Founders, Past Presidents of NAMT to be Honored at SHOW OFF! Concert, 10/20

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today that it will honor its Founders and Presidents, past and present, at SHOW OFF!, a benefit concert celebrating 25 years of NAMT's Annual Festival of New Musicals on Sunday, October 20 at 7pm at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square).

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre was founded in 1985 by Frank M. Young, Theatre Under the Stars (Founder & First President); Leland Ball, Sacramento Music Circus* (Founder & Past President); Marsha Brooks, Brooks & Distler, Attorneys at Law; Angelo Del Rossi, Paper Mill Playhouse*;Charles Gray, Pittsburgh CLO*; John Holly, Music Theatre of Wichita*; Chris Manos, Theater of the Stars; Michael Price, Goodspeed Musicals; Stewart Slater, San Jose Civic Light Opera* (Founder & Past President); Tony Stimac, Musical Theatre Works*; Kary Walker, Marriott Theatre in Lincolnshire*; Marty Wiviott, Long Beach Civic Light Opera*, among others.

Past Presidents of NAMT include Judith Allen, Blumenthal Performing Arts *; John Breckenridge, Theatre Under the Stars; Bud Franks, Hobby Center*;Sue Frost, Goodspeed Musicals*; Michael Jenkins, Dallas Summer Musicals; Van Kaplan, Pittsburgh CLO; Denny Reagan, The MUNY; Marilynn Sheldon, The 5th Avenue Theatre. Rick Boynton of Chicago Shakespeare Theater is current NAMT President.

(* denotes organization at time of NAMT founding or presidency).
"As we thought about how best to celebrate this 25-year milestone, we thought first and foremost about the people who brought us to this point, the people who played the most vital roles in making NAMT and our Festival what it is today. We are so very proud to honor this remarkable group of NAMT founders and presidents," says Betsy King Militello, NAMT's Executive Director.

SHOW OFF! is a special conclusion to this year's Annual Festival of New Musicals which takes place October 17-18 at New World Stages. Tickets to the concert and reception are available now at www.namt.org/showoff.

Featuring songs from past Festival shows from throughout the 25 years, including The Drowsy Chaperone, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Honk!, Children of Eden, Ordinary Days, and many more. The concert is directed by Tony winner David Zippel, with continuity by Brian Hargrove, music direction by Brad Haak and choreography by Lorin Latarro. Branden Huldeen (NAMT's New Works Director) is Creative Producer.