'Roller Derby' Skates into New NYMF Venue & Schedule

The much anticipated new musical Roller Derby, being presented as part of this year's New York Musical Theatre Festival, is rolling uptown to a new venue. The legendary director/choreographer Donald McKayle is bringing his latest work to the Ailey Citigroup Theatre, built to honor his lifelong friend and collaborator, Alvin Ailey, allowing five-time Tony Award nominated McKayle a larger canvas to showcase his sports-inspired choreography.

199 seats are now available at only $20 each for every performance through the NYMF website, www.nymf.org, or by phone at 212-352-3101. A limited number of tickets will be available at the Ailey Citigroup Theater box office 15 minutes before curtain time.

Performances will take place Thursday September 20 at 8PM; Friday September 21 at 8PM; Saturday September 22 at 2PM & 8PM; Wednesday September 26 at 8PM; and Thursday September 27 at 8PM.

With a book by Barry Arnold, lyrics by Arnold and John Braden, the new musical Roller Derby not only marks the return to the New York theater scene of master choreographer and Outer Critics Circle Award winning director Donald McKayle, but also six-time Tony nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Harold Wheeler, has updated the music for Roller Derby with new compositions, as well as well as creating the orchestrations.

True to the sport's original unique mix of athletes, Roller Derby stars a multi-cultural ensemble cast including Renee Bang Allen, Ashlie Atkinson, Lea Delaria, Sylvia Roldan Dohi, Ruben Flores, Eric Michael Gillett, Yvette Gonzalez-Nacer, Antwayn Hopper, Sean Jenness, Eric William Morris, Michelle M. Robinson and David Shih.

"The Roller Derby race begins when, on the road in 1972, a brash young rookie from New York City's mean streets takes on the sport's beloved, but aging, star in a battle royal for the right to be crowned the reigning Roller Derby Queen.  Promoted by the game's wheeler dealer manager, the pair tears up the track, rockin' and rollin' with the ten decidedly colorful gals and guys on their team, famed to television fans across America as the World Champion Bombers.  Along the way, the rivals meet their match, discovering more than they ever dared to dream about life, love and how the game is played – all set to a lively pop/rock score," state press notes.

The production team for Roller Derby includes set design by Rod Foster, costume design by Susan Tsu, lighting design by Chenault Spence, sound design by Tom Morse, and video design by Kara Miller.

Now in its 4th year, The New York Musical Theatre Festival is the largest musical theatre event in America.  NYMF premiered 99 new musicals during its first three seasons, with more than a dozen of these shows transferring to successful off-Broadway and regional productions.  NYMF is widely regarded as the premier source for new material and talent discovery.