Isle of Shoals' THAT LADY FROM MAXIM'S Lands 6 New York Innovative Theatre Award Nominations

In a festive celebration at XL Night Club on Monday, July 23, The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation announced 6 nominations for the Isle of Shoals Production of That Lady from Maxim's, including Outstanding Production of a Musical. BRyan Williams, who contributed book, music and lyrics for the musical-farce, was nominated for both Outstanding Original Music and Original Full-Length Script; Lance Hewett received a nomination for Outstanding Director; two performers from the musical were nominated, Amara Haaksman for Outstanding Actress in a Lead Role and Marissa Rosano for Outstanding Actress in a Featured Role; and the entire cast received a nomination for Outstanding Ensemble (Amanda Baumler, Michael R. Buscemi, Amara Haaksman, Arthur Lundquist, Alex Mace, John Mervini, Tom Morin, Anna Price, Marissa Rosano, Stephen Ryan and Cecilia Vaicels).

Earlier this month, That Lady from Maxim's completed its run at the prestigious New York Musical Theatre Festival, NYMF 2013. The nominated production played for 4 sold-out weeks at the Robert Moss Theatre in Fall of 2012, having been brought back "by popular demand" following its premiere in Fall of 2011 at the Shell. Described as "the Marx Brothers on the loose in fin de siècle France," it unfolds in Paris 1899. After beaucoupchampagne at the notorious nightclub, Maxim's, respectable Dr. Petypon wakes to discover in his bed a mysterious, scantily-clad dancer -- la môme Crevette, nicknamed "the naughty shrimp" because of a certain scandalous shimmy she does unpeeling her shell. Desperate to hide this indiscretion from his pious wife and rich uncle, Dr. Petypon finds himself trapped in a maze of mistaken identities, complicated lies, and catapulting chaos, gleefully orchestrated by - mais oui - THAT LADY FROM MAXIM'S! For more info bout the play, visit www.thatlady.org.

Author/composer BRyan Williams is Artist-In-Residence at Isle of Shoals Productions and a long time collaborator with Artistic Director Lance Hewett, who not only directed That Lady from Maxim's but also designed the sets and costumes. They worked together on Café Coward, a 1930s cabaret tribute to Noël Coward, which originated as the second half of a double bill with Still Life and was later expanded into a full-length evening at Hofstra Entertainment. Other joint projects include the 9/11 musical fable Occupation: Dragonslayer, Voices That Are Gone: The Stephen Foster Story, andAmerican Nocturne at Wings. Hewett has directed Our Town, Romeo and Juliet, Shadowlands for Isle of Shoals, and countless other plays and musicals for theatres and tours in NYC and around the country. Williams has seen his plays and musicals produced coast to coast, among them In This Fallen City, developed at the O'Neill, produced by Circle Rep and numerous other venues. The screenplay adaptation Night of Courage won ABC's New Drama for Television Award (with Barnard Hughes, Daniel Hugh Kelly, Geraldine Fitzgerald and Lili Taylor). Hewett and Williams are Co-Founders (along with Annette Triquère) of Isle of Shoals Productions, Inc., a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit theatre company now in its 18th year. Its mission is to bring to audiences works of heightened theatricality that unite drama and music in unique and adventurous ways, as a means of enriching the human spirit. For more information: www.isleofshoals.org.

The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation is a not-for-profit organization recognizing the great work of New York City's Off-Off-Broadway, honoring its artistic heritage, and providing a meeting ground for this extensive and richly varied community. Since 2004, the organization has been advocating for Off-Off-Broadway, recognizing the unique and essential role it plays in contributing to American and global culture. They believe that publicly recognizing excellence in Off-Off-Broadway will expand audience awareness and foster greater appreciation of the New York theatre experience. www.nyitawards.com.

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