BYUIOO Opens Tomorrow at The Gym at Judson

Award-winning Pipeline Theatre Company in association with Judson Arts presents the World Premiere of BYUIOO, a musical with book, music and lyrics by Nate Weida. This folk gospel musical, presented in an entirely made-up language, will be directed by Andrew Neisler (Pipeline's acclaimed hit Clown Bar) featuring a cast of sixteen. Previews begin October 26 at The Gym at Judson with opening slated for October 31.

Inspired by Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, BYUIOO is set in the distant future, when nature has reclaimed New York City. Humans are scarce, but those who remain have survived by banding together. Packs have created their own languages, families, and religions. But one has lost something unifying, something defining, something beautiful. Can they ever recover what they've lost?

BYUIOO stars Andrew Butler, Jessica Frey, Stephanie Hsu, Sydney Matthews, Molly McAdoo, Carly Menkin, Ben Otto, Ronald Peet, Cyndi Perczyk, Arielle Siegel, Nicole Spiezio, Dan Tracy, Rocky Vega, Israel Vinas, and Eric Williams. The production team includes Andy Yanni (set and props), Meghan Gaber (costumes), Joe Cantalupo (lighting), Ben Hobbs (choreography), Anna Lauren Farrell (producer) and Devin Wein (stage manager).

"What excites me so much about BYUIOO is the immediacy of its message and the courage in how it is presented," notes director Andrew Neisler. "There is something in BYUIOO that is deeply satisfying that you can't quite identify or explain. The music is enchanting. The story is universal. And the themes are forever and ancient. It's epic and raw, unique and risky. In the end, you will realize that you don't necessarily have to understand something to find it beautiful."

Nate Weida is a composer and writer living in Hell's Kitchen. He has written 8 musicals including Jack and the Beanstalk (1995), Commander Squish (1996), Etan (1998), Fall of Achilles written with Jonathan Karpinos (2000), Jack & the Jelly Beanstalk written with Emil McGloin (2011), and I's Twinkle (2013). His 2002 musical The New Hopeville Comics premiered in New York International Fringe Festival before moving Off-Broadway to the Chernuchin Theatre in 2009. A workshop version of Byuioo was presented at FringeNYC in 2003. His music for Fordham University's production of Brecht's Life of Galileo was performed at Lincoln Center in 2011. He currently writes music for the Possibility Project's Foster Care Program and plays in a bluegrass band called "Great Dog Almighty."

Andrew Neisler is an Atlanta-raised, now Brooklyn-based theatre artist and director. Recent directing credits include Clown Bar at Parkside Lounge (NY Times Critic's Pick), Tape at the Strasberg Institute, Charlatan at Ars Nova, Golden Baby: Good Point! at Ars Nova's ANT Fest, Folk Wandering at Ars Nova and Joe's Pub, BIO-HAZARD at the United Solo Festival, Bebe Zahara Benet's Creature at XL Cabaret, Alfridge Von Waddlegrave at the Brooklyn Lyceum and Ars Nova. Upcoming is The Gray Man at HERE. He has assisted directors including Sheryl Kaller (Next Fall, Off-Broadway), Anne Kauffman, Doug Hughes, Robert Moss, and Geoffrey Nauffts. He is a co-founder of Fresh Ground Pepper, a new-work series devoted to emerging art.and the Artistic Director of the musical sketch-comedy group Political Subversities.

Founded in 2009, Pipeline Theatre Company is a downtown Manhattan-based non-profit theater company, comprised of 25 emerging actors, directors, writers and designers. Past productions include: Adam Szymkowicz's Clown Bar (NYT Critics' Pick, 2013 NY IT Award Nominee), Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle (2011 NY IT Award winner & ITBA Special Citation for Outstanding Production), Bekah Brunstetter's Fat Kids on Fire (directed by Tony-nominee Peter Frechette), Tim Chawaga's Sleepless City, Charles Busch's Psycho Beach Party, Colby Day's Felix & The Diligence (2012 NYIT Award Nominee) and Giant Killer Slugs, Alex Mills' Shakespeare the Dead, and Timberlake Wertenbaker's The Love of The Nightingale and The Ash Girl. For more info visit www.pipelinetheatre.org.

BYUIOO runs October 26 - November 16, Wednesday - Saturday at 8pm with additional performances Sun. Oct. 27 at 2pm & Sun. Nov. 3 at 8pm. Note: There is no performance Nov. 1. Gym at Judson is located at 243 Thompson Street at Washington Square South, accessible from the A,C,E,B,D,F to West 4th or N,R to 8th Street. Tickets are $18, available at 800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com.

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