Michelle Federer, Eric Leviton, et al. Set for HOW DEEP IS THE OCEAN at NYMF

The 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival presents the world premiere of How Deep Is The Ocean?, a new American musical with music and lyrics by Peter Cincotti ("Metropolis"), book by Pia Cincotti, and directed by Jeremy Dobrish (Rated P, Date of a Lifetime, The Joys of Sex, Signs of Life) and Gina Rattan (resident director, Billy Elliott). How Deep Is The Ocean? plays July 12th at 8:00pm, July 14 at 1:00pm, July 16 at 9:00pm, July 19th at 5:00 pm, July 19 at 9:00pm, and July 21 at 1:00pm at The Theater at St. Clements (423 W. 46th Street).

It's summer and the temperature's rising when suddenly every beach on the Jersey Shore is threatened with closure: The water is too polluted for swimming! That is until Rob -- a small town pool technician -- stumbles upon an opportunity that will change his life and save the sea. But when a local handy man's lust for power and revenge threatens Rob's world, the two rivals are thrust into battle to restore the ocean and win the heart of a woman they both love. How Deep Is The Ocean? is a musical comedy about love, lust, and chlorine.

The cast features: Michelle Federer (Wicked), Eric Leviton ("Beverly Hilly 90210"), Aaron Ramey (Thoroughly Modern Millie), LaVon Fisher-Wilson (Chicago), Amanda Bruton (Crimes of the Heart), Anthony Festa (Bar Code, The Musical), Kevin Reed (The Visit), Sandy Rosenberg (Mamma Mia!), Michael St. John, Corey Scheys (Annie National Tour), and Daryl Winslow (Evil, Dead The Musical).

How Deep Is The Ocean? is choreographed by Wendy Seyb (The Pee-Wee Herman Show, The Toxic Avenger) with musical direction by Jason Webb (Leap Of Faith, Memphis). Scenic design is by Edward Pierce (Shatner's World), costume design is by Miodrag Guberinic (Steel Magnolias, Spinning Into Butter), sound design is by Michael Eisenberg (Our Sinatra) and lighting design is by Zach Blane (Yank! A New Musical).

Tickets for How Deep Is The Ocean? are $25, and the show plays at the Theater at St. Clements (423 W. 46th Street) from July 12 – July 21, 2012. Tickets can be purchased by calling (212) 352-3101 or by visiting www.nymf.org. For more information: www.nymf.org.

Peter Cincotti (Music and Lyrics) Hailed as the "rebirth of cool" by Elle magazine, Peter Cincotti, a native New Yorker, began playing piano at the age of three. While in high school, he regularly performed in clubs throughout Manhattan, and at age 12 performed a private concert at the White House. A year later he was chosen to perform at a Steven Sondheim concert tribute at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music, and in 2000, Peter received an award for his performance at the Montreux Jazz Festival piano competition. At age 18, he became the youngest performer to ever headline at the prestigious Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel in New York, garnering attention and publicity from all over the country. In 2003, Peter's debut album, produced by the legendary Phil Ramone, reached #1 on the Billboard jazz charts, making Cincotti the youngest artist to ever do so. This led to acclaimed performances at Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, and many other prestigious venues all over the world. Peter made his acting debut in the Kevin Spacey film Beyond The Sea, and also contributed to the film's soundtrack. He then made a cameo appearance in the blockbuster film Spider-Man 2. His original song "December Boys" was featured in the Australian film December Boys, starring Daniel Radcliffe. In 2006, Cincotti teamed up with world-renown music producer David Foster to record his first album of all original material for Warner Brothers Records entitled "East Of Angel Town." The record went gold overseas and his single "Goodbye Philadelphia" took the airwaves by storm reaching #1 throughout Europe's Top Ten. In the spring of 2009, Cincotti brought the album to the United States by joining the artist Seal on his sold out American tour. Peter explores musical styles that blend pop, rock, blues and jazz, infusing each new song he writes with originality and startling energy. His unparalleled piano skills and relevant songwriting make Cincotti one of the most unique and socially aware artists in the music industry today, a sentiment that is freshly showcased on his newest album "Metropolis", just released this May.

Pia Cincotti (Book). Pia Cincotti graduated from Fordham University as a playwriting major. She was one of four people chosen to study in London at the prestigious Writer's Guild of Great Britain. She has participated in writing workshops at Playwright's Horizons, Primary Stages, and Second City. Pia's plays After The Crash and Four of a Kind had readings and staged productions at The Institute of Contemporary Arts in London, Fordham University in New York, The Actors Theatre of Orcas Island in Washington, and The Producers Club in New York. In October 2011, the Midtown Direct Theater Company produced the first reading of How Deep Is The Ocean?

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, Now in its ninth year, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is the largest annual musical theatre event in America and is widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery. NYMF provides a launching pad for the next generation of musicals and their creators to ensure the continued vitality of one of America's greatest art forms. Hailed as the "Sundance of Musical Theatre," NYMF discovers, nurtures, and promotes promising musical theatre artists and producers at all stages of development, and inspires a diverse audience through vibrant, accessible, powerful new work.

NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF 2012 is presented in association with BroadwayWorld.com, Production Resource Group, and TheaterMania.com, and is supported by American Eagle Outfitters, Back Stage, BroadwayBox.com, BroadwayInsider.com, Clear Channel Spectacolor, Disney Store Times Square, Fox 5/ WNYW-TV, King Displays, NASDAQ OMX, New World Stages, Next Magazine, PMD Promotions, The Port Authority of NY & NJ, Queerty.com, Thomson Reuters, TheMenEvent.com, Times Square Squared, and Yelp. Major supporters include The ASCAP Foundation, BMI Foundation, Inc., The BWF Foundation, Con Edison, The Nathan Cummings Foundation with the support and encouragement of Jamie Mayer Phinney, The New Musical Development Foundation, The Jerome Robbins Foundation, The Rodgers & Hammerstein Foundation, The Shubert Foundation, and The Theater League. NYMF is supported, in part, by funds from the New York City Theater Subdistrict Council, LDC, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, in partnership with the City Council 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