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[title of show] Creators Premiere NOW. HERE. THIS. at the Vineyard Theatre, Mar. 2012

By: Sep. 08, 2011
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NOW. HERE. THIS. -- the newest work from the creators and cast of the hit musical [title of show] -- will be given its world-premiere production at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) in 2012, it has been announced by the theatre's artistic director Douglas Aibel and co-artistic director Sarah Stern. Following its developmental lab production at The Vineyard earlier this year, NOW. HERE. THIS. returns for a full production this spring, running in March and April.

NOW. HERE. THIS. is written by Hunter Bell and Susan Blackwell, with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen, and is based on a collaboration by Hunter Bell, Michael Berresse, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen and Larry Pressgrove -- all of whom previously collaborated on the Tony-nominated musical [title of show], which debuted at The Vineyard in 2006 prior to its run on Broadway two years later.

Performed by Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff and Jeff Bowen, NOW. HERE. THIS. is directed and choreographed by Michael Berresse. Musical direction and arrangements are by Larry Pressgrove, who leads a four-piece band.

NOW. HERE. THIS. is an original "theatri-concert" that investigates and celebrates living in the present, featuring autobiographical stories, songs, and a multi-piece band. According to Hunter, Jeff, Susan, Heidi, Michael and Larry, "the piece explores what goes down in the space between the past and the future, and how the universe conspires to bring people together."

Schedule and design team for NOW. HERE. THIS. are to be announced.

[title of show] -- a critical and popular hit praised by The New York Times as "delectable entertainment" -- debuted Off-Broadway at The Vineyard in February 2006 and two years later realized the dream come true depicted in the musical itself and moved uptown, opening in July 2008 on Broadway, with The Vineyard as one of the musical's Broadway producers.

Hunter Bell earned a 2009 Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a musical for [title of show] along with a Village Voice Obie and Drama League nomination. His other credits include SILENCE! The Musical, BELLOBRATION (the 137th Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus), and VILLAINS TONIGHT! for Disney Cruise Lines. Hunter is a co-creator of the web series the "[title of show] show" and has developed new works with ABC TV, at the O'Neill Center and Ars Nova.

Susan Blackwell's credits include [title of show], THE KID, SPEECH AND DEBATE, ANON, WORKING TITLE and VILNA'S GOT A GOLEM, as well as playing Peter Patrone in THE HEIDI CHRONICLES. Her television appearances include "The Sopranos," "Third Watch," "All My Children" and various episodes of "Law & Order." Films include MARGIN CALL, P.S.: I LOVE YOU, MARGOT AT THE WEDDING, BUN BUN, CHANGING LANES and NIGHT INT.

Jeff Bowen won a Village Voice Obie, as well as GLAAD Media and Drama League nominations for music and lyrics for [title of show]. He received the Jim Owles Human Rights Award and was named one of the 100 most influential people in Out Magazine. He has written music and lyrics for VILLAINS TONIGHT! and for special events for BC/EFA, Actors Fund, Vineyard Theatre, Drama Desk Awards and Broadway Bares. He has composed music for numerous shows at P.S. 122 including AVANT-GARDE-A-RAMA IN SPARKLEVISION and THE A-TRAIN PLAYS.

Heidi Blickenstaff has appeared on Broadway in THE ADDAMS FAMILY, THE LITTLE MERMAID and THE FULL MONTY in addition to [title of show]. Off-Broadway and regional credits include MOSAIC, FIRST YOU DREAM: THE MUSIC OF KANDER AND EBB, MEET JOHN DOE and the West Coast premiere of BAT BOY. Heidi has performed in concert at Carnegie Hall, Feinstein's, Merkin Hall and Joe's Pub.

Michael Berresse is a Tony, Olivier, Outer Critics Circle and Astaire Award-nominated actor, and an Obie Award-winning, Lortel-nominated director and choreographer. In addition to [title of show], his Broadway productions include A CHORUS LINE, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, KISS ME KATE, CHICAGO, DAMN YANKEES, FASCINATING RHYTHM, GUYS & DOLLS, CAROUSEL and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Off-Broadway includes [title of show], FOREVER PLAID and NO, NO NANETTTE. He has appeared the films A.I. and STATE OF PLAY, and on TV in "Law & Order" and "Great Performances."

Larry Pressgrove served as musical director of [title of show] and played the role of "Larry." He was musical director for CATS on Broadway and National Tour, LES MISERABLES on National Tour and conducted Colm Wilkinson's last performance at the National Opera House in Shanghai. He has been musical director at Ford's Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis and Cincinnati Playhouse. With Rachel Lampert, he composed the scores for THE ANGLE OF THE SUN (NYMF 2007) and BED NO BREAKFAST and COMFORT FOOD for Kitchen Theatre in Ithaca.

One of the nation's leading non-profit-theatre companies dedicated to new plays and musicals and bold programming, Vineyard Theatre has consistently premiered provocative, groundbreaking works including the Pulitzer Prize-winning productions of Edward Albee's THREE TALL WOMEN and Paula Vogel's HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE, as well as Tarell Alvin McCraney's WIG OUT!, The Civilians' THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, Nicky Silver's PTERODACTYLS and RAISED IN CAPTIVITY, the Laura Nyro musical ELI'S COMIN', Colman Domingo's A BOY AND HIS SOUL, Adam Rapp's THE METAL CHILDREN, Will Eno's MIDDLETOWN and Christopher Shinn's PICKED. The Vineyard most recently produced its Developmental Lab Production of NOW. HERE. THIS., followed by a Lab Production of the Broadway-bound ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER.

Vineyard Theatre produced the world-premiere of the musical AVENUE Q and received the Tony Award for Best Musical in 2004. The Vineyard continues as a producer of the show musical now at New World Stages in New York. The Vineyard produced the world-premiere of the musical THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS -- with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb, book by David Thompson, with direction and choreography by Susan Stroman -- in March 2010 and on Broadway last season. The Vineyard also produced [title of show] on Broadway in 2008 following the musical's debut at the theatre in 2006.

Productions announced thus far for The Vineyard's 2011-12 season include the world-premiere of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS starring Linda Lavin and beginning previews September 22; a co-production with Naked Angels of the world-premiere of Zayd Dohrn's play OUTSIDE PEOPLE, beginning performances in December, and a Lab Production of the musical THE LANDING (formerly ANDRA) by the legendary John Kander and his new collaborator Greg Pierce starring David Hyde Pierce.

Douglas Aibel is Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre; Jennifer Garvey-Blackwell is Executive Producer; Sarah Stern is Co-Artistic Director; and Rebecca Habel is Managing Director.

For more information or to become a member of Vineyard Theatre, visit www.vineyardtheatre.org or call the box office at 212 353 0303.

 




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