The Araca Project's HOT MESS IN MANHATTAN: THE MUSICAL, Featuring Kerrigan-Lowdermilk, Ryan Scott Oliver and More, Begins 8/30

Hot Mess in Manhattan: The Musical, featuring music by 12 of today's musical theatre composers, will perform a limited run August 30-September 8 at The American Theatre of Actors (314 W. 54^th Street NYC) as a part of the second annual Araca Project.

Hot Mess in Manhattan: The Musical is a high-heeled, low-brow musical comedy following one 20-something woman trying to conquer the big city the only way she knows how: the Way of Carrie Bradshaw.  Armed with one worn-out pair of Blahniks and a score featuring a dozen of musical theater's hottest new composers, she is met with her greatest fear:  if 'Sex and the City' LIED, then what's to become of a Hot Mess in Manhattan? 

The score features songs by some of New York's hottest emerging musical theatre writers, including Kait Kerrigan & Brian Lowdermilk (Henry & Mudge, The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown), Adam Gwon (2008 Fred Ebb Award Winner, Ordinary Days, The Boy Detective Fails), Ryan Scott Oliver (Richard Rodgers Award, Playwrights Horizons' Mrs. Sharp, 35MM), Julianne Wick Davis (2012 Larson Award Winner;Southern Comfort, Wood), Gaby Alter (Nobody Loves You, Band Geeks, 2008 Larson Award Winner), Nick Blaemire (Glory Days), Sam Carner & Derek Gregor (Richard Rodgers Award, Unlock'd), Ryan Cunningham & Joshua Salzman (I Love You Because), Drew Gasparini (Crazy, Just Like Me), Michael Mahler (Hero, How Can You Run with a Shell on Your Back?), and Keith Varney (I Got Fired!).  Oliver, Gwon and Alter each received MAC Award nominations for Best Song for their contributions to previous incarnations of Hot Mess In Manhattan.

Set to star is conceiver/co-librettist Cait Doyle (San Francisco Premiere The Last 5 Years, MAC Award Winner), with Jared Zirilli (Lysistrata Jones, Fat Camp) and DJ Bucciarelli (Jesus Christ Superstar, National Tour). With a libretto by Cait & Meggie Doyle, this production is directed byDavid Ruttura (Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Follies), choreographed by Joe Barros (Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, Follies) and musical directed by James Cunningham (I Love You, You're Perfect…).  Designers include Andy Yanni (Scenic), Meghan Gaber (Costume), Cory Pattack(Lighting) and Jason Crystal (Sound). 

Cait Doyle says, "Hot Mess in Manhattan: The Musical will make you laugh, cry, and question your life choices all in 90 minutes." Paul Shafferof 'Late Night with David Letterman' has dubbed Hot Mess in Manhattan "hilarious... musical perfection."

The production is produced by Justin Nichols and David Brush in association with Greg Schaffert (Peter & The Starcatcher), New York Theatre Barn (I Married Wyatt Earp, Speargrove Presents) and The Araca Project. Visit Hot Mess in Manhattan's website, follow the show on Twitter,Facebook and YouTube, and buy tickets here! 

Hot Mess in Manhattan: The Musical is the fourth of six productions selected out of 90 applicants for the second annual Araca Project, an initiative of The Araca Group (Wicked, Rock of Ages, Urinetown).  The Araca Project joins Syracuse University and the University of Michigan in The Araca Group's commitment to early career development and fostering the entrepreneurial spirit in emerging artists. www.aracaproject.com.