Tituss Burgess, Sierra Boggess, Bryce Pinkham and More to Perform at NYMF's 2016 Gala

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theater Festival, will honor Tony and Grammy Award winning composer and lyricist Duncan Sheik, Casting Director Tara Rubin, and former NYMF Board Member and Treasurer Frank Troutman at its 2016 Gala hosted by Mo Rocca on Sunday, November 13 at the Edison Ballroom in Midtown Manhattan (240 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036).

The evening will include performances by Darren Ritchie (Wonderland, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Sierra Boggess (The Little Mermaid), Bryce Pinkham (Gentleman's Guide), Karen Ziemba (Contact, Curtains), Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening original cast), Treshelle Edmond (Spring Awakening revival cast), Dave Thomas Brown (American Pyscho) and Molly Gordon (Animal Kingdom).

Additional appearances by Tony Award-winning director Susan Stroman (The Producers), Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records President & Co-Founder, Kurt Deutsch, and Tony Award nominee Elizabeth A. Davis (Once) as well as performances from 2016 NYMF Festival shows, Camp Rolling Hills and Dust Can't Kill Me.

Each November, NYMF holds a gala celebrating the year's artistic triumphs and honoring select individuals whose work has contributed to the continued vitality of musical theater. Held at the beautiful Edison Ballroom, a historic Times Square landmark, this one of a kind event is attended by an exclusive group of musical theater enthusiasts, Broadway artists, and leading members of the theater industry. The evening will begin with a cocktail reception and silent auction, after which guests will be treated to a gourmet meal and a star-studded show.

The honorees will be celebrated via performances by Broadway stars and NYMF alumni in an evening of entertainment directed by David Alpert (If/Then, A Scythe of Time), with musical direction by David Dabbon (Sondheim on Sondheim).

Duncan Sheik is a Tony-Award winning Composer, Lyricist, and recording artist. His theater credits include; Spring Awakening (2006) for which he won Tony Awards for "Best Orchestrations" and "Best Original Score", and a 2008 Grammy Award for "Best Musical Show Album". Other theater works includes American Psycho (2016), Because of Winn Dixie (2015) and Whisper House (2011). As a recording artist, he produces his own work as well as that of other artists. He has also scored several films. His musical Whisper House will be produced at the St James Theatre in London this coming spring.

Tara Rubin started Tara Rubin Casting in April, 2001 after working for 15 years as a Casting Director at Johnson-Liff Associates. During those years she worked on productions of Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Sunset Boulevard, Jerry Zaks' revival of Guys and Dolls and Miss Saigon. She also cast the daytime drama "Another World" and Dan Aykroyd's series "Soul Man." At Tara Rubin Casting, she and her colleagues cast the musicals Falsettos, Cats, A Bronx Tale, Dear Evan Hansen, Miss Saigon (upcoming), School of Rock, It Shoulda Been You, Gigi, Bullets Over Broadway, Big Fish, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Aladdin and many more.

Frank Troutman is a Senior Vice President and Director of Operations for City National Bank's Entertainment Division and is responsible for offices in New York City, Nashville and Atlanta. He works closely with the bank's Entertainment Team to serve the financial needs of clients in media, film, television and theater, as well as business managers and accountants. He served for six years as Board member, Treasurer and supporter of the New York Musical Festival. He has been an affiliate member of The Broadway League since 2009. In April of 2009 Mr. Troutman was the recipient of the Dewitt Stern Local Hero Award for services to New York City's Non -Profit Theater Community.

For more information on purchasing gala tickets, visit www.nymf.org/gala.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Duncan Sheik (Honoree) Theater credits include; Spring Awakening (2006) Tony Awards for "Best Orchestrations" and "Best Original Score", 2008 Grammy Award for "Best Musical Show Album", American Psycho (2016), Because of Winn Dixie (Delaware Theatre Company 2015), Whisper House, (Old Globe Theater 2011), Alice by Heart (currently in development), Nero (Another Golden Rome) (currently in development), The Nightingale (currently in development), Noir (currently in development). Recorded works include; American Psycho (Original London Cast Recording) (2016), Legerdemain (2015), Covers 80s (Sneaky Records 2011), Whisper House (Sony 2009), Spring Awakening (Original Broadway Cast Recording) (2006), White Limousine (Rounder 2006), Daylight (Atlantic Records 2002), Phantom Moon (Nonesuch 2001), Humming (Atlantic Records 1998), Duncan Sheik (Grammy Nomination "Best Male Vocal", RIAA Certified Gold) (Atlantic Records 1996).

