New York Theatre Barn will release the new fully orchestrated demo recording of Small Town Story (formerly Speargrove Presents), a new musical commissioned by NYTB, in a concert sung by most of the demo cast and band at its signature new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge on Monday, September 23, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City. The demo can be accessed online at https://soundcloud.com/nytheatrebarn/sets/small-town-story-demo starting on Tuesday, September 24.
With book and lyrics by Emmy Award-winning writer
Sammy Buck, and music, lyrics and new orchestrations by Nashville-native Brandon James Gwinn, Small Town Story is about two families in a conservative North Texas town who struggle with a community battle ignited by a high school production of the musical Rent. As the escalation drives wedges between father and son - and mother and daughter - Speargrove, Texas will discover that the show can't open until their minds do. Inspired by real events, Small Town Story explores the indelible power of theatre and the inherent dangers of silence.
The new demo was recorded at Great White Wax by
Dennis Michael Keefe (Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge, Adam Lives) on September 7-8, 2013 with a 5-piece band that included
Jeff Roberts (drums),Alex Kerckhoff (electric/acoustic guitar), Ben Thomas (electric bass), Caitlin Cribbs (violin), and Brandon James Gwinn (piano). The demo features
Barbara Walsh (Falsettos, Big,
John Doyle'sCompany),
Noah Galvin (Burnt Part Boys, The Great American Mousical),
Alexa Green (Wicked),
Erin Leigh Peck (The Toxic Avenger),
Tally Sessions (Big Fish),
Carolyn Mignini (Tintypes, I Married Wyatt Earp, Fiddler on the Roof),
Chandler Reeves (Unlock'd),
Shorey Walker (Seussical), Kristen da Costa,
Matt Wolfe,
Michael Pesce,
CJ Pawlikowski, Jeremy Pasha and
Jessica Kent. At the concert, the cast will be joined by
T.J. Mannix, Gerrianne Genga and Greg Horton.
Produced by New York Theatre Barn Producing Director
Jason Najjoum and Artistic Director
Joe Barros, this demo is the culmination of 4 years of creative development since the show was first conceived by
Joe Barros, Laura Brandel,
Sammy Buck, Karen Marshall,
Reed Prescott and
Sam Willmott, and immediately follows a reading at Seattle's Village Theater's Annual Festival of New Musicals this past August. New York Theatre Barn is actively fundraising and seeking partners for their upcoming world premiere production slated for 2014. Contact info@smalltownstory.com for more information.
Also presenting work at NYTB in the D-Lounge will be lyricist Kevin Wanzor. A member of BMI
Musical Theatre Workshop, Wanzor will present songs from his new musical Cupid, with music by
Andrew Fox, as well as songs written with composer Anna Dagmar.
Now in its 6th year at the
Daryl Roth Theatre, NYTB in the D-Lounge provides a revolutionary community-based format for new work development different than any other program across the country, and one that is highly sought after by writers looking for an artistic home. Through NYTB in the Lounge, two sets of writers or writing teams showcase 35 minutes each of musical and/or book material from either a musical in development, or songs from their catalogue, to friends, industry professionals, and fans. The professional, but comfortingly casual lounge setting allows for an intimacy between artist and audience, and immediacy with feedback, that far eclipses anything that a standard reading environment can provide. With beer in hand, writers and their performers can expand their community with their performance as fodder for discussion. The results are electrifying: new creative partnerships are forged between writers, the writers and performers expand their communities and fan bases, and the future of musical theatre is discussed and developed in an open forum amongst musical theatre enthusiasts and practitioners alike. Since its inception, New York Theatre Barn has developed over 215 writers in more than 60 concerts through NYTB in the D-Lounge - including
Adam Gwon,
Robert Waldman,
Peter Mills and many more. For more information, go to NYTheatreBarn.org.
Cover charge is $15 ($10 for Students / BMI members). Doors open at 7 PM, show starts at 7:30 PM, in the D-Lounge, just below the
Daryl Roth Theatre (101 East 15th Street, just east of Union Square) on Monday September 23, 2013. Walk-ins only / no advanced sales.
