Adam Chanler-Berat, Erin Davie, Colin Hanlon & More Set for National Music Theater Conference

Casting has been announced for the new musicals in development at Eugene O'Neill Theater Center's National Music Theater Conference later this month. Among the actors premiering new work are Adam Chanler-Berat, Erin Davie, Colin Hanlon, Kevin Mambo, Matt Von Roderick, Christina Sajous, and Remy Zaken.

Now in its 39th year, the O'Neill's National Music Theater Conference has previously developed Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes' In the Heights; Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx's Avenue Q; Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party; Kirsten Child's The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin; Arthur Kopit, Mario Fratti, and Maury Yeston's Nine; and Brian Crawley and Jeanine Tesori's Violet.

Public staged readings will be held June 25-July 15 at the two-time Tony Award-winning Eugene O'Neill Theater Center on the Connecticut shore. The three new works, with casting and creative teams are:

The Museum of Broken Relationships
By: David H. Bell (Book & Lyrics) & Daniel Green (Music & Lyrics)
Directed by: Scott Evans
Music Direction by: Alan Schmuckler
Cast includes: Jonathan Burke, Erin Davie, Jeffrey Doornbos, Joy Franz, Jillian Gottlieb, Colin Hanlon, Andrew Keltz, Carly Kincannon, Sean MacLaughlin, Adrienne Reynolds, Howie Michael Smith, Josephine Spada, Andy Truschinski, and Remy Zaken.

Synopsis: While presenting the traveling Museum of Broken Relationships art exhibition at her gallery, Kirsten is confronted by Pierce, looking to get his mother's wedding ring back. Their conversation starts a relationship that uncovers decades-old secrets, hidden intrigues, and unresolved conflict in both their lives. What ensues is the story of relationships -- both lost and found -- set against a museum dedicated to celebrating and remembering all of the shattered relationships of our lives.

Readings: Sat., June 25 at 7pm; Sun, June 26 at 3pm; Wed., June 29 at 8pm; & Fri., July 1 at 7pm

GIRL Shakes Loose
By: Zakiyyah Alexander (Book & Lyrics) & Imani Uzuri (Music & Lyrics)
Directed by: Reginald L. Douglas
Music Direction by: Toru Dodo
Cast includes: Erica Bradshaw, McKenzie Frye, Kevin Mambo, Laiona Michelle, Christina Sajous, Shelley Thomas, and Juson Williams.

Synopsis: An overqualified black Girl finds herself in New York City single and unemployed. Now, she's got to figure out where home is. A three-city journey about growing up when you're already grown.

Readings: Sat., July 2 at 7pm; Sun, July 3 at 3pm; Wed., July 6 at 8pm; & Fri., July 8 at 7pm

Darling Grenadine
By: Daniel Zaitchik (Book, Music, & Lyrics)
Directed by: Kristin Hanggi
Music Direction by: Kimberly Grigsby
Cast includes: Adam Chandler-Berat, Josh Breckenridge, Laura Dadap, Brian Muller, Amma Osei, Debargo Sanyal, John Shartzer, Matt Von Roderick, Leah Sprecher, and Emily Walton.

Synopsis: A bittersweet, seriocomic musical about Harry, a somewhat successful composer, and his precarious relationships with his girlfriend Louise, his brother Paul, his beloved Labrador retriever Paul (that's right!), his piano, and his gin and tonics. Modern Manhattan is the backdrop for this unique and intimate melding of humor and melancholy, told with the sparkle and fizz of a Golden Age MGM musical.

Readings: Sat., July 9 at 7pm; Sun, July 10 at 3pm; Wed., July 13 at 8pm; Fri., July 15 at 7pm

The O'Neill's Summer Gala on July 23 will celebrate the return of National Music Theater Conference alumni Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez for a special evening celebrating their prolific and popular work. EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, & Tony) recipient Robert Lopez is most notably known for co-creating Broadway hits The Book of Mormon and Avenue Q (NMTC 2002), and Grammy & Oscar recipient Kristen Anderson-Lopez is one of the creators of the Broadway-bound a cappella musical In Transit (NMTC 2008). Together they wrote music for Disney's 2013 smash-hit Frozen. Their single "Let It Go" climbed charts around the world and earned them the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The not-to-be-missed event features cocktails, dinner, and entertainment on the O'Neill's historic campus overlooking the Long Island Sound.

Tickets and more information is available by calling (860) 443-1238 or visiting www.theoneill.org.

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