Prospect Theater to Continue 2016 IGNITE Series with 35MM and STRIKING 12 in Concert

Prospect Theater Company, under the leadership of Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director, and Melissa Huber, Managing Director, continues its 2016 IGNITE Series with two special one-night-only events at The Times Center (242 West 41st Street, NYC).

On Saturday, November 5th at 8pm, Prospect presents a concert of 35mm: A Musical Exhibition, with music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver, inspired by the work of Broadway photographer Matthew Murphy. In 35mm, each photograph provokes a song: a glimmer of a life unfolding, a glimpse of something happening. Originally premiered at Brooklyn's Galapagos Art Space in 2012, this high-octane, multimedia musical has since received over 75 productions worldwide, including Australia, Japan, Canada, and the UK. 35mm has been described as "a thought-provoking, soul-searching exploration of two mediums fused together as one," (DC Metro Theatre Arts) and "a series of seriously show-stopping tunes... from tender ballads to infectious disco pop... each melody encompasses the lives of different characters and each seems to exist in a rich universe of its own." (DCTheatreScene) Prospect produced the NYC premiere of Hunter Foster and Ryan Scott Oliver's musical Jasper in Deadland in 2014. 35mm: A Musical Exhibition is presented by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc.

The final IGNITE Series event of 2016 will occur on Friday, December 16th at 8pm, with a special concert presentation of Striking 12, with book, music, and lyrics by Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin and Val Vigoda. It's New Year's Eve. Oppressed by cheer, an overworked New Yorker vows to spend the night alone in his apartment... when an unexpected visitor arrives, bringing light into his world. Inspired, in part, by Hans Christian Andersen's "The Little Match Girl," this urban fairy-tale springs to life through an eclectic mix of pop, rock, jazz, and more. Premiered Off-Broadway in 2006, The New York Times declared Striking 12 "Thoroughly winning... a first-rate score... more artfully crafted and engaging than virtually all the standard-mold musicals coming our way these days." Prospect previously produced Milburn and Vigoda's Long Story Short in 2015 at 59E59 Theaters. Striking 12 is presented by special arrangement with Theatrical Rights Worldwide.

Additional casting and creative team information for both projects will be announced shortly.

Launched in 2015, Prospect's IGNITE Series is an ongoing concert initiative at The TimesCenter, located in the heart of Manhattan's Theatre District.

"Prospect looks forward to our second season of IGNITE performances, and we are thrilled to feature company alumni writers as part of our ongoing mission to present compelling new musicals," said Prospect's Producing Artistic Director, Cara Reichel. "In its first year, the IGNITE Series showcased more than 200 writers, singers, and musicians on stage, creating opportunities for both professional and youth performers to share new work, and connect with thousands of audience members."

Reflecting Prospect's dedication to fostering and producing work by emerging artists, IGNITE Series programming includes premieres of original material by award-winning songwriters; cutting-edge creations straight from Prospect's annual Musical Theater Lab; concert presentations of new musicals, performances for family audiences, and more.

Single tickets are $25, $35 and $45, and may be obtained through online purchase at www.ProspectTheater.org or by calling 212-352-3101. Tickets may also be purchased at the door, beginning at 7pm on the night of the concert. The TimesCenter (www.TheTimesCenter.com) is located at 242 West 41st Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues, in the heart of NYC's Times Square District. The venue features a 378-seat auditorium with state-of-the-art lighting, sound, and video capability, and a Steinway Concert Grand Piano.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

35mm: A Musical Exhibition

Ryan Scott Oliver (music / lyrics) was called "the future of Broadway... a major new voice in musical theatre" (Entertainment Weekly) and is "shaking up musical theater with his dark, twisted and genius work ... [Oliver] could very well be musical theater's answer to an auteur filmmaker or a gothic novelist" (Huffington Post). He is the winner of a Larson Grant, Rodgers Award, Lortel Award Nomination, ASCAP Harold Adamson Award, New Musicals Awards from Weston Playhouse, Pace University and more. He wrote the music and lyrics for Jasper in Deadland (premiered off-Broadway by Prospect and remounted at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre), 35mm: A Musical Exhibition (licensed by Samuel French, original cast recording avail. on Ghostlight Records), Darling, Mrs. Sharp, Out of My Head (licensed through Steele Spring Stage Rights), as well as the commission We Foxes (Broadway Across America) among others. He was selected to open Lincoln Center's 2016 American Songbook series. He is currently at work on the new musical Rope, a commission for Grove Entertainment. More info can be found at ryanscottoliver.com, and his morbidly optimistic musings can be followed at @ryanscottoliver.

