True-Life-Inspired Musicals Headline NYTB's New Works Series

The tenth season of New York Theatre Barn's New Works Series continues on Monday, November 6, 2017 at The Cell with pre-premieres of two new musicals: Coyote and The Goree All-Girl String Band.

Inspired by a true story, Coyote is a contemporary American love story about two immigrants, with book by Michael Aman (Frida) and music and lyrics by Tim McCorry. Pedro and Bernadice are young lovers, determined to be re-united, who turn to a mysterious figure known only as Coyote to help them make a perilous crossing from Mexico into the United States. They have no idea that they have engaged the services of a magical, god-like creature who can change form, leap into their dreams and is bound by neither time nor space. He is a trickster. He is also their only hope in the struggle of love against fear. The presentation will be directed by Joe Barros (Cagney, Bastard Jones), with music direction by Ken Kiley, and will star Danny Bolero (In the Heights) in the title role of Coyote. Coyote was developed in conjunction with FWD Theatre Project, Chicago in 2016.

Also inspired by a true story, The Goree All-Girl String Band is a tale of redemption that features an ensemble of all-female actor-musicians performing a brand new country score written by Michael Bradley (book/lyrics) and Artie Sievers (music). The year is 1938 and The Goree All-Girl String Band is the biggest new radio sensation in Texas. They also happen to be convicted criminals. The six band members teach themselves music from behind bars and earn a slot on a prison-based radio program. Through sisterhood, determination, and a little bit of luck, these women work and play together to fiddle their way to freedom. The presentation will be directed by AAshley Brooke Monroe (Indecent), with music direction by Max Gordon, and will feature Kendra Jo Brook, Lizzie Hagstedt (Sweeney Todd, Southern Comfort), Chanel Karimkhani, Lauren J. Thomas (Once), and Ruby Wolf. The show was first presented as part of the New York Musical Festival where it was co-produced by The Kevin Spacey Foundation.

The are 2 performances of each musical: 7PM and 9PM at The Cell, located at 338 West 23rd Street in New York City. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, and can be purchased on New York Theatre Barn's website: www.nytheatrebarn.org.

New York Theatre Barn is a Manhattan-based non-profit theatre company, founded in 2007, dedicated to incubating and producing new musicals that tell untold stories. Our stories are inspired by the lives of real people and actual events that challenge our preconceived ideas, and promote inclusion and positive social change. In today's divisive political and social climate, we believe that now more than ever, these types of stories need to be seen and heard by more people. Theatre Barn's core program is the New Works Series which presents bi-monthly "pre-premieres" of new musicals in the early stages of development. With each installment, 2 new musicals are showcased before a live audience and a worldwide virtual audience. Since the series' inception, we have presented more than 400 writers in 100 pre-premieres, and have amassed a catalogue of nearly 2,000 videos with a million views. For more information: www.nytheatrebarn.org.

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