Photo Coverage: New York Musical Theatre Festival Preview
By: Ben Strothmann Aug. 31, 2005
The Ballad of Bonnie & Clyde by Michael Aman and Oscar E. Moore (book and lyrics) and Dana P. Rowe (music)
Country rock 'n' roll like they dish up at the Grand Ol' Opry! Using contemporary line dancing and a score by two-time Olivier award nominee Dana P. Rowe (The Fix, The Witches of Eastwick), the show offers a darkly comic retelling of the famous duo's story. Bonnie breaks Clyde out of prison and together they break the country out of the monotony of the Great Depression! A darkly comic look at the famed outlaw couple. Directed by Michael Bush, with choreography by Randy Skinner and starring country recording artist Sherrié Austin as Bonnie and Deven May as Clyde. World premiere.
The Big Time
by Douglas Carter Beane (book) and Douglas J. Cohen (music and lyrics)
When a U.N. peacekeeping ship is captured by terrorists from the Dreggish Republic, it falls to the lounge act from Atlantic City to save the day. A new musical comedy from Douglas Carter Beane (As Bees In Honey Drown, To Wong Foo…) and Douglas J. Cohen (No Way To Treat A Lady, The Opposite of Sex), starring Tony award-winner Debbie Gravitte.
The Mistress Cycle
by Beth Blatt (book and lyrics) and Jenny Giering (music)
A daring new musical about five mistresses throughout history: Tess, a contemporary Manhattan photographer; Anais Nin, famed sexual adventurer of the early 20th century; Diane de Poitiers, mistress of King Henri II of France in the 16th century; Lulu White, a 19th century bordello madame; and Ching, a 14-year-old Chinese concubine in 12th century China. Through a ravishing score and incisive lyrics, Jonathan Larson Award winners Blatt and Giering look at women who love outside the lines in this world premiere.
Nerds://A Musical Software Satire
by Jordan Allen-Dutton & Erik Weiner (book and lyrics) and Hal Goldberg (music).
An outrageous take on the parallel stories of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs and their trailblazing transformation from "garage inventors" to warring titans of the computer revolution. Andy Goldberg ("The Bomb-itty of Errors") directs and Dan Knechtges ("25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee") choreographs.
No Boundaries
by Liz Oliver (book), with music and lyrics by Sam Bisbee, Pamela Laws, Laura Love, Marcus Miller, Speech, and the Spooks.
No Boundaries is the contemporary story of two 18-year old friends – the free-spirited Ali, who's white, and the reserved Joshua, who's black – and how racial tensions triggered when Ali joins "Mistahs and Sistahs," an up-and-coming rap group, threaten their friendship. A passionate look at the divide between how we see ourselves and how others see us, and the painful realities of identity, loyalty and race, A world premiere production with a dynamic score by six contemporary songwriting artists ranging from hip hop to soul and rock to gospel.
Plane Crazy
by Suzy Conn
Two young stewardesses learn about love and life in the high-flying airline business, circa 1965. With wit and flair, the show explores the clashing values of the era – the dawn of the Jet Age, the introduction of the Pill, the genesis of the modern Women's Movement, and the Golden Age of Advertising – a time "when stews were sexy and the world was sexist." U.S. premiere.
PROJECT FOOTLIGHT
A new musical commissioned by NYMF and The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre
In addition to presenting more than thirty new musicals, NYMF itself is commissioning new musicals for this year's festival. Exploring new directions in theatrical collaboration for the musical theatre, NYMF has joined with the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre to commission and develop a work through a combined written and improvisational process. Brian Lowdermilk and Kait Kerrigan (authors of The Woman Upstairs, which played the Festival last year) will write the piece, in collaboration with a troupe of improvisational performers.
For further information, scheduling and ticketing, please go to www.nymf.org or call 212-352-3101.
 Isaac Hurwitz
For further information, scheduling and ticketing, please go to www.nymf.org or call 212-352-3101. |
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