Aria Entertainment Launches Kickstarter for From Page To Stage Fesitval

From Page To Stage is a season of new musical theatre dedicated to the showcasing of work in development to an audience, to garner feedback and create new opportunities for the artistes involved. Which will take place from 10th February until 9th March 2014 for a dedicated four-week period.

The 2014 season was selected from an open application process which saw 120 musicals submitted, and presents a mixed programme of work at various stages of development from rehearsed readings to fully staged productions, as well as a selection of platform and scratch events aimed at inspiring discussion about the future of musical theatre on a local, national and international level. Following the success of last year's inaugural festival, From Page To Stage has also been awarded an Arts Council grant to support the 2014 programme of work.

Producer Katy Lipson of Aria Entertainment is now seeking help from the public to help secure the final £2500 needed to make the festival even bigger and better and to help realise its massive potential.

"We are thrilled to have secured a Grant For The Arts in support of the work we are doing. From Page To Stage which serves as a platform for new writing and supports not only the writers but our audiences too. We hope the season will establish a strong vehicle for the development of new musicals here in the UK and help secure partners for the future of some of the works included. We are now seeking the help from our audiences in securing the future of new musical theatre writing and hope that the public may be able to donate a small amount of money to help raise the final £2500 we need to make this year's season even bigger and better"

The Kickstarter campaign launched over Christmas and ends on Monday 3rd February 2014, people can donate as little or as much as they like with various perks including free tickets for the season available if people pledge a certain amount of money. People can visit : http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578235309/support-the-from-page-to-season-of-new-musical-the to pledge.

Headlining Page To Stage will be two fully produced musicals one from the UK: Before the Night is Through by Olivia Thompson and Chris Whitehead (15th - 23rd Feb) and one from the US: The Mistress Cycle by Beth Blatt and Jenny Giering (4th - 9th March).

Three musicals will be showcased with rehearsed readings; Merman's Apprentice (11th - 12th Feb) by Stephen Cole and David Evans. Claus the Musical (14th - 15th Feb) by Simon Warne and Andy Collyer and The Return of the Soldier (28th Feb - 1st March) by Tim Sanders and Charles Miller.

A repertory company will give three 30 minute showcases of three musicals currently in development (25th - 27th Feb) Van Winkle by Caroline Wigmore with arrangements by Jennifer Green, Dancing Shadows Book by Ariel Dorfman with Music and Lyrics by Eric Woolfson (inspired by the Korean folk Play Forest Fire by Bum Suk Cha) and Beowulf in Soho by Nicola Jane Buttigieg.

The season will open on 10th February with a celebration of new musical theatre writing hosted by composer Tamar Broadbent which will see invited composers asked to perform their material alongside some special guest performers. From Page To Stage will also see a 40 minute preview screening of Big Society the Musical (13th February) alongside a special Q&A event especially for the festival.

Campaign: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1578235309/support-the-from-page-to-season-of-new-musical-the

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