Anthony Rapp, Natalie Weiss & More to Celebrate New Musical Film GRIND at 54 Below, 9/1

54 BELOW will host a special concert to celebrate the soundtrack to GRIND: THE MOVIE - the new short musical film - on September 1. Artists performing the songs of Derek Gregor and Selda Sahin - who provided the film's five new numbers - include Anthony Rapp (If/Then, Rent), Eric Michael Krop (Godspell), Calvin Grant (Rent), Natalie Weiss (Everyday Rapture), Matt Shingledecker (Rent, West Side Story, Spring Awakening), Danny Blu (Lead singer of "The Factory Blu"),? Pasha Pellosie ("The Carrie Diaries"), Drew Brody (Singer/Songwriter) and more. The album's digital exclusive will be available on iTunes and other online outlets on Tuesday, August 26. The 35 minute short film - written and directed by Zachary Halley - will be available to view online at GrindShortFilm.com on October 1, where the exclusive trailer is currently available. The soundtrack - presented by Chemically Altered, Telly Leung Productions and Yellow Sound Label - is produced by Telly Leung and Michael Croiter.

The concert will be presented at 54 BELOW (254 West 54th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue) on Monday, September 1 at 9:30 PM. The cover charge ranges from $30 to $55 and there is a $25 food and beverage minimum. Please visit 54Below.com for additional information.

GRIND: THE MOVIE - which stars Anthony Rapp (If/Then, Rent), Claire Coffee ("Grimm," "The West Wing") and Pasha Pellosie ("The Carrie Diaries") - is a short film musical that takes a sexy and artistic look at the ways we connect in today's multi-screened hook-up culture and asks, "Do you really know who you're talking to?" The all-star cast takes us on a musical journey of love and connection in an era in which who we are is defined by who we pretend to be. The five new songs performed by Anthony Rapp and Eric Michael Krop feature music by Derek Gregor and lyrics by Selda Sahin.

According to producer Telly Leung, "the minute I heard Derek Gregor's driving music, Selda Sahin's profound lyrics, and the passionate vocals of Anthony Rapp and Eric Michael Krop, I knew that we had to take the great songs from this short film and release them as downloadable singles. All of us at GRIND are thrilled to make the music available. These numbers fit beautifully in the context of the movie, but they also stand alone as great Top 40 songs, too!"

GRIND: THE MOVIE was awarded "Best LGBT Film" from the NYC Downtown Shorts Film Festival, "Best Overall Short Film," "Best Cinematography" and "Outstanding Artistic Achievement" at FilmOut San Diego, "Best Short Film" from the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival, and "Best LGBT Film" from SENE Music and Film Festival. It was an "Official Selection" from the Boston LGBT Film Festival (Boston, MA), Out Film CT (Connecticut's LGBT Film Festival), InsideOut (Toronto's International LGBT Film Festival), in addition to festivals in Amsterdam, Washington DC, Kansas City, Roanoke, VA and Baltimore, MD.

The cast of GRIND: THE MOVIE also features Jennifer Babiak (Fiddler on the Roof on Broadway), Adam Halpin (Dogfight at Second Stage), Celia Au ?(Scorsese's Revenge of the Green Dragons), Trey Gerrald ?(NBC's "Next Caller")?, Danny Blu (Lead singer of "The Factory Blu"),? Drew Brody ?(Singer/Songwriter), Jonathan Chang ?(?Violet Tendencies)?, Ravi Roth ?(?Altar Boyz) and Matt Shingledecker ?(?Rent, West Side Story, Spring Awakening)?.

GRIND: THE MOVIE is presented by Chemically Altered Productions in association with Telly Leung Productions and Sing Out Louise! Productions. The film is produced by Joseph Rusin, Steven Tylor O'Connor, Aiden Tyler, Matt Brunson (Editor), Angelita Esperanza (Post-production Supervisor), Chris Gilroy (Original Music Production), Derek Gregor and Selda Sahin. Ryan Dearth serves as Line Producer, with David Larsen as Choreographer and Blake Steigerwald as Director of Photography.

With the release of GRIND, Yellow Sound Label continues its commitment of bringing high quality, cutting edge material to listeners. For more information, please visit www.YellowSoundLabel.com.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski

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