'It Came From Beyond' Extends at NYMF

THE 2005 NEW YORK MUSIC THEATRE FESTIVAL and Cornell Christianson are pleased to announce the world premiere of the new musical "IT CAME FROM BEYOND" with original staging by JEFF CALHOUN (Grease, Big River, Brooklyn). The book is by CORNELL CHRISTIANSON, music and lyrics are by STEPHEN M. SCHWARTZ and NORMAN THALHEIMER. Featured in the cast are Kevin Earley (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Miserables), Heather Marie Marsden, Todd Fournier, STEPHEN BREITHAUPT AND Katherine Von Till. Performances will be at the 45th Street Theatre and runs September 15 and 16 at 8:00, September 17 at 1:00 pm and 4:30 pm, September 21, 24, and 29th at 1:00 pm. All tickets are $15.00. For reservations please call (212) 352-3101 or visit www.nymf.org to purchase tickets online. The 45TH STREET THEATRE is located at 354 West 45th Street, (between 8th and 9th Avenues).

IT CAME FROM BEYOND is set in the 1950s and tells the story of a group of high school kids who go mad for a new comic book called IT CAME FROM BEYOND. But is it just a comic book? Are secrets hidden inside this comic that can change the laws of science? When math wizard Harold sets out to crack the code, he finds himself in the fantasy world of Commie spies and creatures from outer space who threaten the American way of life. Joining Harold in this fight for freedom is the girl he has always longed for, the beautiful Becky. But she has fallen into the clutches of the high school bully Steve. Can Harold overcome his fear and discover the secret in time to save Becky and the world? Just when all appears to be lost, Harold realizes that he must be the hero!

Director Jeff Calhoun's original staging is being used for this world premiere in New York. Calhoun directed the recent Broadway production of Brooklyn, the long-running revival of Grease and the sign language revival of Big River. His work as a Choreographer appeared in Taboo, Bells are Ringing, and Annie Get your Gun. As a performer, Calhoun has appeared in My One and Only and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Book writer Cornell Christianson has been a producer-writer at Paramount Pictures and Twentieth Century Fox where he won two Emmy Awards for producing "The Paper Chase" starring John Houseman. He won a Mania Award presented by Wes Craven for writing a short film, "Repossessed" starring JoBeth Williams, which took First Prize at five international film festivals and can be seen on the internet at Atom Films. Christianson is also the Story Writer of a 1940s musical-comedy Wicked City Blues To follow up his 1940s film noir and 1950s sci-fi musicals, Christianson is writing a 1960s sword & sandal musical called Unchained Muscle.

Lyricist/Composer NORMAN THALHEIMER is also the Book writer/Lyricist/Composer of the 1940s detective jazz musical Wicked City Blues Thalheimer was also a composer/lyricist for the Broadway musical "Marilyn: An American Fable" at the Minskoff Theatre.

Lyricist/Composer STEPHEN M. SCHWARTZ is a Lyricist/Composer and Performer for the award-winning musical group, Parachute Express, which was named one of the "Superstars of Children's Music" by L.A. Parent Magazine and included in "Names to Be Reckoned With" by the Los Angeles Times. Parachute Express has recorded ten albums and won numerous honors for excellence in family entertainment including the Parent's Choice Award, the INDIE Award for Best Children's Album, and the envied NAPPA Gold Award.

Featured in the cast is Kevin Earley who performed as Lesgles on Broadway in Les Miserables and as Enjolras in the third national tour. He also appeared as Graydon on Broadway in Thoroughly Modern Millie. Mr. Earley appeared with Val Kilmer in "Ten Commandments" in LA where Variety found him "a magnificent singer with smoldering rage and competitiveness... (his) solo "Glory of Ra" spells out his lust for power, and he projects…much blazing heat…." Earley won LA Drama Critics Award for 1776 and had an LA Ovation Award nomination for "Side Show". www.KevinEarley.com.

Also featured as Becky is HEATHER MARIE MARSDEN who previously appeared in the national tour of Sweet Charity and with the Santa Barbara Civic Light Opera and as Val in A Chorus Line directed by Baayork Lee. Ms. Marsden is also an internationally known recording artist with Universal Music Group who Indie Music Magazine called "sensual and brazen" and Synthpop Magazine called "stunningly powerful". Her new single, VENICE FREAK, recently debuted at #25 on the Billboard charts. www.HeatherMarieMarsden.com.

Rounding out the company are TODD FOURNIER (Simon and understudied Judas in national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, national tour of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons), Stephen Breithaupt (Pilate in the national tour of Jesus Christ Superstar, on Broadway in Sunset Blvd, guest stars in season opener of "Grey's Anatomy"), and Katherine Von Till (star of long-running LA hit Bark!, the LA Times called her "a show-stopper").

In addition to "IT CAME FROM BEYOND," CHRISTIANSON and THALHEIMER have also teamed up on "WICKED CITY BLUES." At its recent world premiere in Salt Lake City at the 350-seat Allred Theatre, the Utah Standard-Examiner said it "has legs" and "is likely it will be drawing audiences elsewhere for years to come." An original musical, it juxtaposes the worlds of radio and film noir with music that the Utah Deseret News said "captures the flavor and fun of the '40s, ranging from bluesy torch songs to jazz, ballads and robust dance numbers". The Salt Lake Tribune said "the musical looks and sounds great" and the Utah Deseret News called it "a snappy, sassy and thoroughly enjoyable send-up of the 'film noir' mystery genre, a great ride through the dark streets and glitzy night clubs of a big city. The music was fun and lively, with lyrics that were funny, savvy, sly and packed with pop references. The choreography was worthy of a Broadway stage and kept taking clever, unexpected turns." www.WickedCityBlues.com.

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 proudly supported by amNewYork, Village Voice, WB11, Receptasign, King Displays, Rosco, Scharff Weissberg, TheaterMania.com, BroadwayWorld.com and Manhattan Living. For more information, visit www.nymf.org.