Matthew Murphy (photography) is a New York City-based photographer specializing in theater and dance. Recent work can be seen in ad campaigns for Broadway's Hamilton, Kinky Boots, The Color Purple, Falsettos, On Your Feet! and Anastasia among others. Additional credits include his feature work for broadway.com ("Gotta Dance" series), Dance Magazine, and The New York Times. He is a former dancer with American Ballet Theatre.

Striking 12

Brendan Milburn writes songs for theatre and film (mostly with longtime collaborator Val Vigoda), produces records, and is a mostly stay-at-home dad. Musicals: Striking 12 (Off-Broadway & regional), Sleeping Beauty Wakes (CTG, McCarter, La Jolla), Wheelhouse (TheatreWorks), Toy Story: The Musical (Disney), Long Story Short (regional & Prospect Off Bway!), Midsummer Night (in development), Ernest Shackleton Loves Me (Seattle Rep/George St. Playhouse/Arts Emerson) WATT?!? (Village Theatre), The Behavior of Broadus (CTG, SacRed Fools), Beautiful Poison (5th Avenue). Film: four movies about Tinker Bell (Disney). Awards: Jonathan Larson (2006, 2008), ASCAP/Richard Rodgers (2009), LA Ovation for music direction and best musical (2007), LA Drama Critics Circle for best musical score (2015), LA Stage Raw for best musical, best score (2015), LA Ovation Award for best musical, best music and lyrics (2015). Proudest productions: eleven-year-old Mose and five-month-old Arlen.

Rachel Sheinkin writes book and lyrics for musical theater. Her interest in nontraditional collaborations and hybrid forms drew her to work with the band GrooveLily on Striking 12. She worked again with Milburn and Vigoda on Sleeping Beauty Wakes, initially as a commission for Deaf West Theatre performed in ASL and English. Her best-known collaborative adventure was as bookwriter for The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Rachel teaches part time at NYU's Tisch Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program

VAL VIGODA is an electric violinist, singer, writer, former Army lieutenant, and founding member of the band GrooveLily. She has toured the world with Cyndi Lauper, Joe Jackson and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and is now launching her solo live-looping multimedia project, Just Getting Good. Co-writer of many songs for Disney, as well as the scores for eight musicals which have been produced from La Jolla Playhouse to Off-Broadway, Val (with longtime collaborator Brendan Milburn) has won the Jonathan Larson Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre, the LA Ovation Award for Best Musical, and the ASCAP Richard Rodgers Award. Val is also the newest Artist Mentor in the Electrify Your Strings program, which brings rock arrangements and high-octane performance energy to school orchestras throughout the nation. Her proudest production is 11-year-old son Mose. Val returns to NYC this winter to star in Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, opening Off-Broadway Feb 2017!

Prospect Theater Company (founded in 1998) is dedicated to fostering and showcasing today's new voices shaping tomorrow's musicals. Since 2000, the company has fully produced more than 30 premiere musicals in New York City, in addition to new plays and numerous re-inventions of classic works. Reflecting its investment in the future of the field, Prospect leads a variety of developmental initiatives, including an annual Musical Theater Lab for emerging writers, and a Summer Intensive training program for teenagers. In recognition of its enterprising and risk-taking new musical theater, the company received a 2016 OBIE Award grant. Their work as a community anchor for emerging artists that strengthens the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theater was also honored with a 2013 National Theatre Company Grant from the American Theatre Wing. Notable productions include: the Drama Desk Award-winning Working (2012), Death for Five Voices (2016), Long Story Short (2015), Jasper in Deadland (2014), the Drama-Desk nominated Tamar of the River (2013), Unlock'd (2013), Iron Curtain (2006, 2011), Myths and Hymns (2012), With Glee (2010), The Blue Flower (2008), Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge (2009), The Hidden Sky (2010), Illyria (2002, 2008), and the Drama-Desk nominated The Pursuit of Persephone (2005).

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