Original Musical BETWEEN THE SEA AND SKY From Australian Composer Luke Byrne Will Make Off-Broadway Debut At NYMF

Australian playwright and composer Luke Byrneis excited to announce his original new musical Between the Sea and Sky will make its Off-Broadway debut later this summer as part of the 2018 New York Musical Festival's (NYMF) Next Link Project. Featuring an original book, music & lyrics by Mr. Byrne, Between the Sea and Skywill play a 5-performance run at The Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row beginning July 31, 2018.

When sisters Sam and Emily go on holiday at the beach they stumble upon a tragic chapter of local history - one that has left behind a lingering mystery. As the girls uncover the details of the story, it pulls them into deeper waters. Between the Sea and Sky is an original Australian musical inspired by man's long standing fascination with the ocean - the fear of its power and uncharted depths.

Between the Sea and Sky will star Jenny Rose Baker and Jessica Turk as Sam and Emily, respectively. The pair will be joined on stage by Anna Baker, Jordan Bell, Barbara McCulloh, Thaddeus Kolwicz, Caroline Lellouche, Jason Moody and Sarah Jane Shanks. who appear under the skillful direction of Michael Bello, Assistant Director of Summer: The Donna Summer Musical now on Broadway. Additional casting to be announced.

The production will also feature original choreography by Jim Cooney and music direction byElizabeth Doran, with scenic design by Joshua Warner, costume design by NYMF alumHeather Carey, lighting design by NYMF alum Isabella Byrd, and sound design by John Liebert.

Performances of Between the Sand and Sky will take place at The Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row (located at 410 W 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues) according the the following schedule: Tuesday, July 31 at 8:00pm; Thursday, August 2 at 9:00pm; Friday, August 3 at 5:00pm;Saturday, August 4 at 1:00pm; and Sunday, August 5 at 10:30am. Tickets for Between the Sand and Sky and the rest of this year's New York Musical Festival selections can be purchased online atwww.nymf.org

ABOUT THE CREATORS

LUKE BYRNE (Book, Music & Lyrics) is a musical director and performer whose credits includeMuriel's Wedding, Chimerica (Sydney Theatre Company); Hamlet, The Adventures of Snugglepot and Cuddlepie, The Events (Sydney Festival and Belvoir St Theatre); Big Fish (Hayes Theatre). Luke has composed for ensembles including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Gondwana Choirs and Sydney Philharmonia. Luke's music has a preoccupation with the Australian landscape and history. Between the Sea and Sky is his first musical.

Michael Bello (Director) is a Cuban-American director of musical theater. Current: Assistant Director, SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway. NYMF: Errol & Fidel(5 Awards for Excellence, Show-Score Best of Fest winner), The Last Word, What Do Critics Know? (2 awards, highest grossing show of 2015). The LA Ovation Awards, NY Innovative Theater Awards and Boston's IRNE Awards have recognized his work. Assisting: La Jolla Playhouse, Dallas Theater Center, Huntington, among others. www.MichaelBello.com

Jim Cooney (Choreographer). Select Credits: Sweet Charity (Michael Rupert, director),Broadway Bares (Jerry Mitchell, director), ABC's "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" (featuring Kristin Chenoweth), Tableaux (Holland America Line), and Here Be Dragons (Vineyard Theatre). Previous NYMF: The Time Machine and Wikimusical (featuring Brenda Braxton). Next: DirectingBroadway Under the Stars for Transcendence Theater Company. www.JimCooney.me

Elizabeth Doran (Music Director) is a New York based pianist and music director. Music team work includes - Broadway: Mean Girls, Tuck Everlasting, Allegiance, Les Misérables. Off-Broadway: Sweet Charity (The New Group). Chicago: Goodman, Court, Porchlight, Timeline, Griffin, and Boho. Proud Northwestern graduate.

Joshua Warner (Scenic Designer) is an award-winning scenic designer for theatre, film, and television and is excited to be returning to NYMF this summer! Full time staff & adjunct lecturer of Scenic Design at York College. BFA: Emerson College. For more, visit www.joshuawarnerdesign.com

Isabella Byrd (Lighting Design). Recent: The Light Shining in Buckinghamshire (NewYork TheatreWorkshop), Artney Jackson (Williamstown), Lady Day at Emerson's... (Portland CenterStage), Plano (ClubbedThumb). Do You Feel Anger?, God Said This (HumanaFest 2018) and Angels in America (co-design); all at Actors Theatre of Louisville. Everybody (Juilliard),Sundown Yellow Moon (ArsNova/WP). Upcoming: People's Light, Playwright Horizons, Primary Stages, and MTC. www.isabellabyrd.design

Heather Carey (Costume Design) has designed costumes for theater, dance, tv & film, with this being her 2nd NYMF show. She has designed off-Broadway, off-off-Broadway, and regionally, including The Snowy Day (St. Luke's Theatre), The Dudley's: A Family Game (The Loading Dock) and Marathon: Series A (EST). She has assisted on a variety of projects ranging from live television to opera, Broadway to feature films. She received her MFA in Costume Design from Brandeis University.www.heatherjcarey.com

