New Musical WHO ARE YOU? to Premiere at Midtown International Theatre Festival

Three famous imposters. One mysterious host. 500 identities. WHO ARE YOU?, a new original musical about three world-renowned imposters, is making its world premiere at the Midtown International Theatre Festival this August.

Written by Simon Chouinard and T. Michael Vest, the show explores how everyone, at some point in their lives, has to grapple with who they are versus who they'd like to be.

Built around a fictional TV show called "The Kaspar Hauser Show", the musical investigates the lives (and lies!) of three real-life imposters, all of whom became infamous at the dawn of the 21st century: a catfish, a chameleon, and a piano man. After all, who has never wanted to be somebody else? Blending traditional-style interviews with dreamy flashbacks, each imposter's story is told through songs, combining - and clashing - their memories with their "victim" perspectives. The winner gets the coveted prize: the "Anonymity Pass", a chance to start over with a new, guilt-free identity. But as the myths unravel, the host - mystery man Kaspar Hauser - must face his own demons as well...'Cause one thing's for sure: though all the world's a stage, no one can remain anonymous forever!

WHO ARE YOU? will be performed at the Main Stage at the WorkShop Theater. Performances are scheduled for August 1st at 6pm, August 5th at 7pm, and August 6th at 3pm. Tickets are available at web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/975154.

Simon Chouinard and T. Michael Vest may be from two different countries, but that hasn't stopped them from writing together! After showing their work at the Tristan Bates Theatre in London, they produced a staged reading of their musical "Who Are You?" at the Dramatists Guild Fund in NYC. They are now thrilled to be premiering the show at this year's Midtown International Theatre Festival. They are also proud members of Ken Davenport's Coaching Program.

Rounding out the creative team are director Richard F. Grasso, choreographer Chad Austin, and music director Sean P. Pallatroni. Richard F. Grasso is a graduate of the University of Michigan. His NYC projects include Assistant Director to Joe Calarco on the Off-Broadway musical THE MEMORY SHOW at the Transport Group Theatre Co, and the Dramatists Guild Fund alongside Barry Ivan on the stage reading of the new work POWER PLAYS.

Chad Austin is an accomplished choreographer and current Artistic Associate at New York’s Abingdon Theatre Company where he work with Anne Bogart and Tony Speciale. As a performer, he was last seen in Doric Wilson’s Award Winning Drama Street Theatre. His other projects have included originating the role of Edonis in the Off-Broadway comedy PLAY ABOUT THE NAKED GUY, CINDERELLA at Lincoln Center, John Adam’s and Peter Sellar’s DOCTOR ATOMIC at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, and choreographing Don Quixote in Sao Paolo, Brazil.

Sean P. Pallatroni is an EMMY Award winning composer, songwriter, director and pianist. He has studied performing arts at the Derryfield School under the direction of Laurel Devino, and completed his undergraduate degree in Music Composition at the Hartt School of Music Dance Theatre (University of Hartford). Sean has written for musical theatre, classical chamber ensembles, jazz, choir, and orchestra. His recent musical "Happily" was premiered in February 2017 in New York City, and winner of "Best Score" at the NYWinterfest Theatre Festival. He has also coaches and musically directs numerous shows in Connecticut and New York.

The cast includes Daniel Bender Stern as Kaspar Hauser, Eliya Rodeh as Angela, Ed Rosini as Frédéric, Noah Reece as Andreas, and Laura Mesrobian, David J. Raposo, and Maximus DeFrancesco as the Chorus Members.

This year, the venerable Midtown International Theatre Festival takes its place as the oldest continuing summer arts festival in New York. To usher in this honor, producer John Chatterton presents nearly 100 new and fascinating live stage works - plays, musicals, variety acts, short plays, solo projects, and so much more. Visit www.midtownfestival.org for further information.

IF YOU GO:

WHO ARE YOU?

A musical by Simon Chouinard and T. Michael Vest

Directed by Richard F. Grasso

Musical Director: Sean P. Pallatroni

Assisted by Norris Person

Choreography by Chad Austin

Starring: Daniel Bender Stern, Eliya Rodeh, Ed Rosini, Noah Reece, Laura Mesrobian, David J. Raposo, and Maximus DeFrancesco

Performance Schedule: Tues 8/01, 6:00pm; Sat 8/05, 7:00pm; Sun 8/06, 3:00pm

For tickets: web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/975154

More info: chouinardandvest.com and www.midtownfestival.org.