Music By Kait Kerrigan, Georgia Stitt and More Will Be Featured in York's 9th Annual NEO Concert, 5/20

The York Theatre Company will present a one-night only benefit concert celebrating up and coming musical theatre writers, with the NEO 9 on Monday, May 20, 2013 at The York Theatre (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Festivities begin at 7:30 p.m. followed by a champagne and dessert reception to toast the evening.

NEO (an acronym for "New, Emerging, Outstanding") celebrates songwriters primed to pen the next generation of musicals. Since the first NEO concert 9 years ago -- recorded by England's JAY Records-- musical theatre fans and York supporters eagerly anticipate each incarnation. The York Theatre Company has recently embarked on a new yearlong mentoring program that brings together established writers and upcoming producing partners to help encourage the growth of new works.

The NEO 9 concert will include songs by the following musical theatre writers: Julianne Wick Davis, Carmel Dean, Kait Kerrigan, Rebekah Greer Melocik and Georgia Stitt. The evening will be directed by Annette Jolles, with music direction by Matt Castle. Program mentors making special appearances include Stephen Flaherty, Jeanine Tesori, Lynn Ahrens, Rachel Sheinkin and Michael John LaChiusa. The Honorary Committee includes Gretchen Cryer, Nancy Ford, Carol Hall, Mildred Kayden, Mary Rodgers, and Mira Spektor.

In this new NEO format, which began in 2012, the concert kicks off a year of activity for each writer. Each one will receive a fully funded developmental reading in the course of the year and is assigned an established producing mentor.

Tickets for NEO 9 can be purchased by calling 212-935-5824 (x215) or via the York's website: www.yorktheatre.org.