Golden, Lippa, Felciano, Etc. Perform at Ars Nova for NYMF

Annie Golden, Andrew Lippa, Manoel Felciano, Daniel Reichard, Donna Lynne Champlin and more will perform at Ars Nova, from September 11th through October 1st, as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Ars Nova and NYMF will "jointly present a phenomenal series of concerts and special events showcasing New York's top theater artists, with a focus on some of musical theater's most promising newcomers," according to press materials.
 
On Monday, September 11 at 8:00 PM, Merle Dandridge will perform as part of the "Broadway Spotlight" series.  "In an inimitable evening of songs ranging from jazz to rock to funk to your favorite Broadway tunes, Tarzan's Merle Dandridge brings her incredible talent and a phenomenal list of special guests to the stage as part of Ars Nova's Broadway Spotlight series.  Also featuring appearances by Manoel Felciano, Chester Gregory, and Destan Owens."
 
On Tuesday, September 12 at 8:00 PM, GrooveLily will perform.  "Crashing through the boundaries of rock, folk, jazz and pop with their critically-acclaimed original music, New York sensation GrooveLily fuses musical theater with some straight-up rock and roll and brings you an unbelievable show that defies categorization. Injected with sharp wit, soaring vocals and freshly-nuanced songwriting, the trio features the blazing six-string electric violin of Valerie Vigoda, the lightning-fingered piano of Brendan Milburn, and the energetic drums of Gene Lewin."

"Andrew Lippa and a Piano" will be seen on Wednesday, September 13 at 8:00 PM.  "In this special concert engagement, composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, john & jen) graces the Ars Nova stage for an unparalleled evening of music from shows both old and new.  With accolades including a Grammy nomination, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and others, Lippa's music transcends genres and boundaries marking him as one of the foremost composer/lyricists of modern musical theater.  For one-night-only, he will take this stage with only himself, his music, and a piano."

Annie Golden will inhabit a "Velvet Prison" on Wednesday, September 20 at 8:00 PM.  "At home both on Broadway and at CBGB's, Annie Golden (Milos Forman's Hair, Broadway's The Full Monty, New World Stages upcoming Mimi Le Duck) and musical director Marsh Hanson bring their phenomenal storytelling song-cycle Velvet Prison to NYMF at Ars Nova.  Infusing an unpredictable blend of ballads and show-stoppers from Tom Waits to Stephen Sondheim to Tammy Wynette with an array of different characters and original medleys, Golden returns to her rock roots and blows you away with her bullet of a voice."

On Friday, September 22 at 11:45 PM, Daniel Reichard will take the stage.  "Come party with Daniel Reichard, star of Broadway's Jersey Boys, as he returns to Ars Nova to explode late-night by hosting a midnight performance featuring special guest musicians in a night of mayhem you won't want to miss.  Reichard's other credits include starring as artist Keith Haring in Radiant Baby at the Public Theater, the original cast of  Forbidden Broadway: 20th Anniversary Celebration, The Thing About Men at the Promenade Theatre, and many others."
 
The Petersons will perform on Sunday, September 24 at 9:00 PM.  "Described by The New York Times as 'a hipster theater mock-rock group with a devoted following,' New York's favorite family band, The Petersons, will crack you up and save your soul in a hilarious night of music and comedy.   The Petersons are Matt Saldivar (The Wedding Singer), Keira Naughton, Evan Robertson, Pete Simpson, and Adam Stein."
 
TastiSkank will present their show on Monday, September 25 at 10:00 PM.  "Catch two of Broadway's hottest leading ladies Sarah Litzsinger (Beauty and the Beast) and Kate Reinders (Wicked) as they shred the term ingénue with their hilarious new band TastiSkank. With songs about everything from sex to pills to dirty boys who will remain nameless, TastiSkank is the newborn love child of the Indigo Girls and Tenacious D."

"Joe Iconis: Things to Ruin" will take center stage on Tuesday, September 26 at 8:00 PM.  "Ars Nova and NYMF welcome 2006 Jonathan Larson Award winner Joe Iconis for 'Things to Ruin,' an evening of incendiary songs about porn stars, panic attacks, drug runs and true love featuring his unique collision of musical theater and unadulterated rock. Performed by a cast of viciously talented young singers and a highly flammable four-piece band led by Joe himself, 'Things to Ruin' will rock your world with an explosion of music and high drama. Directed by John Simpkins , in association with Temporary Theatre Company."
 
Old Springs Pike will perform Friday, September 29 at 8:00 PM.  "With four of New York's hottest young musicians including Spring Awakening's John Gallagher, Jr., Old Springs Pike blends the cricket chirp of a suburban slow-fade with the subway scream of metropolitan mayhem. Using four-part harmony as a diving board, these early twenty-somethings find themselves in stylistic depths ranging from a fair-paced folk to a rarely restrained roots rock. With an energetic, spontaneous live act, Old Springs Pike proves that it's not just a concert but an event."
 
Donna Lynne Champlin will return with "Finishing the Hat" on Sunday, October 1 at 7:00 PM.  "Following her sold-out performances at Ars Nova, Donna Lynne Champlin  (Sweeney Todd) returns for another hilarious evening of all new stories and songs ranging from Broadway favorites to Irish classics to Gospel and back again. And just in case you haven't heard, Champlin will encourage the audience to decide which of her tales of inspiring and embarrassing moments they would like to hear most!  With musical direction by Andrew Gerle."

Fellow Sweeney Todd star Manoel Felciano will perform on Sunday, October 1 at 10:00 PM.  "In a double-header with Sweeney Todd co-star Donna Lynne Champlin, Manoel Felciano will beguile you in a rare and intimate evening of music with his soulful sounds and captivating charm.  Manoel's other credits include: Brooklyn, Jesus Christ Superstar, Cabaret, Saturday Night Fever, Whistle Down the Wind, Shockheaded Peter and Much Ado About Nothing (NYSF/Public Theater).

Ars Nova is located at 511 West 54th Street and tickets can be purchased at Theatermania at 212-352-3101 or www.Theatermania.com.   All tickets are $20 for NYMF events at Ars Nova.All tickets are $20.  Visit www.arsnovanyc.com for more information.