Nine Shows Extended at New York Musical Festival
By: BWW News Desk Jul. 19, 2016
The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theater Festival, has announced extensions for nine productions - A SCYTHE OF TIME, LISA AND LEONARDO, CHILDREN OF SALT, EH DAH? QUESTIONS FOR MY FATHER, TINK!, DUST CAN'T KILL ME, SINGLE, NEWTON'S CADLE and CAMP ROLLING HILLS. Additional extensions may be announced at a later date.
Inspired by two stories from Edgar Allan Poe, A SCYTHE OF TIME takes us to London, 1881, where the public can't get enough of the infamously sensational Blackwood Articles, in which writers take their own lives and, in the process of dying, record their experience with death. On the other side of town, our heroine Signore Zenobia embarks on a quest to unravel the mystery of the articles in an effort to save her own magazine, and finds time pressing down on her as she composes a Blackwood Article of her very own. A bizarre tale of power and love, poetic justice and bloody revenge, A SCYTHE OF TIME shows us just how far one goes for fame and recognition in an absurd world. Featuring a book by Alan Harris; music and lyrics by Mark Alan Swanson; A SCYTHE OF TIME stars Olivier Award Winner Lesli Margherita (Matilda, Dames At Sea) and PJ Griffith (American Idiot).
A SCYTHE OF TIME will play the following performance schedule: July 21 at 8pm, July 23 at 1pm and 5pm, July 24 at 1pm and 5pm, July 26 at 9pm.
Leonardo da Vinci's intimate sketches of Lisa derail both her marriage and his relationship with his boy lover and protégé, bringing both of their lives - and the city of Florence - to the brink of disaster! It's a true story of political intrigue, love and passion, with a host of comic characters and a lush, romantic score that finally answers that 500 year old question: "Who is she?" LISA AND LEONARDO features a Book by Ed McNamee, Donya Lane & Michael Unger; Music by Donya Lane; Lyrics by Ed McNamee; and stars Lizzie Klemperer (Bright Star).
LISA AND LEONARDO will play the following performance schedule: July 21 at 8pm, July 23 at 9pm, July 25 at 12pm, July 26 at 12pm, July 28 at 4pm and 8pm.
CHILDREN OF SALT focuses on Raúl, an entrepreneur who infrequently returns home, avoiding people, and situations, which sent him packing twenty years prior. Upon learning of his estranged grandmother's illness, Raúl again returns home to the beach, in hopes of leaving as quickly as possible. The day brings a series of unexpected meetings, unleashing an array memories. Raúl must learn from these memories, and people, in order to accept his present and move into his future. CHILDREN OF SALT is the timeless tale of love, loss and hope. CHILDREN OF SALT features Music by Jaime Lozano; Book and Lyrics by Lauren Epsenhart; and stars Mauricio Martinez (Currently starring in NBC Universo's "El Vato").
CHILDREN OF SALT will play the following performance schedule: July 20 at 8pm, July 21 at 9pm, July 22 at 1pm, July 23 at 5pm, July 24 at 9pm, and July 26 at 5pm.
"Ghetto-Hippie-Arab-Commie-China Doll" Aya was shaped by the eclectic community of New York City. But Aya's father, an Egyptian-American world-traveler, remained a mystery, as did her Muslim family. In this solo musical, Aya enacts the world she came from and the family she went in search of. With a range of accents, voices, and zany characters, Aya's story deals with contemporary conflicts - identity, the culture war, Islamophobia, all while asking Eh Dah - what is this?! EH DAH? QUESTIONS FOR MY FATHER features a Book, Music, and Lyrics by Aya Aziz, who also stars.
EH DAH? QUESTIONS FOR MY FATHER will play the following performance schedule: July 19 at 8pm, July 20 at 1pm, July 23 at 9pm, July 24 at 9pm, July 25 at 8pm, and July 28 at 9pm.
In a time before time was important, there was an island full of music and magic, where pirates, natives, fairies and other mysterious folk lived, loved and fought together- until one young fairy and one young pirate crossed paths. When first mate James of the Jolly Roger meets the yearning, idealistic young fairy Tinkerbell, their star-crossed romance brings together the entire population of Neverland, from the mischievous Dream Weaver fairies to the mighty Natives, and even a colony of scavenging boys whose leader fell from the sky. TINK! features a Book by Anthony Marino; Music by Lena Gabrielle; Lyrics by Greg Kerestan & Lena Gabrielle; and stars Elly Noble (Carrie at MCC).
