New Drama and Musical to Headline New York New Works Theatre Festival This Fall

Two distinctive pieces of theater - a drama about pioneering gay illustrator J.C. Leyendecker, and a musical comedy version of the Greek classic Electra - will be featured in this year's New York New Works Theatre Festival, August 29 through September 14. Both performances will be at the Times Square Arts Center, 2nd Fl (Elektra Theatre), 668 8th Ave (at 43rd St. & 8th Ave.) in New York.

In Love with the Arrow Collar Man by Lance Ringel examines the lives of leading 20th-century American illustrator Joseph C. Leyendecker (1874-1951) and his model and life partner, Charles Beach. Arrow Collar Man recounts the true story of a pioneering long-term gay couple whose life together spanned nearly half a century. Leyendecker's immense popularity came primarily from his 322 covers for the Saturday Evening Post, as well as for the use of his art in advertising - most notably the Arrow Collar Man, with Beach as the original model. This play explores the challenge of balancing love, art and commerce at a time when homosexuality was a crime, and how Leyendecker achieved an unlikely triumph on all fronts. Arrow Collar Man also chronicles Leyendecker's relationships with two fellow artists: his talented but self-destructive brother Frank; and Norman Rockwell, the protégé who surpassed him in fame. The 23-minute excerpt bows Wednesday, September 7 at 7:00 PM. Facebook.com/ArrowCollarMan.

The cast for In Love with the Arrow Collar Man are Ian Brodsky, Jordan Elman, Kathryn Fray, Jack D. Martin, and Liz Tancredi.

Mourning Becomes Ridiculous by Chuck Muckleand David Eisner is a tuneful, ironic, and clever piece that marries the theatrical style of the Greeks with the playful wit of old-school songs in the vein of Cole Porter. This is an offbeat musical take on Sophocles's classic Electra, where the Fates choose to let humanity sort out their own drama. Thus, the melodramatic lives of Electra and the citizens of Mycenae assume new comic life as they take responsibility for their own crazy actions. Utilizing traditional Greek theatrical techniques and characters, Mourning Becomes Ridiculous mines classical tragedy to hilarious effect. The 23-minute excerpt bows Wednesday, September 14 at 7:00 PM.

The cast for Mourning Becomes Ridiculous are Anita Hollander, Ward Saxton, Carter Lynch, Hannah Seusy, Catie Shelley, and Eva Marie Mastrangelo.

The participation of Lance Ringel and Chuck Muckle in this year's Festival is truly a family affair; the couple will celebrate 40 years together in September. Muckle is directing Ringel's period drama.

Semifinals for the winning productions in competition will be held September 19-22, and 26. The finals gala will take place October 5.

In Love with the Arrow Collar Man by Lance Ringel and Mourning Becomes Ridiculous by Chuck Muckle and David Eisner at New York New Works Theatre Festival. Ringel's show is Sept. 7, 7:00 PM; Muckle's show isSept. 14, 7:00 PM. Times Square Arts Center, 2nd Fl (Elektra Theatre), 668 8th Ave (at 43rd St. & 8th Ave.), NYC. Tix: www.nynwtheatrefestival.com/book-tickets.

Lance Ringel is principal writer of two theater pieces created for Vassar College. Vassar Voices, a staged reading highlighting 150 years of the college's history, premiered at Jazz at Lincoln Center with a cast that starred Meryl Streep, Lisa Kudrow and Frances Sternhagen. It subsequently toured across America and to London. At Home in the World, directed by John Caird, spotlights talented young performers from Japan, Uganda and America, and has been staged to sold-out houses in all three countries. Collaborating with director-actor-composer Chuck Muckle, Ringel wrote Animal Story, a short musical for young audiences that had its New York premiere this year. Ringel's reputation as a writer of gay historical fiction was established with the critical acclaim for his 2014 novel Flower of Iowa (Smashwords), about an American and British soldier in World War I who fall in love. Kirkus Reviews called it "accomplished, touching historical fiction," adding, "Ringel packs a remarkable amount of flavor and detail into this debut work." Actor, author and director Stephen Fry tweeted, "Reading a truly wonderful WW1 novel. ... So truthful and touching." Ringel and Muckle divide their time between New York City and Poughkeepsie.

Chuck Muckle is the director of In Love with the Arrow Collar Man, written by Lance Ringel. The show business veteran co-wrote Mourning Becomes Ridiculous (with David Eisner) and directed its incarnation at Emerging Artists, and for Manhattan Theatre Mission's 2nd Annual Musical Showcase, where the production won four awards. Muckle also helmed the musicalAnimal Story this past spring at the Midtown International Theatre Festival. An actor for four decades, he appeared in the 2015 film The Night Before with Seth Rogen. He played inBrush Strokes opposite Joy Franz at the Hudson Guild Theatre and was in the world premiere tour of Four Play, The Musical. Muckle traveled the country and to London in the solo show At Wit's End, playing composer-humorist Oscar Levant. He was in New York City Opera's workshop of Paradise Found, directed by Harold Prince and starring Judy Kaye, Marin Mazzie and John Cullum - with music arranged by Jonathan Tunick. He appeared in Bard Summerscape's The Golden Apple, starring Howard McGillin and Nancy Opel, with musical direction by Mr. Tunick. Muckle's national tours include South Pacific and Camelot with Robert Goulet, andA Christmas Carol with John Astin.

New York New Works Theatre Festival is an annual theatre festival that supports talented writers at little cost for the participants. Their goal is help make the dreams of the next generation of Broadway and TV writers to become realities.