BROADWAY'S NEXT H!T MUSICAL Is Coming To Kean Stage

HILLSIDE, N.J. - If you've ever wanted to help create a Broadway-style musical, now is your chance because Broadway's Next H!t Musical is coming to Kean Stage in Hillside, N.J. on Friday, March 23. In this fully improvised show, the troupe gathers silly song suggestions from audience members. Four finalists are chosen, and the cast members perform them as if they are scenes from a pre-existing musical. The audience votes for their favorite and the winning song is turned into a full-blown musical right before your eyes, complete with memorable characters, witty dialogue and plot twists galore.

Every song is fresh and every scene is new, so each night is a different show.

"It's a blast!" said Rob Schiffmann, who serves as co-artistic director along with Deb Rabbai. "It's like structured playtime."

Schiffmann has worked as a professional improviser and musician for nearly two decades. He was a member of the improv comedy troupe Chicago City Limits before joining Broadway's Next H!t Musical in 2001. He is a two-time award winner with the Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs and the recipient of the 2011 Improvisation News Award for Best Improv Coach.

"People lose their minds over this show," he said. "I think they're surprised at how good the music is. I don't think they come to the show with the expectation of seeing a perfect product. They set the bar low and then say, "Holy cow, these are good songs!' They appreciate that we're willing to dive into the process and put ourselves on a tightrope."

Among Schiffmann's favorite past song titles is The Electric Firebreathing Unicorn Experience, which he describes as a musical hazing ritual at a college campus. The troupe also had fun with the song, Smoking in the Cabin, which they turned into a musical called, Lincoln was No Saint.

"It was a fake biography of Abraham Lincoln," he said. "It was freakin' hilarious!"

Audience members are treated to a red carpet arrival. The first half of the evening is like a glamorous awards show, meeting the actors in the lobby and posing for photos. As the emcee starts the show, four improv masters take turns picking a song title out of a fishbowl of audience suggestions and turn it into an entirely improvised song. They compete against each other to win the grand prize of the evening - a Phony (the opposite of Tony) Award. During the second half of the show, the winning song is turned into a full-blown musical. How do they do this on the fly?

"A lot of it has to do with acceptance," said Schiffmann. "When somebody makes a move to create a character or forward a plot, everyone has to be on board. As a skilled improviser, you accept and follow through. We have a deep understanding of how stories are told and how songs are built and structured, so we can create a coherent narrative. It doesn't go wrong simply due to the fact that we are willing to jump on board, no matter what it is."

A piano player helps set the mood, playing along to the songs as they are being created.

"It's similar to sports," said Schiffmann. "The pitcher pitches, the batter responds and the people in the field respond to that. If you practice a skill, you can apply it to any circumstance. If we create a samba scene, the piano player will create samba music."

Broadway's Next H!t Musical is a family-friendly show, so it is suitable for everyone, young and old.

"I think people love watching our camaraderie," said Schiffmann. "They enjoy watching us make each other laugh."

While on Kean University's campus on March 23, the cast members will lead a musical improv workshop at 2 p.m. for Theater Conservatory students.

Broadway's Next H!t Musical will be performed at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23 at Enlow Recital Hall, 215 North Ave., Hillside, N.J. Tickets are $20 to $35 and are available at the Kean Stage Box Office in Wilkins Theatre, located at 1000 Morris Avenue, Union, N.J., by phone at (908) 737-7469 or online at www.keanstage.com.

Founded in 1855, Kean University has become one of the largest metropolitan institutions of higher education in the region, with a richly diverse student, faculty and staff population. Kean continues to play a key role in the training of teachers and is a hub of educational, technological and cultural enrichment serving more than16,000 students. The University's five undergraduate colleges offer more than 50 undergraduate degrees over a full range of academic subjects. The Nathan Weiss Graduate College offers five doctoral degree programs and more than 60 options for graduate study leading to master's degrees, professional diplomas or certifications. With campuses in Union and Toms River, New Jersey, and Wenzhou, China, Kean University furthers its mission by providing an affordable and accessible world-class education. Visit www.kean.edu.

Kean Stage at Kean University educates, entertains and challenges audiences by presenting high-quality programs that reflect the diversity of the region and of the arts. These cultural offerings complement the intellectual life of the classroom for our students, increase opportunities for community engagement, and provide affordable access to the arts for New Jersey residents. Audiences of all ages are invited to enjoy a wide range of professional theatre, Broadway tours, dance performances, concerts, international films and family-friendly shows. In addition, Kean Stage encourages University students to attend events, and provides several options to explore the performing arts through master classes, workshops, lectures, employment opportunities as ushers, backstage technicians and box office staff. Visit www.keanstage.com.

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