Philly's 'Nerds' Musical Launches Daily Rehearsal Blog

With rehearsals now underway for the Philadelphia Theatre Company premiere of Nerds://A Musical Software Satire, the show's creators have launched a new daily blog, offering fans and audience members a first-hand look into the process of preparing the new musical for its Janaury 2007 debut.

The blog, located at http://nerdsthemusical.blogspot.com, will chronicle the journey of Nerds from rehearsal hall and tech week to previews performances, opening night and beyond, with daily entries from Erik Weiner (book and lyrics), Jordan Allen-Dutton (book and lyrics), Hal Goldberg (music), Philip Wm. McKinley (director) and Joey McKneely (choreographer).

The show begins previews on Thursday, January 25, 2007 and continues through Sunday, February 25. Opening Night is Wednesday, January 31 at 7 p.m.

The musical "is an outrageous epic take on the parallel stories of technology pioneers Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as they blaze a path from garage inventors to warring titans of the computer revolution!," press notes state.

"From the invention of the floppy disk and the mouse to the present-day phenomenon of instant messaging and podcasting, Nerds hilariously celebrates the birth of computer technology and the two pop-culture icons that made it possible, with a rollicking original score featuring songs titles including 'Stroll Through the P.A.R.C.,' 'Think Different,' 'Let's Merge,' 'The Windows Rap' and more."

Philip Wm. McKinley directed the five-time Tony nominated Broadway musical The Boy from Oz, starring Hugh Jackman.  This past season, at the New York City Opera, he directed the revival of Frank Loesser's The Most Happy Fella, starring Paul Sorvino.  His other directing credits include Off-Broadway's Thwak and Zombie Prom.

With choreography by two-time Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely (Smokey Joe's Cafe, The Life), the show has scenic design by Tony Award winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone), costume design by Alejo Vietti (Off-Broadway's Tryst), lighting design by Tony Award nominee Mike Baldassari (Cabaret), sound design by Fitz Patton (Broadway's As Long As We Both Shall Laugh) and projection design by Zachary Borovay (Off-Broadway's A Safe Harbor for Elizabeth Bishop). It features orchestrations by Dan Lipton, musical supervision by Nadia DiGiallonardo and musical direction by Matt Doebler.

The musical stars Jim Poulos (Broadway's Rent, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer) as Bill Gates and Charlie Pollack (Broadway's Urinetown) as Steve Jobs, and features Andrew Cassese as Paul Allen, Brian Golub as Herbert, Joseph Dellger as IBM President Tom Watson, Michael Parish DuDell as Dustin, David Rossmer as Steve Wozniak, Chandra Lee Schwartz as Sally Engelbart, and Emily Shoolin as Myrtle.

Nerds was a featured selection in the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF).

Tickets are scaled at $36-$54 and are now available by calling 215-985-0420 (in the Philadelphia area) or 866-985-0420 (toll-free).

Visit www.phillytheatreco.com for additional information, including seating charts, driving directions, group and student discounts, and more.