MIDNIGHT AT THE NEVER GET to Return to Don't Tell Mama for One Night Only

Following critically acclaimed, sold-out runs at Don't Tell Mama and the 2016 New York Musical Festival (NYMF), Midnight at The Never Get, conceived by and starring Sam Bolen and Mark Sonnenblick, with book, music and lyrics by Mr. Sonnenblick, directed by Max Friedman (Ruby Manger Live!, Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band), and produced by Michael Chase Gosselin (POPE! An Epic Musical, The Most Miserable Christmas Tree), will return home to Don't Tell Mama (342 West 46th Street) on Tuesday, March 14 at 8pm for a special one-night-only concert to celebrate receiving a 2017 Bistro Award for "Book Musical," and a 2017 MAC Award nomination for "Show Of The Year."

Trevor Copeland (Sam Bolen) and Arthur Brightman (Mark Sonnenblick) have the perfect New York romance. That's swell. In 1965, it's also against the law. So in the back room of The Never Get, an illegAl Greenwich Village gay bar, they put together a show called "Midnight" - a queer nightclub act where Arthur writes love songs for Trevor to sing to a man. But as they hurtle towards the end of the decade and tensions in the Village reach a breaking point, the lovers find themselves caught in a relationship they can't control and a movement they don't understand. Featuring a sultry score fashioned after the American Songbook, Midnight at The Never Get imagines two men who never existed at a time that very much did.

An excerpt of Midnight at The Never Get was first presented at Musical Theatre Factory's 4x15 (as Midnight at The Rialto) in April 2015. The show was then produced by Don't Tell Mama, first as a developmental concert and then as a limited-run production that extended due to popular demand. It was subsequently produced at 42West as an immersive special event at the 2016 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) by Michael Chase Gosselin. For both the run at Don't Tell Mama and at 42West, Mark Sonnenblick, Sam Bolen, and Max Friedman will receive a Bistro Award for "Book Musical" on March 13th, 2017 at the 32nd Annual Bistro Awards at Gotham Comedy Club. In addition, Midnight at The Never Get has been nominated for "Show Of The Year" at the 31st Annual MAC Awards. The winner will be announced at a ceremony on March 28th, 2017 at the BB King Blues Club.

The creative team attached to Midnight at The Never Get includes Adam Podd (Music Director/ Arrangements), Andrew Palermo (Choreography), Christopher & Justin Swader (set), Vanessa Leuck (costumes), Jamie Roderick (lighting), Brian Chirlo (sound), Addison Heeren (prop design) and Preston Ridge (creative consultant). The Production Stage Manager is KJ Morton.

Midnight at The Never Get will play for one night only: Tuesday, March 14th at 8:00PM. Reservations can be made at www.donttellmamanyc.com, or by calling (212) 757-0788. Cover charge is $15.00 ($10.00 for MAC Members), plus a two-drink minimum. Cash only. Seating is limited.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS:

Mark Sonnenblick (Co-Conceiver/Book/Music/Lyrics/Arthur Brightman) is a composer, lyricist, and scriptwriter, although not always at the same time. Collaborations include Independents ("Best Production" FringeNYC, New York Times, "Critics' Pick" Huffington Post's Top Ten Shows of 2012), Ship Show(Yale Institute for Music Theatre, dir. Mark Brokaw), Stompcat in Lawndale (Ars Nova Ant Fest), Wheel of Misfortune (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), The Dinosaur Hunters (touring children's show), Rodman in North Korea (Houghton Lyric Theater), and Bunkerville (Yale DRAMAT, BSU Discovery Festival). He is a Larson Grant and Kleban Prize finalist, MAC Award nominee, special merit award winner (New Musicals, Inc.). Composer fellow at the John Duffy Institute (Virginia Arts Festival), alumnus of the Johnny Mercer Songwriting Project and Writers Colony, librettist fellow with Composers and the Voice (American Opera Projects), commissioned by the American Opera Initiative (Washington National Opera, Kennedy Center) and Lincoln Center Originals.