TINK! will play the following performance schedule: July 25 at 8pm, July 28 at 1pm and 5pm, July 30 at 5pm and 9pm, July 31 at 5pm.
Drought, desperation, and a prophet's promise of Paradise set a ragtag group of wayward souls on a Dust Bowl journey into the desert. When they arrive, their promised land is unlike anything they ever imagined, or anything they ever desired. Driven by a spirited band of actor-musicians and directed by SPRING AWAKENING's Srda Vasiljevic, the new folk musical DUST CAN'T KILL ME asks what's worth fighting for when all you've got is dust. DUST CAN'T KILL ME features a Book by Abigail Carney; Music and Lyrics by Elliah Heifetz; and stars Kathryn Gallagher (Deaf West's Spring Awakening) and Tony Nominee Elizabeth A. Davis (Once).
DUST CAN'T KILL ME will play the following performance schedule: August 1 at 8pm, August 2 at 5pm, August 3 at 9pm, August 4 at 9pm, August 6 at 1pm, and August 7 at 12pm.
Leah seriously needs to get over her ex! At 20, Leah had a career in pop music and a huge hit song, but her record company didn't want her singing her own material and so she quit. She's now 36 and a successful divorce attorney. Between her experience with the music industry, her ex-boyfriend, and shepherding women through contentious divorces, she has become more and more suspicious of men. In case you haven't guessed it... she's single. But will she ever sing again? And will she love? SINGLE features a Book by Karen Bishko and Nat Bennett, Music and Lyrics by Karen Bishko, and stars Ace Young (HAIR, "American Idol"), Tony Nominee Valisia LeKae (Motown) and Colin Hanlon (RENT, Wicked).
SINGLE will play the following performance schedule: July 29 at 8pm, August 3 at 1pm and 5pm, August 4 at 5pm, August 5 at 1pm, August 6 at 5pm.
What happens when the rules you live by no longer apply? When Evan Newton brings his girlfriend to the family's Alaskan cabin to propose, her response sets him on an adventure to connect his past to their present. Evan's journey takes us into his unique world of autism, where events aren't sequential, labels get in the way, and well-defined family relationships are anything but constant. NEWTON'S CRADLE challenges our own expectations about connection, integrating a fast-moving story with a hypnotic electronic score to create a musical unlike anything you've ever seen before: a melodic picture of a very special brain. Featuring Book, Music and Lyrics by Heath Saunders and Kim Saunders, NEWTON'S CRADLE stars Rose Hemingway (How To Succeed In Business...with Daniel Radcliffe) and Heath Saunders (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812).
NEWTON'S CRADLE will play the following performance schedule: August 3 at 8pm, August 4 at 4pm, August 5 at 9pm, August 6 at 1pm, August 7 at 12pm and 4pm.
Pack up your duffle bags and head to CAMP ROLLING HILLS for another wild summer of tune filled campfires, bunk beds, and treasure hunts (for missing underwear, that is!). From learning a new sport, to discovering a new talent, to finding their first love, these 12 tweens are off on an 8 week adventure that will forever change their lives. It doesn't matter if you are a nerd, a jock, a tomboy, or a girly-girl because true friendships are made when all the rules are broken. After all, there is a different definition of cool at Camp! CAMP ROLLING HILLS features a Book and Lyrics by David Spiegel and Stacy Davidowitz; Music and Lyrics by Adam Spiegel; and stars Tony Honoree Sophia Genussa (Matilda)
CAMP ROLLING HILLS will play the following performance schedule: August 3 at 8pm, August 4 at 5pm, August 5 at 5pm and 9pm, August 6 at 1pm, and August 7 at 4pm.
For a full list of extension performances, visit nymf.org/extensions.
Individual tickets for 2016 NYMF are now on sale in addition to NYMF Passes. NYMF Passes offer discounted tickets, early ticket booking, and priority seating. Visit nymf.org/tickets for more information on both individual tickets and NYMF Passes.
