Composer Neil Berg's New Rock Musical THE 12 Premieres in New Jersey, 3/30-3/31

The regional premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan and composer Neil Berg's new rock musical THE 12 comes to the Inserra Theater in Montvale, N.J., for two performances.

Leftfield Productions and Joe Grano Sneaky Pete Productions present THE 12, directed by Richard Seyd, a powerful new rock musical with book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, and music and lyrics by award-winning composer Neil Berg. THE 12 will hold its regional premiere at the Inserra Theater (on the campus of St. Joseph's Regional High School) in Montvale, N.J. on March 30 and 31 at 7 p.m.

THE 12 takes one of the most powerful stories in history and explores one of the least known and most intriguing aspects of it: what happens when 12 ordinary individuals are torn apart by the unthinkable death of their leader.

THE 12 is led by a cast that includes Broadway stars Jason Wooten (Hair, The Rocky Horror Show) as "Peter," Tad Wilson (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Rock of Ages) as "Tom," Lawrence Clayton (Dreamgirls, Les Miserables) as "John," and Gerard Canonico (Spring Awakening, American Idiot) as "Thad." The show will also feature VH1's Best Undiscovered Artist, Sophia Ramos, as "Mary Magdalene."

Joining them will be Broadway and National Tour veterans including Eran Jayne (Hairspray) as "Mother Mary," Sean Jenness (Bonnie and Clyde) as "Jimmy," Erich McMillan-McCall (Ragtime) as "James," Jeff Tuohy (F**ing Hipsters: The Musical) as "Simon," Ben Roseberry (RENT, Lion King) as "Bart," Jonathan Shew (Frat: A New Musical), Andrew Mayer as "Phil" and Darryl Winslow "Matt."

THE 12 is being produced by Leftfield Productions and Sneaky Pete Productions (Joe Grano, producer of Jersey Boys). Creative staff includes choreographer JoAnn M. Hunter (On a Clear Day...), music director Sonny Paladino (Jesus Christ Superstar), and music supervisor Wendy Bobbitt Cavett (Mamma Mia). Casting Director is Michael Cassara.

This regional premiere of THE 12 at The Inserra Theater is the first time the entire musical has been performed. This culminates a developmental process which includes recent concert performances at The Broward Center in Ft. Lauderdale, Riverspace in Nyack, and B.B. King's in New York City.

Robert Schenkkan (book and lyrics) is the Pultizer Prize-winning playwright of the play The Kentucky Cycle. Robert was recently nominated for two Emmy Awards and won a WGA Award for Tom Hanks and HBO's award winning miniseries, "The Pacific." He is currently adapting and co-executive producing Taylor Branch's Pulitzer prize-winning trilogy, "America In The Time Of King" as a seven part mini-series for HBO and Harpo productions, and writing a new feature film for Robert Downey, Jr.

A product of the BMI Musical Theater Workshop, Neil Berg (music and lyrics) is the composer of many musicals, including the upcoming Broadway musical GRUMPY OLD MEN, which just completed its out of town tryout at The Royal Theater in Manitoba, starring John Rubenstein, John Schuck, Susan Anton, and Ken Page. A National tour is planned for the 2013 season. Neil is also the composer/lyricist of the Off-Broadway musical "The Prince and the Pauper", which ran for two season at the Lamb's Theater in New York City. Neil was a songwriter/MD for the 100 Year Anniversary Concert Tour for Harley Davidson, playing alongside Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Kid Rock, and Journey. He is the composer of the upcoming film Goat, starring Armand Assante, and Ice-T. Neil is also the creator of the hit Broadway Concert, "Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway," touring more than 100 cities per year.

Richard Seyd (director) most recently directed By The Waters Of Babylon a new play by Robert Schenkkan at the Geffen Playhouse and previously at Seattle Rep. He directed a highly successful production of A Reckoning with Johnathon Pryce at the Soho Theatre in London. Previously he directed A Feast of Fools (with Geoff Hoyle) at LaJolla Playhouse. He also directed productions of Noises Off at San Jose Rep, Pasadena Playhouse, Seattle Rep and commercially at the Marines Memorial Theatre in San Francisco. Other regional theatre productions include: Berkeley Repertory Theatre, Dinner with Friends (Bay Area Critics Circle Award); The Beauty Queen Of Leenane (Bay Area Critics Circle Award), Collected Stories (Garland Award from BackStage West); Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf and A View From The Bridge. He has also received Drama-Logue, BackStage West and Bay Area Critics Circle Awards for his direction of Cloud Nine, About Face, Noises Off, Oleanna, A View From The Bridge, Rosencrantz And Guildenstern Are Dead, and A Streetcar Named Desire.

The Inserra Theater is located on the campus of St. Joseph's Region High School at 40 Chestnut Ridge Road in Montvale, N.J. (one mile from the NY border in Bergen County, exit 172 on GSP). Student tickets are $20 and adult tickets are $30. They can be purchased at http://www.SJRTheater.com or 1-866-811-4111. For Additional Information Call St. Joseph Regional High School at 201-391-3300.

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