'The New Picasso' Concept CD with Cuccioli, von Essen, Noll & Hicks

Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll & Hyde), Max von Essen (Les Miserables), Christiane Noll (Frankenstein) and Rodney Hicks (Rent) along with numerous Broadway veterans including Brooke Sunny Moriber (Les Miserables), Ashley Amber (Curtains), William Parry (Camelot), Joe Dellger (Ragtime), Tony Freeman (The Lion King), John Jeffrey Martin (Disney's High School Musical) and Alton Fitzgerald White (The Color Purple) have recorded a concept album of the new musical The New Picasso written by Jonathan David Sloate with an "Overture" and several songs featuring the 59-piece Prague Symphony Orchestra.

"Tormented by his mother's suicide, Jon Bernard is driven to become the greatest painter that the world has ever known. Incapable of embracing the unconditional love and adoration from his childhood sweetheart, Jennifer Robbins, or from his caring father and upbeat group of friends, Jon innocently entangles himself into the ever-scheming clutches of Vanguard City's most powerful art dealer, Jules De Medici, who remains deeply obsessed with the memory of Jon's mother. The dark passionate journey Jon embarks upon to discover the depths of true love brings him to the brink of disaster and ruin once Jules entices him with a stunning temptress, Alexandra Laurent. So befalls this epic tale of betrayal, obsession, resurrection, and the quest for love's ultimate redemption… The Soul," explain press notes.

The 2 disc set, with music, lyrics and book by Jonathan David Sloate, contains 31 musical numbers.

The New Picasso staged its premiere reading at New World Stages on October 10th, 2006. The creative team was comprised of Director Sam Scalamoni (Beauty and the Beast), Music Director Jan Rosenberg (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Composer, Lyricist and Librettist Jonathan David Sloate, who also created the new musical The Tower Of Babel.  As composer, Jonathan David Sloate wrote the scores for Warner Bros.' Mortal Kombat Conquest and USA Networks' Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm. Casting was by Mungioli Theatricals and Arnold J. Mungioli, C.S.A (Ragtime).  Dave Ferdinand's One Dream Sound provided sound design.  Pianist Jan Rosenberg conducted Keyboardist Kristin Dabaghian, Bassist Ray Kilday (The Drowsy Chaperone), and Percussionist Paul Davis (Fiddler On The Roof).  Production Stage Manager Beverly Jenkins (The Lion King) lead Stage Managers Karyn Meek (Fiddler On The Roof) and Jovon E. Shuck (Noises Off).

The staged reading cast featured Robert Cuccioli, who has won the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk and FANY Awards as well as a Tony nomination, Michael Gillis (The Phantom of the Opera), Felicia Finley (Aida), Brooke Sunny Moriber (Les Miserables), William Parry and Christiane Noll, Ashley Amber, Bob Barth, Sara Chase (Paper Mill Playhouse: Godspell), Tara Cornetto, Joe Dellger, Elizabeth Earley, Tony Freeman, Jerry Gallagher, Steven Goldsmith (Jersey Boys), Rodney Hicks, John Jeffrey Martin and Nyjah Moore Westbrooks (Benefit: Chess).

Since The New Picasso and The Tower Of Babel have been penned for both stage and cinema they have garnered 43 Awards in the past 2 years at worldwide film festivals and writing competitions and are currently ranked as the 1st and 2nd most award-winning Fantasy and Romance scripts over the past decade.

For more information visit www.TheNewPicasso.com