MTM to Host First Festival of New Musicals

MTM, a small professional theatre company entering its tenth anniversary season, will close out 2015 with a series of free readings of musicals at locations intended to set the tone for each piece. The readings are not formally ticketed, but it is recommended that patrons make a reservation online at www.mtmadison.com/festival-of-new-musicals.html. No credit card is needed. Walk-ups will still be welcome without reservations.

ALICE is a punk rock musical based on a twisted version of Alice in Wonderland. A goth teenage Alice falls down the rabbit hole and realize she is not quite as tough as she realizes. The show is written by local playwrights and composers Dan Myers and Meghan Rose, and is directed by Stephen F. Murray with music direction by Meghan Rose and costume accessories donated by Ravenworks. The show will be read Thursday, September 3 at 7:30pm at the Madison Central Library, 201 E. Mifflin St., in room 301.

Alice f?eatures Krystal Lonsdale as Alice, Liz Griffith as Kitty, Dee King as Hat, Mark Snowden as Hair, George Abbott as Mouse/Two of clubs, Kate Mann as Rock/Jack of Diamonds, Hannah Ripp-Dieter as Stepsister/Flower, Erin McConnell as Alice's stepmother/The Red Queen, Gregory Reed as Alice's father/The King, and Rylie Butzbaugh-Patrick and Elizabeth Engle as snobby girls/flowers.

BIG MONEY is loosely based on the Michael Larson scandal of the 1980s, but also takes on the characteristics of a Cyndi Lauper music video, trivia show, and fiery soap opera. When it is discovered that one of the contestants on a game show knows how to win, a bizarre series of trysts and bribes bring them to the suspenseful finish. The reading is directed by James Wagoner with music direction by Jennifer Hedstrom. It will be read Saturday, September 19 at 7:00pm at Wisconsin Public Television Studios, 821 University Ave.

Big Money f?eatures Dee King as host Gordon, Gregory Reed as Robert, Grace Ferolo as Katrina, Meghan Randolph as Cherie, and Jeremiah Eenigenberg and Maddie Wilinski as Production Assistants and a variety of other roles.

NIGHTMARE ALLEY w?ill be the final show in the readings series. N?ightmare Alley i?s a story based on William Lindsay Gresham's novella, as well as the subsequent noir film, of the same name, and tells the story of a down on his luck con man who thinks he can infiltrate a side show. Like in the novella, the characters are represented by a series of tarot cards. But he underestimates those he meets there. The show is written by New York based composer Jonathan Brielle and directed by Madison's own Tony Award winner Karen Olivo, with music direction by Mark Wurzelbacher. It will be read Saturday, October 3 at 6:30pm at The Frequency, 121 W. Main St.

Nightmare Alley f?eatures Andrew Lonsdale as Stan Carlisle, Hannah Ripp-Dieter as Molly, Grace Ferolo as Zeena, Gregory Reed as Pete, Mark Snowden as Clem, and Meg Aspinwall, Alyson Barrett, Alyssa Beasley, and Natalie Falconer as the Tarot Girls.

The readings series is free to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted online at w?ww.mtmadison.com and at the door at each performance.

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