J. Robert Spencer to Play Abraham Lincoln in BAYONETS OF ANGST at 2014 NYMF, 7/9-16

J. Robert Spencer (Tony nominee "Next to Normal," original Broadway company "Jersey Boys") is set to play the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln, in the world-premiere 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) production of BAYONETS OF ANGST - an original musical comedy set to a bluegrass soundtrack and narrated by the last remaining veterans of the American Civil War - Book by Rick Kunzi & Justin Zeppa, Music by Rick Kunzi & Adam Barnosky, Lyrics by Rick Kunzi, and Directed by Michael Lluberes. General Management Team for BAYONETS OF ANGST is Suellen Vance and Good People Management Group.

BAYONETS OF ANGST is an official selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

BAYONETS OF ANGST will play a limited five performances on Wednesday, July 9 at 8pm; Saturday, July 12 at 9pm; Sunday, July 13 at 8pm; Tuesday, July 15 at 9pm; and Wednesday, July 16 at 9pm at Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

BAYONETS OF ANGST is an original musical comedy set to a bluegrass soundtrack and narrated by the last remaining veterans of the American Civil War. These old codgers detail the behind-the-battlefield exploits of President Lincoln, the madness of General Tecumseh Sherman, and the pickled promiscuity of General Ulysses S. Grant in a dizzying sequence of events that changed the course of history. And because they were the ones who was there - you just listen and hush up 'bout it!

The design team for BAYONETS OF ANGST is Seth Easter (set design), Zach Blane (lighting design), Candida Nichols (costume design) and Harrison Adams (sound design).

Additional casting for BAYONETS OF ANGST will be announced at a later date.

NYMF is the flagship program of The National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, 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. Now celebrating its 11th year, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to revitalize musical theatre culture by discovering and promoting new musical theatre artists, producers and projects, nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community, and connecting one of America's greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience.

Tickets are general admission and can be purchased at www.NYMF.org. Membership packages to purchase tickets for multiple shows are also available.

J. Robert Spencer (Abraham Lincoln) credits include: Pulitzer Prize winning musical "Next to Normal" (Tony Award nominee), Tony Award winning musical "Jersey Boys" (originated the role of Nick Massi), Side Show. For Arena Stage: "Next to Normal" (Helen Hayes Award Nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor). TV/Film credit: Law & Order SVU, All My Children, Girls Behaving Badly, "Grave of the Fireflies," "Nightmare Campus," "Night of the Dog" (Audience Award winner at Palm Beach, Santa Barbara and nominated for Best Supporting Actor at the SMMASH Film Festival). Bobby was nominated for a Chicago Midwest Emmy Award for Best on Camera Performance in Handel's Messiah Rocks. He has toured all over the word and performed in over 350 concerts with his company "The Midtown Men" - 4 original stars from Broadway's "Jersey Boys." He is executive producer for the documentary ON COAL RIVER which has been the official selection in over 10 different film festivals worldwide. He received an honorary doctorate of fine arts from Shenandoah University.

Rick Kunzi (Book, Music, Lyrics) is a playwright, director and actor. Writing/Directing: "BRUNCH - The Musical" (American Theatre of Actors, The Wild Project Theatre), "Bayonets of Angst: The Story of Lincoln and McClellan" (Finalist Ken Davenport 10min Play Festival). He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

Adam Barnosky (Music) is an attorney and monthly business & legal contributor for Performer Magazine. Writing credits: "BRUNCH - The Musical" (American Theatre of Actors, Wild Project Theatre). He holds a degree in music business from Middle Tennessee State University and is a graduate of New England Law in Boston.

Justin Zeppa (Book) is a writer and musician. He recently published his first young adult novel - "The Creeps" - and has been seen performing with Flatfoot and The Roar. He is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts.

Michael Lluberes (Director) writing/directing credits: "Peter Pan: The Boy Who Hated Mothers" (BroadwayWorld Los Angeles Theatre Award Best Play, LA Weekly Theater Award Nomination Best Production, The Blank Theatre, No Rules Theatre Company, Kennedy Center Page-to-Stage Festival), "The Boy in the Bathroom" (NYMF Most Promising New Msical and Best Book Awards, ASCAP/Disney Workshop, The Chance Theater, The Festival of New American Musicals, Spirit of Broadway Theatre, Bloomington Playwrights Project), "The Geranium on the Windowsill Just Died" (Urban Stages). Directing credits: "Twelfth Night" (SRT), "Nighttime Traffic" (NYMF), "1,000 Cats" (UCB, HBO's Funny Or Die Presents). He is the recipient of The American Harmony Prize, an NEA New Artist Initiative Award, Hambidge and VCCA Fellowships. He is a graduate of The North Carolina School of the Arts, a member of The Acting Company, Lincoln Center Theater Directors Lab and The Dramatists Guild.

Suellen Vance (General Management) executive produced and general managed the multi award winning New York premieres of Crossing Swords (2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival) and Central Avenue Breakdown (2011 New York Musical Theatre Festival). In 2012, Central Avenue Breakdown made it's international debut at the Daegu International Musical Festival in Daegu, South Korea before returning for unprecedented Encore Presentation at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center at NYMF (2012). In 2013, Ms. Vance general managed an unprecedented four NYMF productions: Swiss Family Robinson, The Pirates of Finance, God's Country, Crossing Swords. Broadway: THE PEE WEE HERMAN SHOW ON BROADWAY, GODSPELL. She is currently putting together the team for the Off-Broadway Premiere of last year's Multi-Award Winning NYMF production of Crossing Swords for Spring, 2015.

Photo by Walter McBride