Opel, Morrison, D'Abruzzo Join NYMF Undercover Showtunes

Obie Award-winner Nancy Opel, LoveMusik's Ann Morrison and Tony-nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo have joined "Undercover Showtunes" – the New York Musical Theatre Festival's finale of its Spring Concert Series on Monday, June 18 at 7pm, at The Zipper Factory (336 W 37th St.) in Manhattan.   
 
"Featuring performances by TV's Christian Campbell and Gloria Reuben of ER, original Hedwig cast member Miriam Shor, Mary Faber (Avenue Q), Drama Desk nominee Michael Winther (Songs from an Unmade Bed), and Tony-nominees Alison Fraser (The Secret Garden), Peter Friedman (Ragtime) and Manoel Felciano (Sweeney Todd), 'Undercover Showtunes' promises to be the highlight of the Festival's concert series," state press notes.
 
"'Undercover Showtunes' is an original, first-of-its-kind concert comprised of pop and rock songs that weren't written for musicals, but sound as if they might have been – songs that tell a story, create a character, paint a full, vivid portrait as a great song in a musical is meant to do."
 
A partial list of songs to be performed includes Jefferson Airplane's 'White Rabbit,' The Decemberists' '16 Military Wives,' The Beatles 'She's Leaving Home', Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young's 'Our House,' Simon and Garfunkel's 'The Boxer,' Stevie Wonder's 'Love's in Need of Love Today,' Janis Ian's 'At Seventeen,' David Bowie's 'Space Oddity,'  Alanis Morrissette's 'Unsent,' Elvis Costello's 'Every Day I Write This Book,' and Rufus Wainwright's 'Oh What A World.'
 
The show is the culmination of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's first-ever spring concert series that began with "More Unauthorized Musicology of Ben Folds," then "Broadway Idol: Jaclyn Huberman," and "Broadway Battle of the Bands" (in which John Gallagher Jr.'s Old Springs Pike won the competition). 

Now entering its 4th year, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (September 17 through October 7) is the largest musical theatre event in America.   Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre,"  NYMF is widely-regarded as an essential source for new material and talent discovery, and has presented over 90 musicals in its first three years - including the hit shows Altar Boyz, [title of show], and The Great American Trailer Park Musical.  In 2007, it will preset its 100th musical production.  Memberships for the 2007 Festival are now on sale, and provide the best way for audiences to guarantee access to the hottest productions and their choice of performances. 

Already this season in New York, two musicals from past Festivals – The Big Voice: God or Merman (NYMF '04) and Gutenberg! The Musical (NYMF '06) – have launched successful runs Off-Broadway, and a third – Nerds://A Musical Software Satire - enjoyed a successful run at Philadelphia Theatre Company.  NYMF's 04 hit Altar Boyz is now in its third year and fast approaching its 1,000 performance Off-Broadway at New World Stages.

For more information on 2007 Festival shows, to purchase season passes or concert tickets log onto www.nymf.org .Tickets are $50 and $90 with post-concert cast party included by calling 212-352-3101 or visiting online.

Photo of Ann Morrison by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.