The previously announced lineup of productions, readings, concerts and events for the 2016 NYMF includes BREAKING THE MOON; ILLA!, THE GOLD; SINGLE; CAMP ROLLING HILLS; LUDO'S BROKEN BRIDE; QUICK AND FUNNY MUSICALS; ARTEMIS IN THE PARKING LOT; CRUDE; Molly Murphy & NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON ON OUR LAST DAY ON EARTH; DUST CAN'T KILL ME; FOREST BOY; NEWTON'S CRADLE; NICKEL MINES; NORMATIVITY; LISA AND LEONARDO; THE FIRST CHURCH OF MARY, THE REPENTANT PROSTITUTE'S FIFTH ANNUAL BENEFIT CONCERT, REVIVAL, AND POT LUCK DINNER; THE LAST WORD; TINK!; A SCYTHE OF TIME; CHILDREN OF SALT; ICON; EH DAH? - QUESTIONS FOR MY FATHER; PLAY LIKE A WINNER; COOKIES; REMISSION; TOUCHÉ; BREAD AND ROSES; ULTIMATE MAN!; THE BABY PROJECT; A LASTING IMPRESSION; OUTLIERS; STILL READY: Rob Rokicki IN CONCERT; FREEDOM RIDERS; MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET; ONE CHILD BORN: THE MUSIC OF Laura Nyro; and more. For a full list of productions, readings, concerts and events visit NYMF.org. For a full list of productions, events, and concerts, visit NYMF.org.
This year, the Festival will take place July 11 through August 7 at The Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET Project (229 W 42nd Street, between 7th & 8th Avenues); The Pearl Theatre (555 West 42nd Street); 416 West 42nd Street, Playwrights Horizons Rehearsal Studios; June Havoc Theatre (312 West 36th Street, NY, NY 10018); 42West NY (514 West 42 St); The Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 West 42nd Street) and Theater 511 (511 W 54th Street).
Dan Markley serves as NYMF Executive Director & Producer. Curation of the 2016 Festival is led by Rachel Sussman, who joins NYMF this year as Director of Programming & Artist Services. A Grand Jury panel of industry experts helped to determine the musical lineup of the Festival.
This year's Grand Jury included Tony Award-winning actor Michael Cerveris, OBIE and Drama Desk Award-winning actress Donna Lynne Champlin, Two River Theater Literary Manager Anika Chapin, Creative Director, Fox Stage Productions Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Tony Award-winning producer Jane Dubin, Director of Theater Arts Program at The National Black Theater Jonathan McCrory, Tony Award and Drama Desk Award-nominated actor and writer Tony Sheldon, playwright, lyricist, and actress Gretchen Cryer, Drama Desk Award-winning actor Santino Fontana, Tony Award Nominated, Drama Desk and OCC Award Winning actress Montego Glover, Broadway director West Hyler, Tony Award-nominated director Leigh Silverman, and Laurence Olivier Award-winning choreographer Sergio Trujillo.
This year, the Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment will be joining as an Elite Festival Sponsor. Also, for the first time, Show-Score.com, a new website for audiences to discover live theater in New York City, will partner with NYMF to present the Show-Score "Best of Fest" Audience Prize, an award determined by audience vote. Show-Score joins returning award sponsors Play-By-Play and Stage Rights. Returning Elite Festival Sponsors include Fuzzrocket, PRG, TheaterMania and Clear Channel Spectacolor.
NYMF is also pleased to announce that they will be partnering with Reyka Vodka as Official Liquor Sponsor of the 2016 Festival. Reyka Vodka embodies all of the charmingly offbeat characteristics of Iceland's provenance and people and is truly made of Iceland. When Reyka Vodka set out to distill the best tasting vodka in the world, it took inspiration from the country's natural resources and the inventive spirit of its people. Reyka Vodka uses glacial spring water, lava rock filtration, geo-thermal energy, a rare Carter-Head Still, and distills in preciously small batches to ensure the utmost quality in every bottle.
In addition, global brand experience agency Jack Morton Worldwide has partnered with NYMF this year to provide pro bono branding support for the organization.
To keep up with NYMF, visit the NYMF website at NYMF.org where you can also subscribe to the NYMF Newsletter.
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New York Musical Festival (NYMF) nurtures the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theater.
Now in its thirteenth year, the Festival is premier musical theater event in the world. The preeminent site for launching new musicals and discovering new talent, the Festival provides an affordable platform for artists to mount professional productions that reach their peers, industry leaders, and musical theater fans. More than 90 Festival shows have gone on to productions on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters in all 50 states, and in more than 20 countries worldwide. Festival alumni have received a wide array of awards including the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, NYMF received a special Drama Desk Award in recognition of its work "creating and nurturing new musical theater, ensuring the future of this essential art form."
New York Musical Festival is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency. For more information, visit: www.nymf.org.
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