Vital Theatre's FLIGHT SCHOOL, THE MUSICAL Extends thru Dec 6 at Theater at Blessed Sacrament

The award-winning Vital Theatre Company is pleased to the extention of FLIGHT SCHOOL, THE MUSICAL, a new musical based on the book Flight School by Lita Judge, with a book by Cara Lustik, lyrics by Joshua H. Cohen, music by David Mallamud and directed and choreographed by Wendy Seyb. The production will continue at the Theater at Blessed Sacrament (formerly Arclight Theater Sundays only at 11:00 am, November 14th through December 6th.

Tickets are $30.00 for regular seats and $40.00 for premium seats. For reservations and information visit www.vitaltheatre.org or call (212) 579-0528. The Theater at Blessed Sacrament is located at 152 West 71st Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam.

In FLIGHT SCHOOL, THE MUSICAL, it's the first day of flight school, where they teach birds to fly. Penguin has the soul of an eagle and is ready to live on the wind. But he wasn't built to soar, as the other birds constantly remind him. Penguin's spirit won't be grounded. With some friends of a feather, and a little help on the technical parts, Penguin follows his dreams to flip, flap, fly! Appropriate for ages 2 to 7. Visit www.FlightSchoolLive.com.

Book writer Cara Lustik has written the book for Twinkle Tames a Dragon the Musical and Fancy Nancy Splendiferous Christmas the Musical. She has over 15 years in the entertainment, branding and licensing industries. Previously, she worked with HIT Entertainment for its preschool properties including Thomas the Tank Engine. Cara has worked with Production, Home Entertainment, Creative, Live Events, Broadcast and Digital teams on live events and stage productions, new characters, and digital initiatives. www.lustikink.com

Composer David Mallamud's music has been performed in venues ranging from Carnegie Hall to The Kennedy Center and was recently heard Off-Broadway in the parody, Twilight: The Musical (New World Stages, directed by Gabriel Barre). He is currently working with playwright Philip Dawkins on the stage adaptation of the Dr. Seuss book, The Sneetches for The Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis; a violin concerto with Mike Mills (from R.E.M.) for Robert McDuffie; and a CD of his music with The Albany Symphony's Dogs of Desire. Other theater credits include: Bill Nelson's All-Male Revue (Barrington Stages, directed by Bill Finn), The Strange Affair of Doctor Crippen (Theatre Building Chicago), and Man in the Iron Mask (Winner of Scene It, The Jerry Orbach Theater). Symphonic credits include performances by The Harrisburg Symphony, The Albany Symphony, The New World Symphony, and The Westchester Philharmonic. He has also co-orchestrated a number of shows with Kim Scharnberg for director Vincent Marini at The Flat Rock Playhouse. Education: B.M. Eastman, M.M. Juilliard, M.F.A. NYU/Tisch Graduate Musical Theater Writing Program. www.davidmallamud.com

Lyrcist Joshua H. Cohen honors include a Jonathan Larson Grant , the Anna Zornio Children's Theatre Playwriting Award (lyrics, Keep On Walkin'), the Chameleon Theatre Circle New Play Award for musical Ordinary Island (music/lyrics), and a MAC Award nomination for his cult cabaret hit The Sacrifice of Love (a.k.a. the waxing song). New York has recently seen his play The Thirteenth Commandment (Libra Theater Company, 7 NY Innovative Theater Award nominations, 2 wins) and musical Tamar of the River (Prospect Theatre Company, 2 Drama Desk nominations , world premiere recording from Yellow Sound Label). Other work developed or produced by Emerging Artists Theater , Active Theater, Oberon Theater Ensemble, Jewish Ensemble Theater , Secret Theater, New American, many others. Member Dramatists Guild; 2008-10 Fellow, American Lyric Theatre's Composer-Librettist Development Program; August 2012 CAP21 Writers Residency. BA: Amherst College, MFA: NYU-GMTWP. www.JoshuaHCohen.com

Director/Choreographer Wendy Seyb creates stories for film, theater, and dance. Career highlights include choreographing Sting, Kevin Spacey, James Taylor, Oscar Isaac, and Renee Fleming at Carnegie Hall, The Peewee Herman Show Broadway/HBO, The Toxic Avenger Musical Off-Broadway/International (Lortel, Dora, Callaway nominations), Click Clack Moo Off-Broadway (Lortel nomination), Murder for Two Off-Broadway/National Tour. And as Director/Choreographer: How You Look At It The Sacramento Ballet and a short film, "Onrique" a cirque-style show (*Big E Award), Birthday Sax Ars Nova & Joe's Pub, "That Reminds Me..." new comedy web series. Wendy has created shows with Disney, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon. Her Narrative Dance Comedies have won awards, and been seen in short film form, spec commercials, music videos, and at esteemed NYC venues including Dance Theater Workshop, Joyce SoHo, and Baryshnikov Arts Center. www.wendyseyb.com

Flight School book author Lita Judge is the award-winning author and illustrator of sixteen fiction and nonfiction picture books including Good Morning to Me (Simon & Schuster, 2015), Born in the Wild (Roaring Brook, 2014), Flight School (S&S, 2014) and the beloved classic Red Sled (S&S, 2011). Her books have been included on the Kirkus Best Books of the Year List and have received numerous awards including the Sterling North Award, the Jane Addams Honor, ALA Notable, the International Literacy Association Children's Book Award and Michigan Notable Book. Birds of all kinds have long inspired her stories. As a child she spent every summer in Wisconsin with her Ornithologist grandparents, living in a house filled with Eagles, Hawks and Owls. Now she lives with her husband, two cats and a little green parrot named Beatrix Potter in Peterborough, New Hampshire. You can visit her online at www.LitaJudge.net

Featured in the cast are Owen Beans, Annabelle Fox, Alie B. Gorrie, Clint Hromsco, Ashtia Jewell and Jennifer Smith. The design team includes sets by Kyle Dixon , lights by Aaron Meadow and costumes by Bobby Pearce. Music direction is by David John Madore and Kathryn Meister is the stage manager.

Vital Theatre Company is dedicated to producing entertaining and educational theatre for young audiences and commissions three to five musicals for children each season. Since its founding in 1999, Vital Theatre Company has been honored with the 2012 Off-Broadway Alliance Award for Best Family Musical, two Awards for Excellence by the Off-Off Broadway Review, and 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" (Off-Off Broadway Review). Entering its 18th season, the company has presented over 96 original productions for over 500,000 children and their families.

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