Josh Walker's New Musical TOULOUSE! Set for NYTB in the D-Lounge, 11/11

New works home New York Theatre Barn will present the first New York City presentation of musical excerpts from Toulouse! The Musical! by Chicago-based writers Josh Walker (Jeff-nominated for music directing Sexy Baby) and John David Nelson on Monday, November 11, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City as part of New York Theatre Barn's revolutionary new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge, produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum. Josh Walker is currently featured in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Toulouse! The Musical!, a new original musical, is about the world-famous, short, bohemian painter Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, who lures us into his intoxicating world of music, dancing, and debauchery with his paintbrush. Based on true events, when businessman Harold Zidler promises to ignite the town and change the world with a new and electrified dance hall called the Moulin Rouge, he offers Toulouse his very own table in exchange for his original artwork in the form of an advertisement. The infamous poster attracts patrons of all classes from all around Paris, but once inside there is a divide that suddenly creates distrust and corruption. Soon Toulouse finds himself caught in the middle as new ties are created and old bonds must be broken as the world changes.

Starring composer Josh Walker as Toulouse, the cast includes Amanda Lea LaVergne (The People in the Picture) as Jane Avril, Meredith Freyre as La Goulue, Thad Turner Wilson as Zidler, Amy Lynn Zanetto (Amy Lynn and The Gunshow) as Yvette, and Annie Fitch (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Chris Gleim (Radio City Christmas Spectacular), Carly Ozard and Luis Villabon (Reefer Madness). Toulouse! will be directed by Derek Rienzi Van Tassel, with music direction by Brandon James Gwinn (The Calamari Sisters). Presented alongside Toulouse! The Musical! are musical excerpts from The Story of Bea and Ben, a new musical by award-winning Broadway music director Micah Young, and featuring Timothy Booth (Mamma Mia!), Kerry Conte (National Tour of Mary Poppins), Zal Owen (National Tour of Fiddler on the Roof with Harvey Fierstein) and Laurie Wells (Mamma Mia!). Inspired by the characters from Much Ado About Nothing, The Story of Bea and Ben is set in post World War I, New York on New Year's Eve 1919. Bea and Ben rekindle their feuding relationship and are surrounded by an eclectic crowd of friends and onlookers who enjoy nothing more than to put these two together in the same room. Infused with musical elements from the time period, this show has a feeling of Downton Abbey set in New York City. Bea and Ben is directed by David Glenn Armstrong, with music direction by Mark Hartmann. The stage manager for both sets is Mackenzie Meeks. In between sets will feature songs from 15-year-old composer and actor Kyle Brenn's new musical Silent Knight, featuring Bradley Dean (A Little Night Music). Brenn's credits include Leap of Faith and West Side Story.

The story line of Silent Knight follows the adventures of Amber, a medieval tomboy in 13th-century England who dreams of becoming a knight and who wishes to do more than her village allows. Her opportunity comes when a power feud unfolds between her father and the noble ruling over their fief. "I've always been interested in knights and the Middle Ages and I wanted to write a show that had a strong heroine," said Brenn. "The core theme of Silent Knight is to follow your dreams and not be afraid to do what you must no matter what obstacles you encounter." Now in its 6th year at the Daryl Roth Theatre, NYTB in the D-Lounge provides a revolutionary community-based format for new work development different than any other program across the country, and one that is highly sought after by writers looking for an artistic home. Through NYTB in the Lounge, two sets of writers or writing teams showcase 35 minutes each of musical and/or book material from either a musical in development, or songs from their catalogue, to friends, industry professionals, and fans.

The professional, but comfortingly casual lounge setting allows for an intimacy between artist and audience, and immediacy with feedback, that far eclipses anything that a standard reading environment can provide. With beer in hand, writers and their performers can expand their community with their performance as fodder for discussion. The results are electrifying: new creative partnerships are forged between writers, the writers and performers expand their communities and fan bases, and the future of musical theatre is discussed and developed in an open forum amongst musical theatre enthusiasts and practitioners alike. Since its inception, New York Theatre Barn has developed over 215 writers in more than 60 concerts through NYTB in the D-Lounge - including Adam Gwon, Robert Waldman, Peter Mills and many more. For more information, go to NYTheatreBarn.org.

Cover charge is $15 ($10 for Students / BMI members). Doors open at 7 PM, show starts at 7:30 PM, in the D-Lounge, just below the Daryl Roth Theatre (101 East 15th Street, just east of Union Square) on Monday November 11, 2013. For tickets, go to https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9830952.