Stafford Arima & Taye Diggs Sign on for New Reading of THE ME NOBODY KNOWS

Producer Bellanca Smigel Rutter (The Bridges of Madison County, Macbeth) will present an additional industry reading of The Me Nobody Knows in New York City on September 16 and 17, 2014 following a two-week dance lab helmed by director Stafford Arima (Allegiance, Altar Boyz), choreographer Taye Diggs (Rent, "Private Practice"), and musical director Bryan Perri (Wicked). The presentations mark the next step toward a commercial production after a successful exploratory reading this past May 2014.

"As we continue to explore elements of The Me, I thought it was important to give Taye an opportunity to investigate some contemporary elements of choreography. His unique style will give us insight into how the piece moves," said Director Stafford Arima. "In addition, composer Gary William Friedman has contributed new arrangements and a brand new song inspired by a poem in the original anthology. We're also interpolating writings from Stephen M. Joseph's original compilation into the libretto. We have, once again, cast the reading from students of the Broadway Dreams Foundation and are thrilled with this ensemble of bright young talents."

The cast of The Me Nobody Knows is comprised entirely of students from The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF), a national, non-profit performing arts training program. The cast includes Rosa Campos (Atlanta, GA), Sam Faulkner (Charlotte, NC), Samantha Gorjanc (San Jose, CA), Khamary Grant (Alpharetta, GA), Brett Gray (Philadelphia, PA), Alex Greenlee (Sacramento, CA), Alina John (Willingboro, NJ), Jai'len Josey (Atlanta, GA), Rico LeBron (Tallahassee, FL), and Zuri Washington (New York, NY).

Inspired by the writings of nearly 200 New York City public school children, ages 7 though 18, The Me Nobody Knows has been inspiring and touching audiences throughout the world for generations. Through its powerful and uplifting contemporary score, The Me Nobody Knows follows a day in the life of a multi-racial cast of young people as they examine their aspirations, fears and determination. At odds with their squalid surroundings and cynical, materialistic views of the world, feelings of hope and renewal emerge.

With music by Gary William Friedman and lyrics by Will Holt, The Me Nobody Knows debuted to rave reviews Off-Broadway in 1970 and won the Obie Award and Drama Desk Award for "Best Musical" that year. In December of 1970, the acclaimed new musical transferred to Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre. Its groundbreaking score, which combined rock with early rap and jazz, made it one of the earliest rock musicals to ever play a Broadway stage. New York Times critic Clive Barnes called it "...one of the best musicals on Broadway and unequivocally the most moving, the most poignant. I loved its understanding and compassion, and I felt its pain and yet also its unsentimental determination for hope." After ending its Broadway run, The Me Nobody Knows was performed throughout the world in cities such as Paris, London, Tel Aviv, Hamburg, and Johannesburg. The cast of the German-language version, Ich Bin Ich, included a young Donna Summer. In 1980, the musical was produced for the television network Showtime and was recorded at the CBS television studio now known as The Ed Sullivan Theatre.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation is a premier, national performing arts education program dedicated to ongoing engagement, inspiration, and access regardless of a student's ability to pay. With a faculty of Broadway stars, directors and agents committed to giving back to the theatrical community, BDF provides invaluable training to anyone who aspires for a career in the performing arts. The unique program offers students highly personalized and supportive mentorship, an exciting, and collaborative learning environment and ongoing networking to build confidence and life skills. In 2012, 42% of all BDF students participated on full or partial scholarship. In recent years, more than 40 BDF students have landed roles in Broadway, national touring and regional productions.

For more information on BDF, please visit: www.mybroadwaydreams.com