Jenn Colella to Headline New Musical for the 9th Season of New York Theatre Barn's New Works Series

The 9th season of New York Theatre Barn's New Works Series launches on March 1, 2016 at The Cell with Pre-Premieres of two new musicals: Luna and the Gold River Docks and Sapien Sapien Sapien. The evening will also include a sneak peek of the musical Tink.

Based on the award-winning documentaries "Saving Luna" and "The Whale" (by duo Mike Parfit and Suzanne Chisolm), Eric Dietz's Luna and the Gold River Docks follows the humorous and heart-warming true story of an orphaned orca whale whose search for friendship and human interaction ignited a political war in a small Canadian town. With a penchant for powerful, unusual stories, Eric Dietz is also the author of the musical All The Walls. Dietz has assisted on the Broadway productions of Bright Star, Dames at Sea, and Gigi, and returns to Theatre Barn's New Works Series following his 2014 concert. Jenn Colella (If/Then, Chaplin) leads a cast that also features Gillian Hassert, Will Carlyon, Emily Ferranti, and Jacob Keith Watson.

In Sapien Sapien Sapien, which has music by Jonathan Winton Brenner (The Runaway Clone) and book/lyrics by Mia Capotorto Sommese, The National Zoo is proud to announce the opening of its newest exhibition, The Human Exhibit, where eight Homo Sapien Sapiens are sent to live in captivity. After being released to live in a glass box on public display, this zoo-made family must find ways to cope, survive, and love as their most basic human instincts are put to the test under watchful eye. The presentation is directed by Margaret Grace Hee (Artistic Director, Baby Crow Productions), and features Nathan Chang, David Cronin, Joy Donze, Jacob Hoffman, Thea Lammers, Colleen Martorano, Uton Evan Onyejekwe, and Rachel Whorton

A special addition to the evening will be a selection from the new musical Tink, written by Lena Gabrielle, Greg Kerestan, and Tony Marino. The show will be featured in Theatre Barn's May 30th installment of the New Works Series.

The core of Theatre Barn's new work development process, the New Works Series, showcases two new musicals monthly to both a live and virtual audience. The series incubates at least 12 pre-premieres of new musicals annually. Since the series' inception, the company has presented over 350 writers in more than 80 concerts, and has amassed a catalogue of more than 750 videos and more than 600,000 views on our YouTube channel. The New Works Series is produced by Mackenzie Meeks, and line producers Adam Chisnall and Sam Strum.

The Cell is located at 338 West 23rd Street in New York City. Showtime is 7:30pm, and tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance through OvationTix: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe.c/10074140. Refreshments will be available for purchase.

Under the direction of Artistic Director Joe Barros, New York Theatre Barn (Theatre Barn) is a Manhattan based non-profit theatre company founded in 2007 and dedicated to incubating and producing new musicals that tell untold stories. The company is positioned to develop, promote, and preserve stories and perspectives that are challenging, alternative, and are not traditionally told through the evolving art form of musical theatre. For more information visit: www.nytheatrebarn.org.