NYMTF Presents Battle of The Broadway Bands 5/17

The New York Musical Theatre Festival's second-annual BROADWAY BATTLE OF THE BANDS competition -- an informal smackdown between bands comprised of Broadway and Off-Broadway actors, writers and musicians -- will be presented on Saturday, May 17 at 10:00pm for a one-night-only concert at The Zipper Factory, 336 West 37th Street in Manhattan.  Tickets are $20 by calling 212-352-3101 or log onto www.nymf.org.   Pre-show dinner packages, drink specials and late night fare will be available.
 
The 2008 BROADWAY BATTLE OF THE BANDS – being presented by the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and produced by Amy Birnbaum, features the pop/rock/funk/R&B stylings of Anthony Rapp (Rent) and his band Albinokid (David Matos, Pete Asirisi, Paul Gil and Dan Weiss); Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening's Ilse) playing original pop songs from her forthcoming album for Sony/BMG Records); Kyle Jarrow's (A Very Merry Unauthorized Scientology Pageant, Hostage Song) The Fabulous Entourage (OBIE-winning playwright Jarrow, director Travis Chamberlain, actors Libby Winters – Mamma Mia -- Perry Silver, and Jimmy Owens on saxophone); singer/songwriter Kacie Sheik (sister to Tony Award Winner Duncan Sheik), who starred in We Will Rock You in the West End; Chester Gregory II (Cry-Baby) band Ancestree consists of Dave Cook, Deonte' Larry, D-Flat, Phil, Big C & Romel Veal; and Groovelily with the blazing six-string electric violin of Valerie Vigoda, the lightning-fingered piano of Brendan Milburn, and the joyful drums of Gene Lewin.
 
The BROADWAY BATTLE OF THE BANDS sheds light on the extracurricular talents of Broadway performers and musicians, many of whom perform with bands outside the theatre community or have their own bands with steady gigs and avid followers.   The evening's bands will compete for the title of "best band". The winner, determined by audience response, will receive a prize, in addition to "bragging rights."  In 2007, Tony Award Winner John Gallagher, Jr. and Old Springs Pike won out over The Tom Kitt Band, The Daphne Rubin-Vega Band, The Petersons and TastiSkank.
 
The May 18 concert kicks off the New York Musical Theatre Festival's Next Link Launch Party Weekend (May 17 – 18) -- two days of networking, seminars and work sessions with NYMF staff members and other theatre professionals designed to help participants prepare their shows for the upcoming Fifth Annual New York Musical Theatre Festival September 15 through October 5, 2008.