nicole Cicchella (All American Cheerleader), Leo Ash Evens (Disney's Off the Record), Jack Ferver("Strangers with Candy"), PJ Griffith (Mamma Mia!), John Hill (The Boy From Oz), Natalie Joy Johnson (Bare), Paul Lane, Eric Lochtefeld (Metamorphoses), Sarah Katherine Mason (All American Cheerleader), Stefani Miller (Sound of Music), Jenna Pace (Awesome 80's Prom), Annie Ramsey, Tom Richter (Grease), Enrico Rodriguez (Rent) and Nick Sanchez (Rent). The workshop was cast by Dave Clemmons Casting.

Bill Augustin and Andrew Abrams developed But I'm a Cheerleader at the BMI Workshop and have written 18 original songs for the adaptation. The first reading was presented in January 2004 at Primary Stages with Nancy Opel and Laura Bell Bundy. The show was one of four selected for the ASCAP Workshop this past spring. Augustin and Abrams score is currently nominated for the Jerry Bock Award.

David Carpenter will executive produce the workshop presentation. The design team is madeup of two-time Drama Desk nominee David Korins (Sets), Ben Stanton (Lights), and Heather Dunbar (Costumes).

Performances are September 13th at 8:00,September 17th at 1:00, September 18th at 7:00, September 23rd at 5:00 and 9:00, and September 25th at 2:00. All tickets are $15 and available from www.theatremania.com or by calling 212-352-3101 starting August 29th.

Dedicated to discovering new work and new artists, The New York Musical Theatre Festival celebrates the diversity, creativity, and future of musical theatre. NYMF is a flagship program of the National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and is America's largest annual musical theatre event. NYMF is produced in association with Virgin Megastores and Cadillac and proudly supported by amNewYork,Village Voice, WB11, Receptasign, King Displays, Rosco Lighting,Scharff Weissberg, Dodger Stages, TheaterMania.com, BroadwayWorld.com, broadway.com, HX, Next and Manhattan Living. For more information, visit www.nymf.org .





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