Feature: Local Favorite Nick Blaemire, Other Up-and-Coming Musical Theatre Composers Featured in Free Concert Series at Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage

As one of BroadwayWorld.Com's resident musical theatre nerds in the Washington, DC region, there's probably nothing more thrilling than to have an opportunity to listen to the works of some of the musical theatre composers that the world might not know - yet, that is. As part of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers' (ASCAP) Musical Theatre Week at the Kennedy Center, local audiences will have such an exciting opportunity. Even better, because the event is being held under the auspices of Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage, they can do so for free. If traveling to the Kennedy Center for the 6:00 PM performances on November 7, 8, 10, 11, and 12 isn't an option, interested audience members can watch the performances via live stream on the Kennedy Center website (the videos will also be available as archives).

Perhaps of most interest to Washington, DC theatregoers is the performance on November 7 featuring Nick Blaemire. This young, talented composer is probably best known to locals for writing the score for GLORY DAYS (local actor-turned Signature Theatre publicist James Gardiner wrote the book), which premiered at Signature Theatre in 2008 and then had a brief Broadway run. Subsequently, it's had more than 30 productions around the world. Those who frequent Signature Theatre also might recognize Blaemire as the creative mind behind last season's quirky pop rock musical, SOON. It was one of my favorite world premiere works last season.

Nick Blaemire is not the only writer that will be featured in the "Broadway Tomorrow" concert series, however. Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne will play the Kennedy Center the following evening on Sunday, November 8. This talented duo received the prestigious Jonathan Larson award in 2015 and has been featured at prestigious New York City cabaret/jazz venues like 54 Below and Birdland. The 54 Below concert sold out!

On November 10, Neil Bartram will perform. Neil is the composer/lyricist behind the charming short-lived 2009 Broadway musical THE STORY OF MY LIFE (Brian Hill wrote the book). I happened to catch this production during its very brief run and found the music to be a highlight. Although the musical has not yet been performed in the Washington, DC area, the Delaware Theatre Company in nearby Wilmington, Delaware, featured the musical in its 2013-2014 season. Regular patrons of Signature Theatre might recognize the name, however. Bartram wrote the score for SPIN, which premiered at Signature in the summer of 2013.

Also featured in this free concert series are performer-turned-writer Michael Mott on Wednesday, November 11, and Broadway performer Karen Mason on Thursday, November 12. Ms. Mason has previously performed in concert at the Kennedy Center.

For more information on this annual, exciting event, see the Kennedy Center's website: http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/upcoming. On the day of the performance, you can go to http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/live to watch the performance live on the web at 6:00 PM. After each event, the video will be available to watch in the archives (http://www.kennedy-center.org/video/recentBroadcasts).

Photos: Courtesy of the Kennedy Center Press Office

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