Jose Sepulveda, Doreen Montalvo, Gabrielle Ruiz to Lead MANUEL VERSUS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY Reading, 1/28

An industry reading of the new musical MANUEL VERSUS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, which debuted in concert form at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and won the 2014 NYMF Developmental Reading Series award, will be presented Jan. 28, 2015. The musical, directed by Jose Zayas, is an Official Grand Jury Selection of the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

MANUEL VERSUS THE STATUE OF LIBERTY, a comedy about immigration, is inspired by the Dream Act and follows a young American man who happens to also be an illegal immigrant as he fights for the right to leave the country legally and become a Rhodes Scholar.

The invitation only reading features Jose Sepulveda (Sueño Pop), Gabrielle Ruiz (If/Then), Doreen Montalvo (Giant), Alicia Tomasko (In The Heights), Tiffany Green (Hairspray), Christina Aranda (In The Heights), and Danny Boman. Juana Aqueretta musical directs.

Manuel Versus The Statue of Liberty features a libretto by Noemi de la Puente and music by David Davila and Howard Post.

The musical is inspired by the true story of a brilliant Princeton undergrad who received a Rhodes Scholarship to study classical Greek and Latin literature at Oxford, and could not leave this country because he had no way of returning due to his immigration status. It's a story that crosses cultural barriers, and combines Latin rhythms, American pop, rock, and gospel music to tell a complete American story that is not often found on stage.

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.
Starting it's twelfth year, the Festival is the largest musical theatre event in America. The preeminent site for launching new musicals and discovering new talent, the Festival provides an affordable platform for artists to mount professional productions that reach their peers, industry leaders, and musical theatre fans. More than 90 Festival shows have gone on to productions on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters in 48 states, and in more than 20 countries worldwide. Festival alumni have received a wide array of awards including the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, NYMF received a special Drama Desk Award in recognition of its work "creating and nurturing new musical theatre, ensuring the future of this essential art form."

NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF 2014 was presented in association with Fuzzrocket, TheaterMania, and Production Resource Group. NYMF 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. NYMF Memberships, which combine charitable contributions with valuable, flexible ticket packages and perks like early seating and tickets to individual events, are currently available for purchase at (212) 352-3101 or www.nymf.org/member.