Tara Rubin (Honoree) started her company in April, 2001 after working for 15 years as a Casting Director at Johnson-Liff Associates. During those years she worked on productions of Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Cats, Sunset Boulevard, and Jerry Zaks' revival of Guys and Dolls and Miss Saigon. She also cast the daytime drama "Another World" and Dan Aykroyd's series "Soul Man." At Tara Rubin Casting, she and her colleagues Eric Woodall, Merri Sugarman, Laura Schutzel, Kaitlin Shaw, Lindsay Levine, Claire Burke, and Felicia Rudolph cast the musicals Falsettos, Cats, A Bronx Tale, Dear Evan Hansen, Miss Saigon (upcoming), School of Rock, It Shoulda Been You, Gigi, Bullets Over Broadway, Big Fish, Mamma Mia!, Jersey Boys, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera, Aladdin, Mary Poppins, Spamalot, The Producers, Young Frankenstein, Promises, Promises, How To Succeed... for Broadway as well as The Country Girl, The Heiress, The Farnsworth Invention and A Time To Kill. They recently completed their 12th season as Casting Directors for Yale Repertory Theater and have worked with many regional theaters across the country. Tara graduated with honors from Boston University and serves on the board of the Casting Society of America.

Frank Troutman (Honoree) is a Senior Vice President and Director of Operations for City National Bank's Entertainment Division and is responsible for offices in New York City, Nashville and Atlanta. He works closely with the bank's Entertainment Team to serve the financial needs of clients in media, film, television and theater, as well as business managers and accountants.Frank helped establish the New York office for the bank - its first office outside California - in 2002. Previously, he was Regional Operations Manager for City National in Northern California. He began his financial services career in 1983 with Chase Manhattan Bank in New York. Frank is an avid supporter of the Theater, having served for six years as Board member, Treasurer and supporter of the New York Musical Festival. He has been an affiliate member of The Broadway League since 2009. In April of 2009 Mr. Troutman was the recipient of the Dewitt Stern Local Hero Award for services to New York City's Non -Profit Theater Community. He resides in New York City.

Mo Rocca (Master of Ceremonies) is a Correspondent for CBS Sunday Morning and host of The Henry Ford's Innovation Nation Saturday mornings on CBS. He's the host and creator of My Grandmother's Ravioli on Cooking Channel and a frequent panelist on NPR's Wait Wait ... Don't Tell Me! Mo starred on Broadway as Panch in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and was president and author of The Hasty Pudding Show at Harvard. He played Doody in the Southeast Asian tour of Grease.

David Alpert (Director) Broadway: IF/THEN, The Trip to Bountiful, The Best Man, Guys & Dolls. Also: Talley's Folly (Roundabout), Old Friends (World Premiere, Signature), Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide...(World Premiere, Guthrie), Flashdance (1st National). New York: A Little Night Music (NYU Steinhardt), Death Note (by Frank Wildhorn), A Scythe of Time (by Alan Harris & Mark Swanson, NYMF, Best Director Nomination), Idina Menzel at Radio City Music Hall (Creative Consultant), Tonya & Nancy (by Elizabeth Searle & Michael Teoli, NYMF), The Moon & The Sea (by Creighton Irons). Every year, David proudly presents the "Living for Today" concert series which benefits Gilana's Fund, an organization that supports educational programming celebrating acceptance (www.gilanasfund.org). David holds a B.A. in Theatre Studies from Western Michigan University, and is the Artistic Director of Headline Programming for BroadwayCon, a convention for thousands of Broadway fans held in New York City. www.david-alpert.com

David Dabbon (Music Director). Broadway: Disaster (Dance Arranger), Sondheim on Sondheim (Additional Orchestrations); Off-Broadway/Regional: Goodspeed Opera House A Sign of the Times (Dance Arranger); DCPA The Unsinkable Molly Brown (Additional Dance Arrangements/Conductor); Playwrights Horizons' The Christians (Music Supervisor), Stage Kiss (Arranger), NYTW The Events (Music Supervisor); Lincoln Center Mostly Mozart the public domain (Red Conductor). The Flea The Mysteries (Composer/Music Director), These Seven Sicknesses (Music Director/Arranger). As a composer David was commissioned by Dallas Black Dance Theatre to compose a new ballet titled "Surface" which premiered in 2015. Film: "HBO's Six By Sondheim" (Arranger "Send in the Clowns"), "All God's Creatures" (Composer). Albums: "Audra McDonald: Go Back Home" (Orchestrator "I'll Be Here"), "Sweet Bye and Bye" (Music Director). NYMF: All Fall Down (Music Director/Arranger). David is a composer in residence with The Civilians 2016 R&D group. Education: Carnegie Mellon University, The Hartt School www.daviddabbon.com.

New York Musical Festival (NYMF) nurtures the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theater.

Now entering its fourteenth year, the Festival is the premier musical theater event in the world. The preeminent site for launching new musicals and discovering new talent, the Festival provides an affordable platform for artists to mount professional productions that reach their peers, industry leaders, and musical theater fans. More than 90 Festival shows have gone on to productions on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters in all 50 states, and in more than 20 countries worldwide. Festival alumni have received a wide array of awards including the Tony Award and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, NYMF received a special Drama Desk Award in recognition of its work "creating and nurturing new musical theater, ensuring the future of this essential art form."

New York Musical Festival is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. NYMF is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and by the New York State Council on the Arts, a state agency.

The 2016 New York Musical Festival took place July 11 - August 7.