Photo Flash: Schwartz Stops In To 'Reluctant Pilgrim' Rehearsal

The World Premiere of Reluctant Pilgrim, The lesser-known songs of Stephen Schwartz will run September 25th through 28th as part of the 2nd Annual New York Musical Theatre Festival.

The concert-style evening features cabaret, theatre, film, television and pop songs all with music and/or lyrics by Stephen Schwartz. With direction by Jamie McGonnigal, who who was responsible for the New York concerts of PIPPIN, CHILDREN OF EDEN and the upcoming THE SECRET GARDEN, and with music director Ray Fellman, the cast will feature performances from some of New York's finest undiscovered talents- including Jeremy Benton, Marcie Passley, Christine Rowan, Horace E. Smith III and Craig Wilson. Songs cut from Broadway favorites including WICKED, PIPPIN and RAGS will all be a part of this special tribute to one of Broadway's most prolific writers.

Reluctant Pilgrims Jeremy Benton, Christine Rowan, Horace Smith, Composer Stephen Schwartz, Craig Wilson, Music Director Ray Fellman, Marcie Passley and Director/Producer Jamie McGonnigal (front) photo: Evan Andrews

On September 19, 2005, Composer, Stephen Schwartz sat through a sneak preview of what will be opening in the festival in just a week. Cast members sat through a few notes and suggestions from the Academy and Grammy-Winning composer.

The evening features music and lyrics by Academy and Grammy Award-Winning Composer/Lyricist, Stephen Schwartz. Schwartz has contributed music and/or lyrics to GODSPELL, PIPPIN , THE MAGIC SHOW, THE BAKER'S WIFE, WORKING (which he also adapted and directed), PERSONALS, RAGS, CHILDREN OF EDEN and the current Broadway hit, WICKED. He collaborated with Leonard Bernstein on the English texts for Bernstein's MASS and wrote the title song for the play and movie BUTTERFLIES ARE FREE. For children, he has written a one-act musical, CAPTAIN LOUIE. For films, he collaborated with Alan Menken on the scores for the Disney animated features POCAHONTAS and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME and wrote the songs for the DreamWorks animated feature THE PRINCE OF EGYPT. He provided music and lyrics for the original television musical, GEPPETTO, and has released two CDs of new songs entitled RELUCTANT PILGRIM and UNCHARTED TERRITORY. Under the auspices of the ASCAP Foundation, he runs musical theatre workshops in New York and Los Angeles, and is also a member of the Council of the Dramatists' Guild. Mr. Schwartz is the recipient of three Academy Awards, three Grammy Awards, four Drama Desk Awards, and a tiny handful of tennis trophies. http://www.stephenschwartz.com

Dedicated to discovering new work and new artists, The New York Musical Theatre Festival celebrates the diversity, creativity, and future of musical theatre. NYMF is a flagship program of the National Music Theater Network, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and is America's largest annual musical theatre event. NYMF is produced in association with Virgin Megastores and proudly supported by amNewYork, Village Voice, WB11, Dodger Stages, Receptasign, King Displays, Rosco, Scharff Weissberg, TheaterMania.com, BroadwayWorld.com and Manhattan Living. For more information, visit www.nymf.org.

Reluctant Pilgrim will be performed from September 25th-28th at The Barrow Group Theatre at 312 West 36th Street. NYMF 2005 runs September 12th through October 2nd in various Off-Broadway theaters located in the Times Square area. For further information, scheduling and ticketing, please go to www.nymf.org or call 212-352-3101 or 866-811-4111 (toll free). Individual tickets for Festival shows will be available on August 29th.