4th Annual Festival of New Musicals

STEVEN M. ALPER composed and orchestrated the score of The Immigrant, for which he received a Drama Desk nomination (cast recording on Ghostlight Records). Other musicals include Chamberlain: A Civil War Romance, which received a National Alliance of Musical Theatre Producers grant, was developed at the New Harmony Project, and premiered at Maine State Music Theatre; The Library, which received an NEA grant, was developed at the New Harmony Project, and was produced at Stamford Theatre Works; Rappaccini’s Daughter; C’est la vie; and The Audition (which premiered at Manhattan Class Company). He has composed for the theatre, film, commercials, and award-winning educational musicals (with Karen DeMauro). He is the author of Next! Auditioning for the Musical Theatre (Heinemann Books, reprinted by Girandole Books) and has worked in theatres around the country as conductor, music director, vocal arranger and orchestrator on numerous theatrical projects.

Michele Brourman is an award-winning singer/songwriter whose best-known song, ÄúMy Favorite YearÄù, has been recorded by Michael Feinstein, Margaret Whiting, Cleo Laine, and more. With lyricist Amanda McBroom, she’s written the songs for 18 animated features for Universal Studios, including the beloved ÄúLand Before TimeÄù series, writing for Reba McIntyre, Michael York, David Carradine, Jodi Benson, Olivia Newton-John, Donny Osmond, Corbin Bleu and a host of others. Her work has been featured in television and film and performed by countless cabaret artists, garnering numerous awards and critical acclaim. Brourman’s work for the theater includes the dance and incidental music for the original Broadway production of ÄúWorkingÄù, and the score for the musical ÄúDangerous BeautyÄù (with Amanda McBroom) produced at the Pasadena Playhouse. With Sheilah Rae, she’s created a series of short musicals, five of which have been finalists for the prestigious Heideman Award at the Actors’ Theater of Louisville.

ALBERT EVANS wrote the Off-Broadway hits Nite Club Confidential, The Texas Chainsaw Musical, Streakin’ thru the 70s and Pageant, (Time Magazine Ten Best). In addition to 2 off-Broadway productions, Pageant has been performed in London, Australia, and Japan. His lyrics are featured in a new performing edition of The Merry Widow, seen at NYC Opera and on PBS, Live from Lincoln Center.
Mr. Evans was Composer-in-Residence at New Jersey’s Paper Mill Playhouse where he wrote scores for Great Expectations, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, A Tale of Two Cities, and Mikado Inc. He is now Artistic Associate at The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, where he adapted the songs of George M. Cohan for Yankee Doodle Dandy, wrote Rosie the Riveter!, and co-created new musical arrangements for Paint Your Wagon.
Evans is the writer and host of The 5th Avenue’s Show Talks with Albert Evans, pre-show chats about all things theatrical.

JOHN FORSTER (lyrics) Singer/songwriter, playwright & humorist, John is a 4-time Grammy nominee whose musicals have played on Broadway and Off, in regional theaters and even in space (where his song ÄúThis Pretty PlanetÄù was used as the astronaut wake-up on John Glenn’s last mission). His orchestral ÄúA Christmas CarolÄù has been performed by the Louisville Orchestra and the New Haven Symphony, with Kathleen Turner as Scrooge. His songs have been recorded by Faith Hill, Rosanne Cash, Dave Van Ronk, Christine Lavin and many others. NPR’s ÄúMorning EditionÄù has featured many of his wicked satirical songs. His music-comedy albums include the brand new ÄúLocation, Location, Location,Äù ÄúEntering Marion,Äù ÄúHeliumÄù and ÄúBroadsides.Äù In cabaret John’s live act at the piano (ÄúToo Clever by 20%Äù) is a one-man comic tour de force; he is a MAC Award recipient as well as the 2022 Dottie Burman Award winner. For more info visit: www.johnforster.com

Paul James studied music theatre with Stephen Sondheim during his period as Visiting Professor at Oxford University. He has written book and lyrics for the musicals New Things to Feel Bad About (Winner of UK Quest for New Musicals; Finalist in 1992 NAMT Festival of New Musicals),The Demon Headmaster (based on the novel by Gillian Cross; Pleasance Theatre, UK No 1 Tour), Police Story (commissioned and premiered by Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts), and The Late Sleepers (commissioned by the National Youth Music Theatre; Newcastle Theatre Royal).