Sam Bolen (Co-Conceiver/Trevor Copeland) is an actor and a singer living in Brooklyn. He was recently named Outstanding Lead Actor for his portrayal of the Pope in Pope! An Epic Musical at the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival. New York credits include Irma La Douce, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Annie Get Your Gun, It's a Bird. It's a Plane. It's Superman! (Encores!); Macbeth, Twelfth Night, Hamlet (Old Hat Theatre Co.); Streepshow Episodes I, II, & III(Ars Nova, Dixon Place). Regional: A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, The Drowsy Chaperone, The Mousetrap, Forever Plaid (New London Barn Playhouse); John & Jen (Red House Arts Center). Sam is a graduate of Yale University, where he was a Whiffenpoof and a Spizzwink. He trained with Bill Esper at the William Esper Studio. www.sambolen.com

Max Friedman (Director) is a director of theatre, concerts, and cabaret. He most recently directed the sold-out premiere run of Midnight at The Never Getat Don't Tell Mama. Other NYC credits include Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band (2016 MAC Award Nomination, Show of the Year), Ruby Manger Live! The Farewell Engagement by Julia Mattison & Noel Carey, The Worst People You Know by Natalie Tenenbaum & Kevin Waznor (54 Below), The Bluest Ink(Sondheim Jazz Revue, le poisson rouge), and 6 by Zack Zadek (NYMF 2012). Regional credits include Murder Ballad (NJ Premiere) and The Longing and The Short Of It by Daniel Maté (5 Carbonell Award Nominations, including Best Director). As an Assistant Director, projects include Imagine Harry (NAMT), Jasper in Deadland (Prospect Theater Company, dir. Brandon Ivie), The Other Josh Cohen (Soho Playhouse, dir. Ted Sperling), Uncool The Party, 35mm, and many projects with Joe Iconis and Family including Things to Ruin, Bloodsong of Love, and The Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular (dir. John Simpkins). Friedman is currently in residence as the Associate Director of Programming of the legendary cabaret institution Don't Tell Mama where he has helmed over a dozen original cabaret acts and a series of developmental presentations of new musicals including Songs for Slutty Girls by Kailey Marshall & Nessie Nankivell and The Showmen by Noel Carey & Ryan McGovern. www.maxfriedmandirector.com

Michael Chase Gosselin (Producer) is a professional producer and director based in NYC. He produced Midnight at The Never Get and LUDO's Broken Bridein the 2016 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) as well as Pope! An Epic Musical in 2015. He recently directed The Nose: A New Family Musical by Kit Goldstein Grant, and the world premiere of The Most Miserable Christmas Tree by Tim Sulka & Debra Barsha. He served as the Producing Artistic Director of Act Three Theatricals 2006-2012. In 2013, he directed a developmental reading of Moby Dick! for Cameron Mackintosh. As a Director/Choreographer, other credits include Disney's Tarzan (Vermont Premiere); The Wedding Singer and South Pacific (NCT); Rock Nativity (Regional Premiere); a Vermont tour of The Complete History of America (Abridged), Next to Normal (Vermont Premiere); You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and A Christmas Carol at the Helen Hayes Youth Theatre; and Legally Blonde the Musical for Clark University. In 2014, he helmed the New England Premiere of Justin Moran's The Spidey Project.Current and upcoming projects include directing/producing the new musicals Money Talks and How to Survive an Apocalypse Without Really Trying, as well as producing the regional premiere of Midnight at The Never Get. He is a proud member of SDC. www.michaelchasegosselin.com

Established in 1982, Don't Tell Mama is celebrating over 30 years as a world famous entertainment destination. Located on renowned Restaurant Row in the heart of New York's theater district, Don't Tell Mama is one-of-a-kind - a veritable nightlife mall with four individual spaces: a piano bar, a restaurant and 2 separate cabaret showrooms: a cineplex of cabaret!

Photo Credit: Jeremy Daniel

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