Photo Coverage: BMI Workshop Showcase
By: Ben Strothmann Jun. 12, 2006
The BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop presented a showcase of new musical works on Monday, June 5 at the Manhattan Theatre Club (131 W. 55thI Street).
The event was directed by MTC's Michael Bush; the producers were Workshop Artistic Coordinator Patrick Cook and Workshop Special Events Coordinator Frank Evans. Among the performers enlisted to take part in the evening were James Royce Edwards (Altar Boyz), Sara Chase, Robb Sapp (Wicked), Kate Wetherhead (Spelling Bee), Michael Winther (Songs from an Unmade Bed), Cheryl Stern (The Women), and Ann L. Nathan (Thoroughly Modern Millie). The included musicals were Wanda's World (by Beth Falcone and Eric Weinberger), How to Murder Your Wife (by by Alisa Klein and Stephen Sislen), The Tragic and Horrible Life of the Singing Nun (by Andy Monroe and Blair Fell), Calvin Berger (by Barry Wyner), The Dogs of Pripyat (by Jill
Abramovitz and Aron Accurso), Iznogoud--The Musical (by Marc Schubring and Phoebe Kreutz), Dysfunctional Fables (by Sean Hartley and Sam Davis), Rhonda, Queen of the Amazon (by Peter Morris and Mat Eisenstein), The Third Miracle (by Jeff Hughes and Scott Ethier), Children's Hospital (by Alison
Loeb and Bob McDowell), The Fisher King (by Steve Routman and Joy Son), Carried Away (by Jim Colleran) and Queen Esther (by Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham).
Deemed "the Harvard of musical theatre" by The New York Times, the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop was founded in 1961 by BMI and the late Lehman Engel, dean of American musical theatre, to create a setting where new writers could learn their craft. It is the birthplace of such classic musicals as A Chorus Line, Nine, Little Shop of Horrors, Beauty and the Beast, and current Broadway favorite Avenue Q. The Workshop was recently honored with a special 2006 Drama Desk Award for "nurturing, developing and promoting new talent for the musical theater," and also received the 2005 Drama League Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre. Visit www.bmi.com for more information.
James Royce Edwards, Jonathan Brody, Caesar Samayoa, and Courter Simmons performing the title song from Wanda's World
Heather Rolff, Christine Scharf, and Jennifer Bowles performing the title song from Wanda's World
Ann Letscher performing the title song from Wanda's World
Michael Bush, Director and Emcee
Sara Chase and Stephen Sislen performing "No Cocktail" from How to Murder Your Wife
Sara Chase and Stephen Sislen performing "No Cocktail" from How to Murder Your Wife
Eileen Stevens performing "Don't Be Afraid, Adele" from The Tragic and Horrible Life of The Singing Nun
Jeff Blumenkrantz performing "Toll" from "The Jeff Blumenkrantz Songbook"
"The Elephant in the Corner" from Calvin Berger
Nick Blaemire performing "The Elephant in the Corner" from Calvin Berger
Nick Belton and Nick Blaemire performing "We're the Man" from Calvin Berger
Kate Wetherhead and Robb Sapp performing "Let's Go" from The Dogs of Pripyat
Robb Sapp performing "Let's Go" from The Dogs of Pripyat
Robb Sapp and Kate Wetherhead performing "Let's Go" from The Dogs of Pripyat
Jessie Nelson, Elissa Goldstein, Mary Mossberg and Craig Fols performing "The Royal Taster" from Iznogoud - The Musical
Craig Fols and ladies singing "The Royal Taster" from Iznogoud - The Musical
Brad Howell Houghton and Michael Thomas Holmes performing "Gussy Your Caliph Up" from Iznogoud - The Musical
Michael Winther performing "Goodbye to Boston" from Dysfunctional Fables
Tessa Faye and Cheryl Stern performing "Mommy's Song" from Rhonda, Queen of the Amazon
Cheryl Stern performing "Mommy's Song" from Rhonda, Queen of the Amazon
Michael Hunsaker and Richard Todd Adams performing "Sinking Into Silence" from The Third Miracle
"Waiting for the Rain" from The Third Miracle
"Waiting for the Rain" from The Third Miracle
Jessi Stelzman performing "My Hair" from Children's Hospital
Ann L. Nathan and Geoffrey Nauffts performing "Not That I'm Asking" from The Fisher King
Michael Winther and Geoffrey Nauffts performing "The Quest" from The Fisher King
Jaclyn Huberman performing "Out of My Mind" from Carried Away
Ryan Cunningham and Joshua Salzman (I Love You Because) performing "Milking the Cow" from Queen Esther
Ryan Cunningham performing "Milking the Cow" from Queen Esther
Top L-R: Pat Cook, Artistic Coordinator, BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop; Frank Evans, Coordinator, BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop; Jean Banks, Senior Director, Writer/Publisher Relations, BMI; Jeff Blumenkrantz, writer/singer of "Toll"
Beth Falcone, Musical Director of Showcase and writer of Wanda's World; Maury Yeston, composer and BMI/Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop Steering Committee; Michael Bush, Director of Artistic Production at Manhattan Theatre Club and Director of Showcase; Lynn Ahrens, alumna and guest moderator of Workshop
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