Musical Short Film 'Used to be Fun' Debuts in NY in April

Eric Svejcar, the original music director of Off-Broadway's Jacques Brel revival and the composer of the NYMF hit Caligula, have created a new musical film short, entitled Didn't This Used To Be Fun?.  The film will debut in New York in April 2007.
 
"Didn't This Used To Be Fun? is a groundbreaking musical short that revolves around the main character, Shane, a trust fund baby who's lived his life in excessive abandonment while maintaining a steady diet of sex and drugs. Complete with friends that could only be described as party accessories, Shane slowly realizes that his reckless lifestyle has brought more pain and indifference, than fun," according to press notes. 

Starring in the film are Julliard graduate Nick Mayo, Allen Hidalgo (Hot Feet), Michael Hayward-Jones (Les Mis), and adult film star Sean Lockhart (AKA Brent Corrigan). 
 
The film was directed by Ryan J. Davis (Conceiver/Director of NYMF's White Noise) and produced by Kevin Arbouet (Serial, I Believe in America). The film was partially shot at New York's Zipper Theater, which was turned into a night club set for the occasion. 
 
The short film is based on a section of the full-length stage musical Prince Hal of Soho. 

Eric Svejcar (Writer/Composer) is the writer/composer of the musical Caligula, winner of the Audience Award at the 2004 New York Musical Theatre Festival and a finalist for the 2003 Richard Rodgers Award. He has recently been commissioned to create a world premiere musical for CenterStage. On Broadway, he conducted the Roundabout/Deaf West revival of Big River. Off-Broadway, he arranged, conducted, and performed in the acclaimed revival of Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living In Paris at the Zipper Theatre.
 
Ryan J. Davis (Director) recently conceived and directed the critically acclaimed hit musical, White Noise at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. In New York, he also directed Grace Falls (FringeNYC 2006), Genius Famous (FringeNYC 2005), as well as numerous other productions.  As an Assistant Director Off-Broadway, he contributed to "Jacques Brel," If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, and The Secret Garden, among others.

Visit www.myspace.com/ryannewyork for more on Davis and his projects.

Photo of Eric Svejcar by Ben Strothmann