NYMF Adds New Musicals to 2015 Festival Lineup

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) announced today its additional selections for NYMF 2015. Acappella, Claudio Quest, HeadVoice, Held Momentarily, Moses Man, Napoleon, Real Men, a musical for guys and the women who put up with them; Songs for the Fallen, Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera and Wearing Black join the previously announced new musicals that will be presented at the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival from July 7, 2015 to July 27, 2015.

"We are thrilled to announce these ten new productions that will be presented this summer as part of NYMF 2015," said The New York Musical Theatre Festival Executive Director & Producer Dan Markley. "Working with these artists, who have authored such diverse, eclectic and fascinating projects, exemplifies NYMF's mission to nurture the creation of new musical theatre. We are eager to introduce New York audiences to these great new talents and the musicals they've created."

Additional readings, concerts, and other special events will be announced at a later date.

The newly announced selections for NYMF 2015 are:

ACAPPELLA
Music and Lyrics by The Acappella Company
Book by Vynnie Meli with Greg Cooper

A disillusioned teen idol from a small southern town returns home on the eve of the centennial celebration and realizes he's left more behind than gospel and grits. But, is what Jeremiah feels love or just nostalgia? His return upends the town. Aunt Leona takes advantage and shines a light on her veteran gospel group as they put a new spin on old time gospel. She comforts Jeremiah saying, "You have to make your own music, sing your own song." The message of this romantic comedy is reflected in the style of its music- a cappella.

CLAUDIO QUEST
Book, Music & Lyrics by Drew Fornarola and Marshall Pailet

Claudio Quest is a new musical comedy that follows a very super hero, his less super little brother, and one butt-kicking princess, as the three embark on a mission to overcome killer eggplants, a love-starved purple platypus, and their own 8-bit existential crisis.

HEADVOICE
Book, Music & Lyrics by Ethan Andersen

Eric is writing a musical about his life. But instead of actors, he's using voices...the voices in his head. Frustrated with his own writing and his relationship with his mother, Eric brings his "HeadVoices" to life, and together, they begin to musicalize his story. HeadVoice is a funny, touching, and original musical that tells the story of a young composer growing up and discovering love, loss, and the power of music.

HELD MOMENTARILY
Book, Music & Lyrics by Oliver Houser
Additional Material by James Zebooker

Trapped on a stalled subway car, six strangers discover it's not just the train that's stuck. A poignant musical comedy about making connections, living in the moment and moving on in life. Oh, one more thing: a woman just went into labor.

MOSES MAN
Book & Lyrics by Deborah Haber
Music by Casey Filiaci

Moses Man powerfully portrays the indomitable spirit of survival as it recounts the true saga of a Holocaust survivor, chronicling his perilous nine-year journey throughout Europe, Cyprus, Palestine, and Africa before finally finding freedom and home in America. Moses Man, based on the historically significant implications of the displacement of those facing persecution during the Holocaust, also reflects the contemporary dilemmas faced by each of us, aiming to instigate consideration, conversation and education.

NAPOLEON
Book, Music & Lyrics by Andrew Sabiston and Timothy Williams

There are icons, and those who help make them. Talleyrand is a master politician operating in the shadows. He thinks he can manage the man he's grooming for greatness. But there's one thing he can't control in Napoleon - his obsession with Josephine. In the battle to come, two of the three will be known forever. One will emerge as the devil incarnate.

REAL MEN, A MUSICAL FOR GUYS AND THE WOMEN WHO PUT UP WITH THEM
Book, Music & Lyrics by Paul Louis and Nick Santa Maria

Get real and get ready for an original adult musical comedy about real men behaving like... well... Real Men. It's a madcap, musical romp through manhood, shared with women, children, and yes, even puppets. Real Men who make a habit of juggling their balls every day: fatherhood, mid­life crisis, dating, marriage, potency, sexuality... and the lack of it. Real Men answers the one pertinent question on everyone's mind: "Do real men sing and play with puppets?" Get real! You'd better believe they do.

SONGS FOR THE FALLEN
Music & Lyrics by Sheridan Harbridge and Basil Hogios
Book by Sheridan Harbridge

Paris 1847. Songs for the Fallen takes you through the extraordinary life of Marie Duplessis-courtesan, party girl, liar and legend-from desperate poverty to her meteoric rise as the most notorious woman in France. Part vaudeville, part cabaret, part MTV­goes­Baroque, it is the wild and hilarious tale of a woman who knew one thing: good girls don't make history. The unbelievable tale that inspired The Lady of the Camellias, La Traviata and Moulin Rouge!, Songs for the Fallen is an invitation to the decadent final party of the real life woman.

TONYA & NANCY: THE ROCK OPERA
Book & Lyrics by Elizabeth Searle
Music by Michael Teoli

Based on the Olympic skating "knee whack" scandal, Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera is a collision of tragedy and comedy in this tale of two girls going for the gold. A dark comedy done with heart, Tonya & Nancy takes audiences back to 1994 when skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked and suspicions focused on fellow Team USA skater Tonya Harding.

WEARING BLACK
Book, Music & Lyrics by Riley Thomas

When his twin brother Charlie suddenly passes away, all Evan wants to do is forget their complicated relationship and move on, but the tangled relationships Charlie left behind keep Evan from truly letting go. As he slips into a spiral of self-destruction, Evan must make a stark decision: either accept and forgive his dead twin brother, or become him.

Casting, venues and performance schedules will be announced at a later date.

Tickets for NYMF 2015 go on sale June 15. NYMF Passes offer discounted tickets, early ticket booking, and priority seating. NYMF Passholder ticket booking will begin June 1.