Reading of New Musical Magpie Sings at NYMF in Sept.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Amas Musical Theatre will present the world premiere of an original new musical, Magpie, on Wednesday, September 27 at 3 and 6 PM and Thursday, September 28 at 6 PM at the Barrow Group Theatre (312 West 36th Street).

The staged reading will feature Ronny Mercedes (Tino) and Jessica Fields (Maggie) as star-crossed lovers. "Tino is a good kid trying to escape the streets. Maggie can sing all the words to Verdi's operas but she can't write her name. Set in the fast-paced world of New York bike messengers, Magpie has a score steeped in the city's Latin rhythms," according to press notes.

The 11 member cast also includes Kenyon Adams, Neal Benari, Kimberly Reid Dunbar, Dennis Holland (The Music Man), Maxx (Latino "American Idol"), Joseph Melendez (Jesus Christ Superstar), Doreen Montalvo (La Lupe), Michael Murdoch, and Kim Volpe.  

The show features book by Stephen M. Jacobson, music by Gary William Friedman (The Me Nobody Knows) and lyrics by Edward Gallardo (Selena Forever, The Petrified Prince).  Magpie will be directed by Rebel Theatre artistic director Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj, with Martin Bejerano as musical director. 

"Amas Musical Theatre has been a pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since it was founded in 1968 by legendary actress and visionary Rosetta LeNoire.  Amas ("you love" in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals and to the training and encouragement of inner city young people." Amas productions include: Rollin' on the T.O.B.A, Reunion: A Civil War Musical, 4 Guys Named Jose … and Una Mujer Named Maria, Langston Hughes's Little Ham, Zanna, Don't!, Latin Heat, From My Hometown, and Lone Star Love or the Merry Wives of Windsor, Texas.   

"The New York Musical Theatre Festival, now in its third year, is a three-week event in NYC that has premiered over 70 musicals in its first two years, becoming the largest musical theatre event in American history. Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre," it is now widely regarded among the entertainment industry as the key source for new material and talent discovery." 

All seats for Magpie are free. For reservations go to www.nymf.org or (212) 352-3101.  For more information about Amas Musical Theatre visit www.amasmusical.org.