Lynne Shankel's New Musical POSTCARD AMERICAN TOWN to Have First Industry Presentation This Month

The new musical POSTCARD AMERICAN TOWN will have its first industry presentation in New York City on January 12th. This timely new musical features a book by Crystal Skillman (Geek, Mary & Max) and music and lyrics by Lynne Shankel (Allegiance, Cry- Baby, bare: The Musical, Altar Boyz), with direction by Stafford Arima (Allegiance, Carrie, bare: the Musical, Altar Boyz), musical direction by Michael Gacetta (Groundhog Day, Matilda) and music supervision by Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Mean Girls, Tuck Everlasting, Finding Neverland, Company).

The cast features: Bonnie Milligan (Gigantic, Kinky Boots), Christiane Noll (Ragtime, Jekyll & Hyde), ZACH PISER (Wicked), Nehal Joshi (Les Miserables Original Revival, School of Rock), Laura Jordan (Cry-Baby), Pamela Bob (A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), Jodi Capeless (All About Me), Tally Sessions (Falsettos), EJ Zimmerman (Les Misérables), Alan Ariano (Miss Saigon) Shea Renne (Allegiance), Michael Buchanan (Book of Mormon), Chuck Ragsdale (A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder, US Tour), Christian Whelan (Blacklist) and Melody Madarasz (Mad Libs Live).

In POSTCARD AMERICAN TOWN, Emma Reed has aspirations in the world of broadcasting in her small town of Westville. When the annual Settler's Picnic created by her great-great-great grandfather is accused of exclusion by Dylan, a newcomer to the
town, Emma finds for the first time she has a story to tell. But in trying to tell both sides, she discovers a deeper story and a dangerous game if she doesn't stand up for what she believes ... and stand up to her mother. A new musical about a young woman's awakening to activism in a small town.

"POSTCARD AMERICAN TOWN is a portrait of American life right now. The good, the bad, and the ugly. The authors hope is that by examining themes of the racial and cultural divide in this country that "POSTCARD" will allow audiences to develop a better understanding of how discrimination effects everyone. Perhaps it will allow audience members to find a new way to communicate differences with their neighbors, family, and friends. So if a musical can be written that allows people to have those kinds of conversations, then the authors are doing something right." - Stafford Arima, Director of Postcard American Town

The musical features several songs from Lynne Shankel's acclaimed album Bare Naked
released by Yellow Sound Label, including "I Will Make Thunder". You can find Bonnie Milligan singing "I Will Make Thunder" below:

The reading will take place Friday January 12th at 3 PM, at Pearl Studios (519 8th Ave 12th Floor - Studio D).

Reservations are limited. For more information, please email:postcardamericantownthemusical@gmail.com

About the Team

Lynne Shankel (Composer/Lyricist) is best known as an music supervisor, arranger and orchestrator. She was music supervisor/arranger/orchestrator for ALLEGIANCE starring Lea Salonga and George Takei and was the first woman to solely orchestrate a new musical on Broadway. Her diverse musical background has led her to write orchestrations and arrangements for everyone from Chita Rivera, the New York Pops and Raul Esparza to Tony Award winner/Bon Jovi member David Bryan and the Radio City Christmas Spectacular. She was music director/arranger for the B'way production of CRY-BABY, as well as the resident music supervisor for the Tony-award winning revival of COMPANY, for which she conducted the Grammy-nominated cast album. She was music director/arranger for the Off-Broadway hit ALTAR BOYZ, for which she received a Drama Desk nomination for orchestrations. Lynne received a second Drama Desk nomination for THE EXTRAORDINARY ORDINARY (by Paul Loesel and Scott Burkell). In 2012, she received the Craig Noel Award for Outstanding Orchestrations in San Diego for her work on ALLEGIANCE. In 2014, Lynne was orchestrator/arranger for the world premiere of CHASING THE SONG (music by David Bryan, book by Joe DiPietro ) at La Jolla Playhouse. As a composer, Lynne collaborated with lyricist Jon Hartmere to provide new songs for bare: The Musical in 2012. Her composition has also been featured in the original musical MAYA which was commissioned by Teach For India. The show's mission is to empower young girls in India and has been performed all over that country. In 2016, Lynne wrote original music was The Old Globe's production of RED VELVET. In 2017, Lynne released her critically acclaimed double album Bare Naked on Yellow Sound Label.
www.Lynneshankel.com

Crystal Skillman (Book) is the author of Geek, Cut, and King Kirby (co-written with Fred Van Lente), all NYTimes Critics picks. New plays include: Rain and Zoe Save the World (2017 Blue Ink Award Finalist, 2017 O'Neill Semi-Finalist, 2016 New Harmony Project, 2016 Oregon Performance Lab), Pulp Vérité (2017 Cherry Lane reading, 2017 Judson's Magic Time Series, 2016 BAPF Finalist, 2015 Clifford Odets Ensemble Play Commission), and Another Kind of Love, a punk rock play (Chopin Theater, 2015, Chicago). She is the musical theater book writer of Mary and Max, based on the claymation film, with award winning ASCAP Composer/Lyricist Bobby Cronin. Mary and Max just had its first 29 Hour NYC Industry reading on November 12th, directed by Stafford Arima. This is on the heels of their workshop with Broadway Dreams Foundation at the Alliance in Atlanta this June. Upcoming production to be announced for the 2018/19 season. Other new musicals include 12 Songs with Paul Scott Goodman (Arranger: Lynne Shankel) and The Cover with Bobby Cronin (Upcoming 2018 Music Theater Factory Presentation). Crystal is the author of The Vigil or The Guided Cradle, winner of the 2010 NY Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Full-Length. Crystal is represented by UTA and a proud member of EST. EST Productions/Commissions include: The Ballad of Phineas P. Gage (HERE/Drama of Works Production). She is an alumni of Youngblood, Women's Project, and Soho Rep Writer/Director Lab. Her work can be found at her publisher Samuel French. As a comic book writer she was just published by BOOM! Studios with their series of "Adventure Time". She just finished the original TV pilot for her series Paper Heroes, co-created and written with Fred Van Lente, named one of the "Top 50" in this year's Launchpad Pilot Competition and currently in the running as a finalist for Final Draft's Big Break Contest. http://www.crystalskillman.com/

Stafford Arima (Director) is the Artistic Director of Theatre Calgary. Selected directing credits include: Altar Boyz (Off-Broadway), Allegiance (Broadway), Ragtime (West End), Carrie (MCC Theatre, Off-Broadway), bare (Off-Broadway), The Secret Garden - World AIDS Day Concert (New York City), Two Class Acts (The Flea Theater, Off-Broadway), The Tin Pan Alley Rag (Roundabout Theatre Company), Candide (San Francisco Symphony), Poster Boy (Williamstown Theatre Festival), Red Velvet (The Old Globe), Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living In Paris (Stratford Shakespeare Festival), Guys and Dolls (Paper Mill Playhouse), and The New World (Bucks County Playhouse). He served as associate director for the Broadway productions of A Class Act and Seussical. Arima is the Artistic Advisor for the Broadway Dreams Foundation and an adjunct professor at UC Davis. He studied at York University in Toronto where he received the Dean's Prize for Excellence in Creative Work. He is a proud member of SDC. www.staffordarima.com