Foundation For New American Musicals Announces Finalists For SHOWSEARCH

On Sunday, June 10, the Foundation for New American Musicals will showcase short (10-minute) musicals written by high school and college-age finalists competing for cash-award scholarships in SHOWSEARCH 2018.

SHOWSEARCH 2018 finalists include high school-age writers Lillian Mottern, Oliviana Marie and Xavier Reynoso. College-age finalists include Elyse Douglas, Brandon Lew, Ethan Harbour and Scott Sharma. Before Sunday's performance, finalists are mentored by entertainment industry professionals including Kellen Blair, Michele Brourman, Joe Kinosian, Ryan Scott Oliver, Cinco Paul, Duane Poole, and Valerie Vigoda and participate in a series of master classes in various facets of creating new musical theatre.

The 6 finalist musicals will be presented in a staged reading, directed by Richard Israel, featuring Jade Bender, Beau Brians, Cassandra Murphy, Dino Nicandros, Keith A. Bearden, Sean Smith, Natalia Vivino, Antonia Vivino and Victoria Matlock cast by Michael Donovan Casting. SHOWSEARCH 2018 is produced by Christopher Sepulveda. Bob Klein and Linda Shusett are Executive Producers. Santa Monica College faculty member Rob Rudolph will head production while Perviz Sawoski and Santa Monica College Theatre Arts host the event. Event judges are Kevin Bannerman, Perviz Sawoski, Mark Slavkin and Lou Spisto.

SHOWSEARCH 2018 will be held from 2:00p.m. to 3:30p.m. on Sunday, June 10 at the Santa Monica College Theater Arts Main Stage and is made possible through the generosity of Wells Fargo Capital Finance. The free event is open to the public and will be followed by a reception with participants and members of the Southern California theatre community. Admission is free. Visit http://www.fnam.us for reservation instructions.

ABOUT FOUNDATION FOR NEW AMERICAN MUSICALS
The mission of the Foundation for New American Musicals is to increase opportunities for talented young people of all race, geographic and economic backgrounds to create the next generation of musicals. The Foundation is aware of only three U.S. university programs that offer degrees in musical theater, none of which are located beyond the East Coast. FNAM's program base in Los Angeles presents a strategic advantage to grow the art form's traditional base beyond the stage, providing access and education to develop content for the screen, television, digital and social media in addition to the stage. To learn more, visit http://www.fnam.us.