Vital Theatre Company To Present 'The Bully'

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce its upcoming production of THE BULLY, a revival of the original musical for children with music and lyrics by JOHN GREGOR and book by DAVID L. WILLIAMS, directed and choreographed by TRoy Miller. Performances run Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm, September 13th - 28th, with Special Holiday Performances on Tuesday, September 30th and Wednesday, October 1st at 1 pm. All tickets are $20.00. Tickets for a POST SHOW WORKSHOP on September 20th at 2 pm are also available for an additional $20. The show is appropriate for children ages 2 - 10. For reservations, visit www.vitaltheatre.org or call (212) 579-0528. THE BULLY performs at The McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, 4th floor, at 76th Street.

THE BULLY tells the story of Lenny, the smartest kid in school. Unfortunately, he is not the strongest kid and he is constantly picked on by Steve, the school bully. A bus mix-up leaves the two boys stranded at the wrong school where they both get picked on for being the "new kids." Taunted by the terrifying "Mega," the boys learn what life is really like for the other and they are forced to work together in order to get back to their own school. In the end they realize that they might not be so different after all.

Featured in the cast are MONIQUE BEASLEY, WILLIAM DeMERITT, SCOTT LILLY, JOHN MAGALHAES, KYLE MINSHEW, STEPHEN STOCKING and DIANE ZELENKA.

JOHN GREGOR (Lyricist, Composer and Orchestrator) received a 2004 Frederick Loewe Award for his musical WITH GLEE, for which he wrote the book, music and lyrics. Recently, WITH GLEE was presented in a workshop by the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, NYU, and premiered at the New York Musical Theater Festival. His musical adaptation of Gogol's tragicomic short story THE OVERCOAT has been presented in London at the Bridewell Theatre, and at the Barrington Stage Company and The New York International Fringe Festival. He has also co-written several children's musicals for Vital Theatre Company, including THE CHANGELING, THE BULLY, and PINKALICIOUS, THE MUSICAL, which is currently playing at New World Stages.

DAVID L. WILLIAMS (Book) most recently wrote the book and lyrics for (and directed) the musical THE JOHNNY, which was a part of the 2008 New York International Fringe Festival. Career highlights include directing and writing the book for the musical TESS' LAST NIGHT (2003 Fringe NYC), and writing the plays THE INFORMATION SHE CARRIED (2005 Fringe NYC), THE ARMAGEDDON DANCE PARTY (2006 Fringe NYC), and THE TAILERS (2007 Crown Point Festival). A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Cornell University, David L. Williams is a member of the Dramatist Guild of America, Inc., and the author of more than 25 plays, including the Riverside Stage Company Founder's award-winning AMPERSAND, and four winners of the Heerman's McCalmon Playwriting Contest, THE MURDER OF GONZAGO, BEHIND THE NINE BALL, NEAR TRAGEDY, and INGULF.

TRoy Miller (Director and Choreographer): Broadway: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (assistant to Craig Lucas), Opera: IL TABARRO (Vertical Rep Players), LA TRAVIATA (City Opera SSDC Observer), Off Broadway: Craig Lucas' BATHROOM HUMOR (Playwrights Horizons, 'Stories on Five Stories'). Other Regional and NY directing credits include: HORATIO (NY Fringe Festival '07), CRASH starring Marylouise Burke, OUR LADY OF THE SEA, POSTCARDS FROM A DEAD DOG (Emerging Artists Theater); NOISES OFF! (Festival 56); DON'T DRESS FOR DINNER (Cortland Rep.); THE DYING GAUL and ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL (Trinity Rep.). Mr. Miller holds a Master's of Fine Arts in Directing from Trinity Rep in Providence, RI and is a proud member of SSDC and Emerging Artists Theatre. Visit www.troymiller.org.

Mary Hamrick is the production's Set Designer and CHRISTINA WATANABE the Lighting Designer. KARA TEOLIS serves as the Production Stage Manager and SHANI COLLEEN MURFIN is the Stage Manager. The original production of THE BULLY was directed by SUZU McCONNELL-WOOD.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY, winner of two Awards for Excellence by the Off Off Broadway Review, has received high acclaim from audiences and critics alike for being "a wonderful place for parents to introduce their kids to the glories of live theatre, done well and at modest prices." Now in its tenth year, the company is dedicated to producing entertaining and educational theatre for young audiences.

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