San Diego Musical Theatre Announces Development of Two Site-Specific New Works

In addition to planning an Off-Broadway series at the Horton Grand Theatre, SDMT is cultivating two, site-specific works; LAST NIGHT IN TOWN - a new musical based on the discography of Ben Folds, and HALL PASS - an immersive musical set and performed in a high school. Both musicals were featured in New York University's Forum on Site-Specific Performance in 2015. LAST NIGHT IN TOWN has another San Diego connection: one of the show's creators, Amy Cordileone, grew up in San Diego and worked locally for many years before moving to New York City.

The projects are collaborations with Blake McCarty, founder of Blindspot Collective, a new arts organization established to develop socially responsive new work and provide unique educational opportunities to local communities. McCarty has quickly become a force in the San Diego theatre scene since arriving from New York two years ago, designing projections for Cygnet, Ion, Lamb's Players, and New Village Arts, as well as serving as a teaching artist for La Jolla Playhouse and The Old Globe. Until now, San Diego has not experienced his work as a director or producer, which Time Out New York applauded as "the next level of immersive theatre."

"Expanding programming can be challenging when you do not have a permanent, year-round space, so early in 2016 we began exploring site-specific musicals designed to take place outside of a traditional theatre setting" states SDMT Executive Director, Colleen Kollar Smith. "Knowing that Blake was new to San Diego and carries with him experience and success with immersive theatre, we started a conversation and found that these two projects fit directly within SDMT's mission and vision."

LAST NIGHT IN TOWN is set and performed in an operating bar, with the actors in and around the audience, creating a dynamic, 360-degree experience. Featuring selections from more than fifty of Ben Folds' most beloved songs, the show weaves an intimate story of beer-soaked redemption and romance. Director Amy Cordileone noted, "It's a chance to come home again, reconnecting in new and exciting ways with the community that played a pivotal role in igniting my love for theatre." Workshop presentations will be held at Common Theory Public House on Monday, July 25th at 9pm and Tuesday, July 26th at 4pm.

HALL PASS will be presented at Westview High School during the 2016-2017 school year thanks to an Artist in Schools Grant from the California Arts Council. The piece was commissioned by New York University and features 25 short plays and musical developed exclusively for the project - including works by notable emerging writers and composers including Elizabeth Irwin (last season's My Mañana Comes at the Rep) and Aurin Squire (Obama-ology currently playing Skylight Theatre in Los Angeles). With support from CAC, McCarty and SDMT will commission three new, short musicals by local writers to be included in next year's production at Westview.

The Artists in Schools program supports projects that integrate community arts resources-artists and professional art organizations-into comprehensive, standards-based arts learning projects for California's students. Next year, the California Arts Council's Artist in Schools program will allow 144 arts organizations to hire 580 teaching artists that will serve a total of more than 43,000 students in 323 schools across California. News of San Diego Musical Theatre's grant was featured as part of a larger announcement from the California Arts Council, which can be viewed online at http://arts.ca.gov/news/pressreleases.php.

SDMT also received additional funding from the California Arts Council to work with local PR/Marketing professional Toni Robin and TR/PR. These robust new programs and opportunities uniquely position the organization as a model of innovation in the San Diego community.

LAST NIGHT IN TOWN

Featuring music & lyrics from the albums of Ben Folds, Ben Folds & Nick Hornby, and Ben Folds Five

Workshop Presentation Dates:
Monday, July 25th at 9PM
Tuesday, July 26th at 4PM

Location: Common Theory Public House
4805 Convoy St, San Diego, CA 92111

LAST NIGHT IN TOWN uses the music of Ben Folds to reveal Walker's journey toward self-acceptance and self-discovery, encouraging everyone to "learn to live with what you are" and risk it all for those we love. Part concert, part parable, and part drinking game -- the show includes mature themes and adult language just like any other night spent at your favorite dive bar.

Created by Amy Cordileone, Donnie Tuel, and Rachel Tuggle Whorton
Orchestrations by Rachel Tuggle Whorton
Directed by Amy Cordileone
Music Direction by Jon Lorenz
Produced by Blake McCarty

Featuring Bryan Barbarin, Michael Cusimano, Manny Fernandes, Charlie Gange, Nadia Guevara, Lauren King Thompson, Katie Porter, Rachel Tuggle Whorton, Wendy Waddell, and Zackary Wolfe

HALL PASS

Performance Dates TBA

Location: Westview High School

13500 Camino Del Sur, San Diego, CA 92129

HALL PASS offers audiences an unusual perspective on the trials, tribulations, and joys of life as a teenager in 2016. Multiple plays occur simultaneously, allowing Audience members to choose their own adventure -- making decisions about who to watch and which characters to follow.

Featuring new works by Elle Anhorn; Trevor Bachman; Willa Bassen & Nick Robertson; Chad Beckim; John Blaylock, Jonathan Fadner, & Marella Martin; Matthew Cleaver; David Dabbon & Gabriel Jason Dean; Melissa Gawlowski; Stephen Gregg; Elizabeth Irwin; Katherine James; Emily Kaczmarek; Natalie Lovejoy; Jonathan Mastro; Blake McCarty & Zoe Sarnak; Penny Middleton; Mary Kathryn Nagle; Gregg Parratto & Jamie Roach; Vickie Ramirez; Joe Salvatore; Aurin Squire; Jennie Webb; Stephen Webb

The mission of San Diego Musical Theatre is to passionately produce and promote musical theatre that ignites the human spirit. Founded in 2006 by Erin and Gary Lewis, SDMT annually produces a series of Broadway musicals at the Historic Spreckels Theatre in downtown San Diego. In its upcoming season, SDMT will offer an Off-Broadway series of productions at the Horton Grand Theatre, also in downtown San Diego. www.sdmt.org

Blindspot Collective is committed to new work, new audiences, and new perspectives. The company is established to engage underserved or underrepresented voices and audiences - be it kids and families, female playwrights, communities of color, or other marginalized voices. Founding Artistic Director Blake McCarty brings his extensive experience as a director and designer to the organization, as well as ongoing work with senior citizens, children with special needs, and incarcerated youth.

The mission of the California Arts Council, a state agency, is to advance California through the arts and creativity. The Council is committed to building public will and resources for the arts; fostering accessible arts initiatives that reflect contributions from all of California's diverse populations; serving as a thought leader and champion for the arts; and providing effective and relevant programs and services. Learn more at www.arts.ca.gov.

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