Joey Contreras Named Broadway Dreams Foundation's Artist in Residence; New Initiatives Announced

The Broadway Dreams Foundation announced their dedication to three educational initiatives that align with their mission and will offer BDF students exciting performance opportunities while also supporting emerging artists and creative projects. The three initiatives include a sophomore album by musical theater songwriter Joey Contreras, the development of a new musical, and a showcase featuring BDF students from across the country at NYC's New World Stages.

BDF Executive Director Annette Tanner commented, "As Broadway Dreams continues to expand, we are thrilled to be able to lend our support and resources to help other emerging artists realize their dreams. Each of these new initiatives also provide unique and professional working opportunities for our current BDF students."

"Broadway Dreams believes in creating educational opportunities for all levels of artistic journey," said BDF Education Director Craig D'Amico. "We believe these three initiatives represent our commitment to the artistic community and help us broaden our reach as an organization."

The Broadway Dreams Foundation will kick off its 2013 Summer Performing Arts Intensive Tour, titled "Circle of Dreams," at RISPA in Atlanta, GA on June 3, 2013 followed by week-long intensives in Charlotte, NC at Mathews Playhouse; UCLA in Los Angeles, CA; Omaha Performing Arts in Omaha, NE; KimMel Center for Performing Arts in Philadelphia, PA and Hartford Stage in Hartford, CT. The organization will celebrate the start of the season and the three educational initiatives at a Monday, May 20, 2013 reception at the Grace Roommate Hotel in NYC.

The first of BDF's three educational initiatives is an exciting partnership with musical theater songwriter Joey Contreras as he creates his sophomore album "Young Kind of Love." As the foundation's first Artist in Residence, Contreras will compose one single for the album that will feature vocal performances by BDF students. Proceeds from the single will benefit a Broadway Dreams scholarship for students pursuing an education in musical theatre composition.

On Monday, November 25, BDF will present a student showcase at New World Stages in New York City. BDF's Broadway faculty will nominate students from each city where programming is currently offered to participate in a showcase performance for industry professionals including top casting directors, agents and Broadway directors. Students will be selected based on their level of talent, dedication and passion.

The final initiative will offer BDF students an inside look at the process of creating a new musical as they participate in a developmental workshop production of Merrilee Mannerly A Magnificent New Musical in advance of a commercial run. Students will work directly with the musical's creative team in a New York City studio setting before presenting a staged reading of the musical to an audience of industry insiders.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to training, mentoring and providing career opportunities to the next generation of musical theater performers. Intensive programs are offered nationally throughout the year, led by an exceptional faculty of high-profile Broadway professionals. BDF offers significant scholarships to hundreds of participants each year, ensuring that all qualified students are able to realize their Broadway dreams regardless of their financial status. This past year, 42% of all BDF students attended programs on full or partial scholarship. Past students have gone on to star in Broadway, national touring and regional productions including Bring It On The Musical (Ryann Redmond, Calli Alden), Spring Awakening (Blake Daniel), Bare (Ariana Groover), Memphis (Lindsay Roberts), Catch Me If You Can (Greg Kamp), The Book of Mormon (Paris Nesbitt), A Chorus Line (Syndey DuPont), The Addams Family (Ethan Wexler) and more.

For more information, please visit www.mybroadwaydreams.com.

Joey Contreras is a musical theatre songwriter in the New York scene. His original compositions and arrangements have been featured in NYC venues including Joe's Pub, Lincoln Center, Le Poisson Rouge, Laurie Beechman Theater, The Duplex and multiple Broadway in South Africa galas at the Manhattan Center. Internationally, performances of his music have stretched as far as Australia, Germany, South Korea and the UK. His musicals include All The Kids Are Doing It and This Thing Called Love. Recently, he wrote music for multiple plays featured in The Actor's Company Theatre's "newTACTics New Play Festival." Recipient of the 2010 ASCAP Foundation Max Dreyfus Scholarship Award, Joey holds a BFA in musical theatre from University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA and MFA from NYU's Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. His first album, Love Me, Love Me Not: The Music of Joey Contreras features performances by exciting Broadway talent and is available on iTunes and CDbaby.com. For more information, visit: www.joeycontreras.com

Merrilee Mannerly loves good manners - in fact, she's practically an expert. Imagine Merrilee's surprise when a princess from a land of no manners moves in next door and invites her to a birthday party. With her grandmother's magnificent Manifesto of Manners in hand, Merrilee Mannerly is ready to help her new friend, Princess Posy, host the best party ever! Along the way, silliness ensues, friendships are formed, and the two girls discover the real secret behind good manners. Based on the Mom's Choice Award-winning book Merrilee Mannerly and Her Magnificent Manners by Mary Cashman and Cynthia Whipple, the new musical features a book by William Squier, Cashman and Whipple, with music by Jeffrey Lodin, and lyrics by Squier. For more information, visit: www.merrileemannerly.com