Selections Announced for 2010 Yale Institute for Music Theatre

The YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE (Mark Brokaw, Artistic Director; Beth Morrison, Producer) announces the original music theatre works that will receive two-week workshops in New Haven, June 13-27: THE DAUGHTERS by Shaina Taub and STUCK ELEVATOR by Byron Au Yong and Aaron Jafferis.

ABOUT THE 2010 SELECTIONS

THE DAUGHTERS
Music and libretto by Shaina Taub

In a work infused with an eclectic and exhilarating blend of soul, jazz and pop, we follow the three daughters of Zeus as they embark on separate and intersecting journeys of self-discovery: the child prodigy Athena grows up, the iconic vixen Aphrodite gets knocked up, and the reclusive rocker Artemis opens up. The Daughters is a timeless, and timely, story of three women coming of age in the very public eye.

Shaina Taub received her BFA from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 2009. Her other credits include Stuff: The Musical (music, lyrics), Post Secret: A New Play (music), The Reality Show (music, lyrics), and the ten-minute musical Lord of the Flies, Chapter Eight.

STUCK ELEVATOR
Music by Byron Au Yong
Libretto by Aaron Jafferis

Stuck Elevator is a surprising, engrossing, and hallucinogenic roller-coaster ride through the swirling and claustrophobic mind of an illegal immigrant Chinese food delivery man. Trapped in an elevator, he is terrified the authorities will discover his status if he pushes the call button for help and deport him back to China.

Byron Au Yong received his MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. His other projects include Kidnapping Water: Bottled Operas, Surrender: A T'ai Qi Cantata, Tzu Lho: Simmering Songs, Salt Lips Touching, and Forbidden Circles. He has been honored with awards from the American Composers Forum, Creative Capital, Ford Foundation, and Meet the Composer.

Aaron Jafferis received his MFA in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. His other works include the hip hop musicals Kingdom (with music by Ian Williams; Richard Rodgers Award; Most Promising New Musical Award, New York Musical Theatre Festival), Shakespeare: The Remix (music by Gihieh Lee), and The Weird Sisters (music by Ian Williams).

Additional staff for the workshops and details about free open-rehearsal readings of each musical will be announced.

Established by Yale School of Drama (James Bundy, Dean) and Yale School of Music (Robert Blocker, Dean), the YALE INSTITUTE FOR MUSIC THEATRE seeks to identify distinctive and original music theatre works by emerging writers and composers, and to serve those writers by matching them with collaborators such as directors, music directors, and actors/singers who can help them further develop their work. By limiting production resources and values, the workshop will keep the focus on the creative process of the artistic team.

For more information, visit www.drama.yale.edu/musictheatreinstitute

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