VIRTUALLY ME Kicks Off National Tour in NYC

This winter Matt Murphy Productions presents its fourth national tour of Virtually Me! (www.virtuallyme.org). Taking place at Wi-Fi High in Anywhere, USA, Virtually Me! is an entirely original, educational musical for today's blogging, emailing, Facebooking, IM'ing, and texting generation.  Originally directed by Jeremy Dobrish, this touring production has been remounted by Gina Rattan, and features choreography by Wendy Seyb, music by Jeff Thomson, lyrics by Jordan Mann, and a book by Jeremy Desmon and Jeremy Dobrish.

As profiled on Fox and NBC News,  Virtually Me! is a rockin' new musical helping parents and educators all across the country foster a new dialogue with their students about CYBER-BULLYING and TECHNOLOGY ABUSE in a fun and entertaining way. In addition to sharing an important message, this live musical production, appropriate for grades 4 – 12, is filled with great characters, cool songs, and high-energy choreography.

With an ensemble including Dara Hartman, Greg Laucella, Sam Gedymin, Brennyn Langhorn, Mike Longo,  Virtually Me! features musical direction by Aaron Jodoin, and orchestrations by Danny Larsen.  Scenic design, Rob Odorisio; costume design, Bobby Pearce; projection/video design, Chris Kateff and Shawn Duan; production stage manager, Duncan Northern; company manager, Matt Franzetti; general manager, Matt Murphy Productions.

 "Innovative technologies are developing so rapidly kids are finding ways to use and abuse them faster than their parents and teachers can say OMG!," says producer Matt Murphy. "While these modern innovations are a welcome means of efficient communication, unfortunately they can also be tools for a new kind of bullying: cyber-bullying.  Now more than ever, young students need leadership and guidance from their parents and teachers in addressing the pros and cons of technology.  Our talented creative team has neatly managed to create a high-energy, fun musical that tackles these issues head on in a way that both educates and entertains."

Virtually Me! launches its national tour this week at P.S. 199 on the Upper West Side before moving on to perform in Indiana, Texas, Mississippi, Lousianna, New Jersey, Connecticut, Long Island and upstate New York.

In addition to Virtually Me!, Matt Murphy is currently producing The Berenstain Bears LIVE! Off-Broadway and is on the producing team of the 2010 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Memphis at the Shubert Theatre.  Murphy was a producer of the Tony-nominated Broadway production of Thurgood starring Laurence Fishburne and Michael Jacobs' Impressionism starring Joan Allen and Jeremy Irons. Murphy made his New York producing debut with the hit musical Altar Boyz. Murphy recently acquired the stage rights to Michael Blake's 1986 best-selling novel Dances with Wolves, which he intends to adapt into a dramatic musical for the Broadway stage.  www.mattmurphyproductions.com