New York Musical Theatre Festival is in full swing and BroadwayWorld has taken the time to sit down with some of the stars of this years NYMF musicals.
Like any great art form, musical theatre is shaped by the events and philosophies of the day. The strength and vitality of musical theatre lie in its ability to stay fresh and relevant. It was with that idea in mind, ten years ago, that the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) was created - to provide an effective platform to introduce new shows, new perspectives, and new blood into the musical theatre canon.
MEET THE STARS OF NYMF sits down with Matthew Patrick Quinn of NAPOLEON
What's your favorite thing about performing as part of NYMF?
Doing a NYMF show is a welcome challenge and I say challenge because it's sort of a guerrilla theatre experience. The shows usually have a low budget, are created in a short amount of time and the day you open is your first day IN the space you will be performing. It can be a bit overwhelming but it forces all those involved to rely on instinct, patience and true passion for creating brand new works.
Have you participated in NYMF before? If so, what's your favorite part and what drew you back to the festival?
Last year was my first experience with NYMF. I performed in a show called "The Travels" and the whole experience reminded me of when I was in college and my university took two shows to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It's fantastic to be a part of a festival that boasts over 100 different pieces and performing in NYC, the birthplace of American theatre, is awesome.
What other NYMF show are you most intrigued by or excited to see?
I'm excited to see Claudio Quest because I'm intrigued to see a musical about video games. Also, I'm a nerd and I love puppets. But, c'mon...who doesn't love puppets?
Tell us about your show/your character?
Napoleon is about...well, Napoleon. Ha ha. The story of Napoleon's life is told through the eyes of my character Talleyrand who was a career politician that has the reputation of being the man who worked in the shadows to bring Napoleon to power. He's deliciously duplicitous, conniving and determined. I'm loving every minute of it!
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