NYMF and AWOL Theatre Project, Inc. Present 8Minute Musicals, 10/5

Artists WithOut Limits (AWOL) Theatre Project, Inc. announces the launch of 8Minute Musicals, a new program that challenges emerging musical theatre writers and composers to create 8 original eight-minute musicals over a period of 10 days. The new works will be premiered during the 2010 New York Musical Theatre Festival at the American Theatre of Actors on Monday, October 4th at 7:00pm and 9:30pm and on Tuesday, October 5th at 7:00pm and 9:30pm.

The original, yet-to-be-written musicals will be created and brought to life by an invited group of participants including 8 writers, 8 composers, 2 directors, 2 musical directors, and 10 performers, none of whom have worked together.

The cast includes Sally Wilfert (See Rock City..., Assassins, The Mistress Cycle), Sydney James Harcourt (American Idiot, The Lion King), Leah Horowitz (Les Miserables, White Christmas, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Caesar Samayoa (Hot Feet), and Sue Mathys (German premieres: Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard and Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd). Completing the cast are Brian Bailey, Rheaume Crenshaw, Millie Ledbetter, Kevin Loreque, and Seph Stanek.

The 8 Composers for the event are Christopher Cooley, Mat Eisenstein, B.J. Gandolfo, Kathryn Hathaway, Sooyeon Kim, Amanda Louise Miller, Tyler Phillips, and Benjamin Velez. The 8 Writers are Sophia Chapadjiev, Clare Drobot, Greg Edwards, Laura Marks, Jerome A. Parker, Michael Scheman, Tom Stuart, and Pia Wilson.

David Alpert and Andrew Volkoff will each direct four of the musicals. John Bell and Andy Roninson will serve as music directors. Izzy Einsidler is the event's lighting designer, and the casting director for 8Minute Musicals is Kevin Kennison for K2 Casting.

The mission of 8Minute Musicals is to nurture the development of emerging musical theatre artists and to create a supportive atmosphere for experimenting with the art form. The 8Minute Musicals founding producers are Jane Abramson, Masi Asare, Kristen Gongora, Laura Penney Shamir, and Amy & David Southerland.

For tickets, visit www.nymf.org or www.8MinuteMusicals.org or call 212-352-3101. All tickets are $20.