The Boy Who Fell Into A Book, based on the play by Alan Ayckbourn, premiered at the Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough in July 2014 in an acclaimed production directed by Alan Ayckbourn. A song from the show – ‘Kaboom Kapow’ – won the Stiles and Drewe Award for best new musical theatre song of the year.

SARAH KNAPP appeared on Broadway in The Scarlet Pimpernel. Among her Off-Broadway credits are Nunsense, Smoke on the Mountain, The ÄúNo- FrillsÄù Revue, Godspell, and Gifts of the Magi. She has appeared regionally in productions at The Alley Theatre (Houston), Asolo Theatre (Sarasota, FL), Cincinnati Playhouse, Coconut Grove Playhouse (Miami), North Shore Music Theatre (MA), Goodspeed Opera House and Seven Angels (CT), and many others, and toured Europe in Richard Foreman’s Africanis Instructus. She has appeared in several Law and Order and L&O:SVU episodes and numerous recordings. As bookwriter/lyricist she works with her husband, composer Steven M. Alper. Their produced musicals include The Library, Chamberlain: A Civil War Romance, and The ImmigrantÄîwhich garnered two Drama Desk nominations off- Broadway and has been produced across the United States and Canada. It is published by Samuel French and is available on Ghostlight Records.

Amanda McBroom’s name came to the attention of the public when Bette Midler’s version of Amanda’s song, “The Rose” hit number one on the charts. Her songs have been recorded by Barbara Cook, Manhattan Transfer, Judy Collins, Barry Manilow, and Reba McEntyre.
She received a Golden Globe, a Grammy nomination, the Johnny Mercer Songwriter of the Year Award, and the Mabel Mercer Lifetime Achievement Award.
She has written lyrics for 16 Universal Animation features, including the Land Before Time series. She was a featured lyricist for the TV classic series, Cop Rock.
She has written two musicals, Heartbeats, and A Woman of Will, and is lyricist for Dangerous Beauty, which had its world premiere at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Her 9th CD of original songs, “Voices,” has just been released on her label, Gecko Records and went to #1 on Amazon.com in its first week.

Gerald Sternbach (Music – Dawid Rubinowicz, Orchestrations) has earned thirteen Ovation nominations and seven LADCC nominations. In 2015, he made his London debut Äì One Night Only with Mel Brooks, also performed in LA at the Geffen Playhouse Äì filmed for HBO. Also at the Geffen Äì Carrie Fisher’s one-woman show, Wishful Drinking. Other Southern California credits: LA Philharmonic debut (Hollywood Bowl 2005), pianist for Sondheim’s 75th Birthday Concert, conducting 20 shows for REPRISE, Grey Gardens, (associate conductor-LA premiere), Sondheim on Sondheim (Southern California premiere). , an ASCAP event honoring Stephen Schwartz at the Wallis Annenberg, featuring Idina Menzel, Megan Hilty, and Andrea Martin. As a composer: Heartbeats (with Amanda McBroom), Club Mom and A Very Cherry Christmas (with Elin Hampton) and Biting Broadway! (with Jordan Beck). Gerald is proud to be associated with this project honoring his Jewish heritage, roots stemming from Russia, Germany and Austria before WWI.

THOMAS TIERNEY (music) composed ELEANOR – An American Love Story at Ford’s Theatre and many other U.S. theaters (as well as NAMT Festival) – and NARNIA (London and New York) based on ÄúThe Lion, the Witch and the WardrobeÄù (over 1500 productions worldwide). Other musicals: The Year of Living Dangerously (54 Below in NYC), Jungle Queen Debutante (NAMT Festival and Seattle’s Village Theatre), Off-Broadway’s Pets!, Tommy Tune’s one-man Ichabod (Boston Rep and Town Hall’s Interlude Series in New York), Diamond and the North Wind (several new works festivals including TRU at New York’s Player’s Theater and Village Theatre Originals, Seattle) and ZACK HILL and the Rocket Blaster Man Adventure (Winter Park Playhouse Festival of New Musicals in Florida). Also: AT&T’s theme song for Disney’s EPCOT Center, NBC’s Unicorn Tales, and 6 musicals for TheaterWorks/USA. Tom has performed his own music at NY’s Lincoln Center and at the White House. www.thomastierney.com