NYMF Festival Celebrates Birthday on February 27 with Star-Studded Bash

There's few things more crucial to the continuing world of musical theatre than investing in its future, and there's few venues that have tried to do as much for the cause in recent years as the New York Musical Theatre Festival has. On February 27, they will celebrate a birthday of sorts, with their "Best of Fest Bash" presenting the highlights of their first two big years.

"We wondered if it was a bit ballsy, doing a "Best of" after only two years - I worried that it would be like reading Ashton Kutcher's autobiography, that people would say, 'who the hell do they think they are?'" said Kris Stewart, NYMF's Executive Director. "Then we figured that we had premiered more than 70 musicals in the last two years, and the one thing that people say most often to us is how fast we've grown - and, let's face it. It could NEVER be as bad as Ashton Kutcher's autobiography."

The one-night-only concert, which will raise money for third annual festival, has amassed an impressive roster of stars. Among the theater luminaries announced to appear at the event are Gary Beach (Tony Award-winner for The Producers), Kerry Butler (Hairspray, Little Shop of Horrors, Bat Boy), Donna Lynne Champlin (Sweeney Todd), Joe Cassidy (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Jim Dale (Threepenny Opera, Barnum), Jeffry Denman (The Producers, White Christmas), Natascia Diaz (Tick, Tick, Boom!, Man of La Mancha), Mary Faber (Avenue Q), Curtis Holbrook (All Shook Up), Ann Harada (Avenue Q), Marc Kudisch (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Assassins, Chitty-Chitty Bang-Bang), Deven May (Bat Boy), Tyler Maynard (Altar Boyz), Euan Morton (Taboo), Roger Rees (Tony Award-winner for Nicholas Nickelby, Artistic Director of Williamstown Theatre Festival), Amy Spanger (Kiss Me Kate, Wedding Singer), Lillias White (Tony Award-winner for The Life, Dreamgirls), Lynne Wintersteller (Closer Than Ever), and John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys).

"We've had an amazing group of artists perform in NYMF shows over the past two years, but we're thrilled that they and so many others have been eager to come out to celebrate what we do," said Isaac Hurwitz, NYMF's Executive Producer. "And we're adding more each day."

"NYMF: THE BEST OF FEST BASH" will feature selections from many of the hit shows that have come through the Festival, including "Altar Boyz", "[Title of Show]", "Nerds", "Caligula", "Yank!", "But I'm a Cheerleader", "Feeling Electric" and others.

The youngest organization ever to receive the prestigious Jujamcyn Theaters Prize, The New York Musical Theatre Festival is the largest annual musical theatre event in America and has been referred to as the "Sundance" of musical theatre. "We've got an embarrassment of riches – it's a challenge trying to sum up the spirit of the Festival over the last two years," said Hurwitz. "With more than a thousand songs to choose from, ranging from hip-hop to opera and everything in-between, we could have done it a million different ways, because there really have been some great folks who have worked at NYMF."

"I really feel that's been why we've been successful over the last two years," Stewart added. "We were stepping into a big gap in NYC. Funnily enough, in our first year people used to joke about how big a risk we were taking, that at least I could go back to Australia after it was done. But I knew there was an audience and a need for this - I knew that if there was something like NYMF that allowed writers to get their work up and seen, then audiences and producers and writers would be excited by it and support it."

NYMF: THE BEST OF FEST BASH will take place at Dodger Stages on February 27, with a 6pm VIP Reception and 7pm performance, and a cast party to follow. VIP Admission is $200, and includes premium seating and the pre-show cocktail reception with many of the artists. Admission to the show and party only is $150. All tickets include the post-show celebration at the theater.

Seating is limited - but tickets can still be ordered by calling (212) 352-3101 or through the festival's website. A portion of each ticket is tax-deductible, and all proceeds go toward funding the third annual festival. For more information, visit www.nymf.org/BestOfFest.htm.