Huffman, Stillwell, Etc. Set for Feinstein & Iconis Shows

The New York Theatre Barn will present a double bill of concerts showcasing the music of Brian Feinstein and Joe Iconis at the D-Lounge on Monday, June 11th.

"No Looking Back: The Music of Brian Feinstein" will be presented at 8 PM, and will feature Feinstein's music set to lyrics by such writers as Adam Bock, Robin Moyer Chung, Peri Lyons, Lynn Nottage and Amanda Yesnowitz.  Rick Hip-Flores will provide musical direction, and there will be performances by Kristin Huffman (Company, Broadway revival), Haviland Stillwell (Les Miserables, Broadway Revival), Bill Gross and Kelly McCreary.

At 9:30 PM, "The Music of Joe Iconis" will be performed. The evening will boast performances by Matt Kinkley, Lauren Marcus, Lance Rubin, and Jason F. Williams.

In between sets, songs from the New York Theatre Barn's upcoming readings of Ordinary Days and B.R.A.T.S. will be presented.  Ordinary Days is written by Adam Gwon.  "One city. Four lives. A million possibilities. A new musical about growing up and enjoying the view," as the show is described in press notes.  B.R.A.T.S. is a new musical by Bobby Cronin.  "No, these Brats are not the dolls. Anything but...This hilarious and moving contemporary musical follows six troubled teens sent to a wilderness boot camp. Will they remain the burdened, reckless, adolescent troubled souls that they are or will they conquer their demons in time to go home for Christmas?"

Feinstein's composing credits include: Mimi le Duck (Off-Bway, book and lyrics, Diana Hansen-Young) an original Off-Broadway musical starring Eartha Kitt and Annie Golden, By the Numbers (book and lyrics Amanda Yesnowitz) for the TRU Producing Series and a reading for the ASCAP Musical Theatre Workshop conducted by Stephen Schwartz; and the one-act musical Daphne and Apollo (book and lyrics Robin Chung) for the Mondo Publishing company.  He has received 2 ASCAP Plus Awards for songwriting in the popular music division and is a recipient of a Jonathan Larson Memorial Fellowship award.

Things to Ruin," a revue of Iconis' songs directed by John Simpkins, was a hit at Joe's Pub earlier this year and also played several sold out nights at Ars Nova.   Iconis, who got his MFA from the NYU/Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program, is the recipient of a 2006 Jonathan Larson Award and a 2006 Daryl Roth Award.  His garage-band rock musical, The Black Suits--for which he wrote music, lyrics, and co-wrote the book with Robert Maddock--will be seen next year at the MCC.

The New York Theatre Barn is "committed to creating and developing new, evocative works that are based on the principle that theatre is a collaborative art form that can only be successful when the process of the artists involved is nurtured and supported, and when the artists are encouraged to explore new ideas and the relevance of old ideas in a modern context, as well as themes and issues that will influence and effect future generations of theatre artists and audiences."

The D-Lounge is located at 101 East 15 Street, between Union Square East and Irving Place.  Performances begin at 7:00pm.  There is a $10 admission, with a one drink minimum (cask only please).

Visit www.nytheatrebarn.org for more information.

Photo of Brian Feinstein by Ken Kleiber; photo of Joe Iconis by Linda Lenzi