Music Theatre International Gains Worldwide Rights to SISTER ACT, AMERICAN IDIOT and MURDER BALLAD

Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) www.mtishows.com, has secured worldwide licensing rights to three of Broadway and Off-Broadway's most recent hits, SISTER ACT, AMERICAN IDIOT and MURDER BALLAD. The three shows are the newest productions to join MTI's global theatrical licensing catalogue.

"MTI is thrilled to add these three new musicals in our catalogue. The demand from customers has been high for all three shows," said Drew Cohen, President of MTI. "Each of these shows offers diverse options for a wide variety of theatrical organizations. SISTER ACT has broad appeal and is the perfect show to be performed by high schools and community theatres looking to provide a family-friendly night of musical comedy. AMERICAN IDIOT and MURDER BALLAD are a bit edgier and work well for community theaters, as well as colleges and universities interested in showcasing alternative content. The nice thing is that all three of these musicals have leading and featured roles that accommodate actors of all types and levels of experience."

SISTER ACT is a musical comedy featuring original music by Tony and 8-time Oscar winner Alan Menken (NEWSIES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS). SISTER ACT tells the hilarious story of Deloris Van Cartier, a wannabe diva whose life takes a surprising turn when she witnesses a crime and the cops hide her in a convent. Under the suspicious watch of Mother Superior, Deloris helps her fellow sisters find their voices as she unexpectedly rediscovers her own. The musical was written by Cheri Steinkellner and Bill Steinkellner with additional book material by Douglas Carter Beane, with lyrics by Glenn Slater and music by Alan Menken. It is based on the hit 1992 Whoopi Goldberg film of the same name. SISTER ACT has been delighting audiences around the world with its national and international tours, which the Associated Press calls, "In a word, divine. This is a musical that hits all the right spots, ACHIEVING SOMETHING CLOSE TO BROADWAY GRACE. GREAT original tunes, LUSH, RAZZLE-DAZZLE costumes and sets that whiz about the stage as if God himself was moving them."

Based on Green Day's GRAMMY Award-winning multi-platinum album, AMERICAN IDIOT boldly takes the American musical where it's never gone before. The result is an experience Charles Isherwood of The New York Times declared "thrilling, emotionally charged, and as moving as any Broadway musical I've seen this year!"

Featuring the hits "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," "21 Guns," "Wake Me Up When September Ends," "Holiday" and the blockbuster title track, AMERICAN IDIOT features the music of Green Day and the lyrics of its lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong (with additional lyrics provided by Michael Mayer (SPRING AWAKENING) and music supervision, orchestrations and arrangements by Pulitzer Prize winner Tom Kitt (NEXT TO NORMAL). The story, expanded from that of the concept album, tells the story of three lifelong friends, forced to choose between their dreams and the safety of suburbia. Their quest for true meaning in a post 9/11 world leads them on an exhilarating theatrical journey.

MURDER BALLAD is the dramatic story of a love triangle gone wrong centered on Sara, an uptown girl who seems to have it all, but whose downtown past lingers enticingly and dangerously in front of her. The musical explores the complications of love, the compromises we make, and the betrayals that can ultimately undo us. Conceived by Jonathan Larson Award winner and two-time Susan Smith Blackburn Prize finalist Julia Jordon with book and lyrics by Jordan and music and lyrics by indie rock singer/songwriter Juliana Nash, MURDER BALLAD began with a sold-out run at MTC's Studio at Stage before beginning an immensely popular and critically acclaimed stand at the Union Square Theater. Ben Brantley of the New York Times hailed the show as, "Steamy & fun. A love triangle with a razor's edge."

AMERICAN IDIOT and MURDER BALLAD join MTI's Theatre on The Edge Collection which features shows that move audiences to The Edge of their seats, pushing the envelope beyond The Edge of the traditional into the realm of the innovative and groundbreaking. Theatre on The Edge shows have garnered a disproportionate share of awards and acclaim; they stimulate discussion and generate phenomenal word of mouth; they attract audiences including those who might not otherwise be drawn to a musical; they generate exclusive cult followings, encourage repeat customers and reflect boldness and artistic integrity.

For more information about MTI and licensing, call (212) 541-4684 or email licensing@mtishows.com.

Music Theatre International (MTI) is one of the world's leading theatrical licensing agencies, granting schools as well as amateur and professional theatres from around the world the rights to perform the largest selection of great musicals from Broadway and beyond. MTI works directly with the composers, lyricists and book writers of these shows to provide official scripts, musical materials and dynamic theatrical resources to over 60,000 theatrical organizations in the US and in over 60 countries worldwide.

MTI is particularly dedicated to the idea of theatre as education and has created special collections for younger performers. The MTI Broadway Junior Collection includes JR. titles, 60-minute musicals for performance by middle school children; and KIDS titles, 30-minute musicals for performance by elementary school children. MTI School Editions are musicals that have been annotated for performance by high school students, and the Theatre For Young Audiences (TYA) Collection are 70-minute musicals designed for adults to perform for children.

MTI ShowSpace.com is the theatre world's online community where practitioners and fans from around the world share advice, photos, videos, sets, props, costumes and more, to help bring their next productions to life.