New Songs 'In The Works' at the Duplex This Month

Honeck-Moss Productions, in conjunction with The Duplex Development Stage is proud to present "In The Works." An exciting new series conceived as an opportunity for composers to try out new work in front of an audience and see how it plays in a supportive environment.

"In The Works" will be presented monthly and feature four composers or composer teams, each presenting new material. The first presentation will be at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre on Sunday, September 25th 2016 at 7:00 p.m. and will feature the works of composers Joshua H. Cohen and Eric Sorrels, and composing teams Amanda Yesnowitz & Doug Katsaros, and David Christensen, Kellen Blair, & Sarah Ziegler.

The Duplex CABARET THEATER is located at 61 Christopher Street (on 7th Avenue, just off the 1 train). Tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the door, and there is a two beverage minimum. $5 Discount for Broadwayworld readers, use code BWW at check out. Tickets are available at www.purplepass.com/works925.

Joshua H. Cohen's honors include a Jonathan Larson Grant, the Anna Zornio Children's Theatre Playwriting Award (lyrics,Keep On Walkin'), the Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Award for musical Ordinary Island (music/lyrics), and a MAC Award nomination for his cult cabaret hit "The Sacrifice of Love" (a.k.a. the waxing song). Productions include his play The Thirteenth Commandment (Libra Theater Company, 7 NY Innovative Theater Award nominations, 2 wins), musical Tamar of the River (Prospect Theatre Company, 2 Drama Desk nominations, world premiere recording from Yellow Sound Label), and children's musical Flight School (Vital Theatre Company, OCR now available). Other work developed or produced by Emerging Artists Theater, Active Theater, Oberon Theater Ensemble, Jewish Ensemble Theater, Secret Theater, New American, many others. Member, Dramatists Guild; 2008-10 Fellow, American Lyric Theatre's Composer-Librettist Development Program; August 2012 CAP21 Writers Residency. BA: Amherst College, MFA: NYU-GMTWP. For more information, visit www.JoshuaHCohen.com.

Eric Sorrels is an emerging composer/lyricist from Nashville, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville where he studied Theatre with and a concentration in composition his final year. Most recently, his songs were shared at The Duplex in July at "Madame Matthieu's Soiree," and at the RADD Music Festival in midtown back in April. He is currently preparing for a concert staging of his song cycle "Moments I Knew" at 54 Below, in addition to working on his new musical "Lonely Singles," songs from which you'll hear tonight. Eric's also an actor and singer, with recent regional credits including "Alice of Old Vincennes" (world premiere) and Godspell (Jesus/co-producer). Thanks to Thomas for making this idea a reality, and thanks to my friends for their constant love and support.

Kellen Blair is the Drama Desk nominated co-creator of Murder For Two (off Broadway: Second Stage Theatre and New World Stages. World premiere: Chicago Shakespeare Theatre). The show is currently touring the country and gearing up for several international productions. Kellen and Murder For Two co-writer Joe Kinosian are the recipients of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Musical Work in Chicago (2011) and the ASCAP Foundation Mary Rodgers / Lorenz Hart Award (2013). Their work has been showcased on Broadway, the Kennedy Center, and theaters across the United States. Kellen is also the lyricist of Scrooge in Love (with composer Larry Grossman), recently awarded Best Score of 2015 by the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle.www.kinosianandblair.com

Sarah Ziegler is an advanced member of the BMI Workshop. In addition to Just Between the All of Us, she is currently developing The Bronte Project with composer Lucas Syed for NYC's Theater in Asylum. Sarah's work has been performed at cabaret spaces across the city including 54 Below (Lady Parts and Broadway Babylon) and the New York Theatre Barn (Sarah vs. Sarah). Last fall, Sarah and composer Nicky Phillips had a short musical in Stage Fright, Prospect Theater Company's Fall Musical Theater Lab, and this past spring, Sarah and composer Kristin Bair had a short musical in UC Irvine's 4@15 production. Sarah has a Masters in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory and also enjoys taking the stage as a performer herself. www.youtube.com/szigfer.

David Christensen is an NYC based writer and performer. A graduate of the Boston Conservatory and a member of the BMI Lehman Engel Advanced Musical Theatre Writing Workshop, David's work has been featured at Joe's Pub, The Laurie Beechman, and 54 Below. Most recently his musical COOKIES was featured in the New York Musical Festival. Next up: Santa! A New Christmas Musical to premier at Casa Mañana this winter.

Together, Doug and Amanda wrote the score for the musical adaptation of Somewhere in Time (based on the film and novel by Richard Matheson) had its world premiere at Portland Center Stage and was nominated for 7 PATMAs (Portland Area Musical Theatre Awards) including Best Original Musical, Best Score, and Best Song. The show, which was a finalist for the 2013 NAMT festival, is being developed by Davenport Theatrical Productions. Doug and Amanda are also working on an original song cycle about a May-December romance based on their popular song "The Thing About Dylan," originally written for the Once Upon a Time in New York City concert series at Joe's Pub.

Separately, Amanda is a Jonathan Larson Award recipient, an eight-time MAC Award nominee, a John Wallowitch Award finalist, a Kleban finalist, a Dramatists Guild Fellow, a Jamie deRoy Award winner, and a Dottie Burman Award winner. She wrote lyrics for The Caucasian Chalk Circle (produced at Ithaca's Hangar Theatre), Building a Wing (Best Musical at Short, Sweet & Song in Sydney, Australia) and The History of War (NYMF invited selection), and book/lyrics for By The Numbers (ASCAP workshop, Johnny Mercer Colony), from which "No Looking Back" was performed by The Boston Pops and Keith Lockhart. Recently Amanda performed her songs at the Kennedy Center to commemorate ASCAP's 100th birthday. Recordings: "Gotta Start Small" (Stephanie J. Block, This Place I Know, PS Classics); "Show Some Beauty" (Show Some Beauty, Yellow Sound Lab); "Too Close to the Sun" (Kiss Me While we Have the Chance, Yellow Sound Lab). When she's not rhyming Amanda competes in crossword tournaments and brags about having her own puzzle published in the Sunday New York Times magazine.

As theatre composer, Doug contributed material to A...My Name is Alice, Diamonds, Just So, Abie's Island Rose, Elisabeth & Essex, Moby Dick, and Lingoland (all Off-B'way). He also wrote music for The End, Valadon (TRU Theatre Festival), Great Expectations (Mill Mountain, VA), Merton of the Movies (winner of the Main Street Musicals Award) and Orphan Train (NYMF, NY Theatre Institute, Grand Central Terminal's 100th anniversary). He writes special material for Ringling Brothers Circus, Macy's 4th of July Fireworks and their Thanksgiving Day Parade, winning the Emmy for Best Original Song. Doug has also served as orchestrator ("Dee Snyder Does Broadway"), arranger, music director and conductor for many theatrical productions. Oh and he wrote a little-known ditty called "By Mennen."

Thomas Honeck and Lisa Moss were awarded The 2015 MAC Award for Special Production for the show "Dancing with Death" and were given a Bistro Award in 2014 for being an Innovative and Nurturing Creative Team.