ABOUT THE CAST

ANNA L BAKER is thrilled to be making her NYMF debut with this fantastic team. Anna's past credits include; National Tour: Saturday Night Fever (Annette); Prather Entertainment: Funny Girl(Fanny Brice); Cumberland County Playhouse: Annie Get your Gun (Annie Oakley); WPPAC:Hunchback of Notre Dame (Ensemble). The Roster Agency, http://www.annalouisebaker.com

JENNY BAKER. Broadway: Bartlett Sher's Fiddler on the Roof (Shprintze), Annie Get Your Gun. Jenny has appeared as a guest vocalist with 10 Symphonic Pops Orchestras, including with Marvin Hamlisch and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center. Other credits include We Are The Tigers and Cookies (NYMF). Graduate of Columbia University.

Jordan Bell is excited to spend the summer with NYMF! Previously: Stratford Festival: Kiss Me, Kate; Evita; West Side Story; A Funny Thing... Forum; Cabaret. National Tour: The Wizard of Oz. Other credits: Francis Fryer, Calamity Jane (Musicals Tonight); Tommy; From Here To Eternity (Fingerlakes Playhouse); Action, West Side Story (Orlando Shakespeare).

THADDEUS KOLWICZ (Vincent) NYMF Debut! Off-Broadway: National Lampoon's Bayside! The Musical! as Screech, Beverly Hills: 90210 the Musical as David Silver (Medium Face). National Tours: Pete the Cat as Pete (TWUSA), Rumplestiltskin as Charlie (Panto Company). New York/Regional: Carrie the Musical as Stokes (TNNY), Sing Happy! A Kander & Ebb Review as The Male Ingenue (Interlakes Regional), Broadway Songbook Series Asst. Director (Lincoln Center). Proud AMDA graduate. Twitter/Instagram: @Thadhenry3

Caroline Lellouche. Fresh off the National Tour of Annie, Caroline is so excited to make her NYMF debut under the fantastic direction of Michael Bello, with whom she also made her New York debut in a workshop of We Are The Tigers at Music Theatre Factory. Previous credits also include Saturday Night Fever (Stephanie Mongano), Hairspray (Amber Von Tussle), and Merrily We Roll Along (Gussie). Caroline has a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory, and gives extra special love to her family, friends, and Mason for all their support. IG: @carolinelellouche

Barbara McCulloh. Broadway: Mrs. Darling, Peter Pan; Anna, King and I. National Tours: Brighton Beach Memoirs, South Pacific. TV: Law and Order SVU, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Hallmark, Many Dead Soap Operas. And the voice of over 175 Audio Books. Her performance is in honor of Jay Tramel. For more information than you could possibly want, visitwww.barbaramcculloh.com.

JASON MOODY is excited for his NYMF debut! He was last seen as Jeff in [title of show] at The Secret Theatre in LIC. National Tour: HAIR. Regional: Dallas Theater Center, North Shore Music Theatre, Merry-Go-Round Playhouse, New London Barn Playhouse, and Shakespeare Theatre of NJ. BFA Acting SMU. Shout out to CSM! www.jason-moody.com @jasonpmoody

Sarah Jane Shanks. Broadway: Cats (Revival), Bright Star, Promises Promises, Shrek, The Apple Tree, Wicked, Wonderful Town. NYMF: Unlock'd (Belinda), City Center Encores: Hey Look Me Over!, Bye Bye Birdie, A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Applause. Love to family, Nicolosi, and my Justin. Romans 8:38-39.

JESSICA TURK (Emily) is overjoyed to be a part of Between the Sea and Sky. Alumni of the American Musical & Dramatic Academy (AMDA) in NYC. Favorite credits include: Gypsy(Dainty June), Into the Woods (Little Red Ridinghood), and Little Women (Amy March).www.jessicaturk.net IG: @jessica.c.turk

ABOUT NEW YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL

The New York Musical Festival nurtures the creation, production, and public presentation of stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals to ensure the future vitality of musical theater.

Now in its fifteenth year, the Festival is the premier musical theater event in the world. The preeminent site for launching new musicals and discovering new talent, the Festival provides an affordable platform for artists to mount professional productions that reach their peers, industry leaders, and musical theater fans. More than 90 Festival shows have gone on to productions on and Off-Broadway, in regional theaters in all 50 states, and in more than 24 countries worldwide. Festival alumni have received a wide array of awards including the Tony Award® and the Pulitzer Prize. In 2013, NYMF received a special Drama Desk Award in recognition of its work "creating and nurturing new musical theater, ensuring the future of this essential art form."

NYMF is the flagship program of National Music Theater Network, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization. 2017 NYMF is sponsored by The City of New York Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, PRG, TheaterMania, Clear Channel Outdoor and Village Voice, and is supported, in part, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts, and by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

To post a comment, you must register and login.