Musical Theatre Factory's Summer Season to Include New Shows, Composer Showcases

Musical Theatre Factory (MTF), under the leadership of founding artistic director Shakina Nayfack and managing director Danny Abosch, has announced its 2015 summer season supporting the development of 16 new shows.

The season will kick off with a developmental workshop of The Sasquatch Project (book by Nichole Jackson, lyrics by Brandon Michael Lowden, music by Scotty Arnold) June 4, 14, and 21.

Additional developmental residencies include Rent A White Guy (book, lyrics and music by Anna Grace Carter) June 29th; One Way (book and lyrics by Chris Staskel, music by Ben Bonnema) July 6; One Night in New York (book, lyrics and music by Eric Tipler) July 12th; The Crazy Ones (book by Alexander Potosky, lyrics and music by Zak Zadek) July 25; We Are The Tigers (book, lyrics and music by Rebekah M. Allen) August 3; Five Points (book by Harrison David Rivers, lyrics by Douglas Lyons, music by Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar) August 10; and Gumbo (book and lyrics by Christina Quintana, music by Brett Macias) August 24.

Five of this season's residences were previously presented at Musical Theatre Factory through the 4x15 program.

The Musical Theatre Factory's 4x15 program selects four new musicals monthly and offers each writing team a cast, creative staff and five hours of rehearsal space to stage 15-minute excerpts of their shows. The selections are presented together in one evening before a panel of industry guests and a public audience.

Round 12 of 4x15 (held June 15) includes The Royal Pirate (book by Chas Libretto, music and lyrics by Landdon Marcus); The Other Direction (book by Andrew Rincon, music and lyrics by Jim Territo); More Than All The World (book, music and lyrics by Erik Ransom); and Aurora (book, music and lyrics by Nick Luckenbaugh).

The August 4x15 (held August 17) will be a special presentation of four projects currently in development through the MTF's writers' group including A Strange Loop (book, music and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson); Nikola Tesla Drops The Beat (book and lyrics by Benjamin Halstead, music by Nikko Benson); Hart Island (book and lyrics by Michelle Elliott, music by Danny Larsen); and Shades of Wayne (book and lyrics Christopher Staskel, music by Lisa Burns).

A Factory Salon, where new and established musical theatre writers are invited to share previously unheard songs, will be offered June 18, hosted by Rob Rokicki.

In July, MTF will be partnering with New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) to showcase a series of salons featuring the work of over 20 musical theater writers. The writers of five NYMF shows will be participating in the Salon-A-Thon, including the 2015 Next Link Selections 210 Amlent Avenue (July 8), Manuel Vs. The Statue of Liberty (July 11) and The Cobalteans (July 14), as well as NYMF productions Held Momentarily (July 9) and Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera (July 15). Other writers participating in the Salon-A-Thon include Zoe Sarnak, July 10; Andrew Hanley, July 12; Sam Salmond, July 13; Teresa Lotz, July 16; Erik Ransom, July 17; Michael R. Jackson, July 18; Marisa Michelson, July 19; Joel Waggoner, July 20; Lizzie Hagstedt, July 21; Joey Contreras, July 22; Heath Saunders, July 23; Lauren Marcus, July 24; Joe Iconis, July 25th; and Jahn Sood, July 26.

Musical Theatre Factory is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to helping musical theatre artists develop and present new work in a collaborative environment free from the pressures of critical or commercial success.

The Factory is located at 250 W. 40th Street on the 4th floor. For more information, visit MTF.nyc or call (347) 871-4615.