HELD MOMENTARILY, Featuring India Carney, Extends at NYMF

HELD MOMENTARILY -- the new musical featuring India Carney, the singer and actress who was a 2015 finalist on NBC-TV's "The Voice" -- has extended its engagement at The New York Musical Theatre Festival. Scheduled to run July 20 to July 27, 2015, the production has added an additional performance on Tuesday, July 21 at 1:00 PM at PTC Performance Space (555 West 42nd Street in New York). HELD MOMENTARILY features book, music and lyrics by Oliver Houser, was developed by Hunter Bird and includes additional material by Hunter Bird and James Zebooker. The show is directed by Harry Shifman and Scott Stein serves as Musical Director. For more information, visit www.nymf.org/heldmomentarily.

HELD MOMENTARILY is an outrageous musical ride about opening up and learning to love the journey. Trapped on a stalled subway car, six strangers discover it's not just the train that's stuck. Oh, and one more thing: a woman just went into labor.

The complete cast of the show features Jordan Barrow, Ciaran Bowling, India Carney, Oliver Houser, Yael Rizowy, Geena Quintos and James Zebooker.

HELD MOMENTARILY was featured in the 2014 NY International Fringe Festival, and was subsequently chosen to extend Off-Broadway at the Fringe "Encore" series at the SoHo Playhouse that September. HELD MOMENTARILY features scenic design by Adam Rigg, costume design by Allison Dawe and lighting design by Elijah Schreiner.

HELD MOMENTARILY: A New Musical will be presented at PTC Performance Space (555 West 42nd Street in New York). The schedule is Monday, July 20 at 8:00 PM; Tuesday, July 21 at 1:00 PM (ADDED PERFORMANCE); Thursday, July 23 at 1:00 PM; Saturday, July 25 at 5:00 PM; Sunday, July 26 at 8:00 PM and Monday, July 27 at 12:00 Noon. Tickets are $27.50 and can be purchased online at www.NYMF.org or by calling (212) 352-3101. For more information, visit www.NYMF.org.

BIOS:

Oliver Houser (Book, Music & Lyrics) is a writer, composer, actor and recent graduate of the Macaulay Honors Program at Hunter College, NY. His musical, Held Momentarily, ran at the 2014 NY International Fringe Festival, and was one of a small selection of shows to receive an extended run at the Fringe's Off-Broadway "Encores" series at the SoHo Playhouse. Tony-winning composer Bill Finn has showcased Oliver's work at Barrington Stage Company and 54 Below. Oliver's short musical, Preschool, was a finalist at the Festival of New American Musicals' 2013 Show Search competition. His musical adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Seagull debuted at the On the Verge Theater Festival in Glasgow, Scotland in 2014. Oliver is currently developing new work with the Musical Theatre Factory and is a member of the BMI musical theatre workshop. Acting credits include Melchior in Spring Awakening (Virginia Rep, RTCC nomination), TV: "What Would You Do?" (ABC, featured on unworthy), "Phowned" (Spike TV), "Life on the Line" (Oxygen, starring Ally Sheedy), and the lead role in the Ben Folds Five music video "Sky High." Oliver is a graduate of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts and was awarded the Franklin Keller Award in recognition of talent in 2011. www.oliverhouser.com

JAMES ZEBOOKER (Additional Material) is thrilled to be in NYMF this summer. He co-wrote the short musical Preschool, a finalist at the Festival of New American Musicals' 2013 Show Search competition. Acting credits include: Greg in Held Momentarily (FringeNYC Encore Series), Prince Carlos in Teatro SEA's Cinderella, and Edna in Hairspray (LaGuardia High School for Performing Arts).

HARRY SHIFMAN (Director) is the senior member of the Drama faculty at LaGuardia High School for Music and Art & the Performing Arts, where he teaches acting and directs theatre. His productions span the theatrical gamut, and include the musicals; Carousel, Urinetown, Cabaret, Hairspray, LES MISERABLES, and West Side Story, as well as plays including; A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Hot L Baltimore, The House of Blue Leaves, The Rose Tattoo, and Othello. He is delighted and honored to play once again with some of his extraordinary former students.

SUNDANCE PRODUCTIONS, INC (General Management) consists of David Coffman (Managing Director, General Manager), Diana Lounsbury (Associate General Manager). Located in the heart of Times Square, Sundance Productions is a global entertainment and production firm specializing in live stage production, theatrical licensing, and theatrical consulting. With services ranging from casting, contracting, artist liaison and support, to professional management of administrative, creative, and technical theatrical issues, the agency coordinates all logistical elements concerning theatrical performances. Under the leadership of David Coffman as Managing Director, the company takes particular pride in working with the most creative and successful production teams in theatre today, including: current theatrical licensing deals for Cats and Rock of Ages in Mexico City, Queen Esther Marrow's The Harlem Gospel Singers show, and the international touring production of West Side Story. Previous productions and associations include: 3 Mo Divas, Tanguera, Grease (casting), Latin Heat, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Martha Graham Dance Company, Blackbirds of Broadway, and 4 Guys Name Jose. Sundance works in association with its parent company BB Promotion GmbH, one of the largest commercial theatrical producing and touring companies in Europe. www.bb-promotion.com

The New York Musical Theatre Festival nurtures the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theatre. Now in its twelfth year, the Festival is the premier musical theatre event in the world. The preeminent site for launching new musicals and discovering new talent, the Festival provides an affordable platform for artists to mount professional productions that reach their peers, industry leaders, and musical theatre fans. More than 90 Festival shows have gone on to productions on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters in all 50 states, and in more than 20 countries worldwide. Festival alumni have received a wide array of awards including the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, NYMF received a special Drama Desk Award in recognition of its work "creating and nurturing new musical theatre, ensuring the future of this essential art form." NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF 2015 is sponsored by Fuzzrocket, PRG, TheaterMania, Clear Channel Spectacolor, and The Village Voice, and is supported, in part, by public funds from The New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and from The New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. The NYMF PASS is a great way to experience The New York Musical Theatre Festival. With a NYMF PASS, you can get into the theater before individual ticket holders. Passes also offer the exclusive ability to book tickets before they go on sale to the public. NYMF Passholder ticket booking begins June 1. Individual tickets go on sale June 15. The 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival will take place July 7-27. For more information, visit www.nymf.org.