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, “My Favorite Year”, 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 “Land Before Time” 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 “Working”, and the score for the musical “Dangerous Beauty” (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.

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 “No- Frills” 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 Immigrant—which 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.

Onstage pianist for Mel Brooks: One Night Only, in London, and in LA (Geffen playhouse filmed for HBO), and Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking. In 2005, LA Philharmonic debut at the Hollywood Bowl for S.Sondheim’s 75th Birthday. MD for 20 shows for REPRISE, and many benefits, including one for ASCAP at the Wallis Annenberg, honoring Stephen Schwartz. On Broadway–Gerald was associate conductor for SEVEN BRIDES FOR SEVEN BROTHERS, MERLIN and THE TAP DANCE KID. LA Companies and premieres–LES MISERABLES, SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM and GREY GARDENS; conducted the National tour SONG AND DANCE . Ongoing pianist –An Evening with Groucho (w/Frank Ferrante.) He has contributed music to HEARTBEATS, WITNESSES, BITING BROADWAY and CLUB MOM ( the latter with Elin Hampton). His song “Mary” honoring Mary Tyler Moore–was performed by Eric McCormack on the 2004 TVLand awards.
Jerry presently works at a highly diverse middle school magnet-CSArts, San Gabriel Valley.

Thomas Tierney (Music, Co-Lyrics) composed ELEANOR – An American Love Story at Ford’s Theatre in Washington and many other U.S. theatres – and NARNIA, based on The Lion, the Witch & the Wardrobe (London and New York) plus more than 1000 productions worldwide. Other shows: Jungle Queen Debutante (New York’s NAMT Festival), Off-Broadway’s Pets!, ZACK HILL and the Rocket Blaster Man Adventure; The Dream Team at Goodspeed Opera, Tommy Tune’s one-man show Ichabod – and recently The Year of Living Dangerously at Manhattan’s 54 Below. Also: six shows for TheatreWorks/USA including The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (toured nationally for 25 years); and AT&T’s theme for Disney’s EPCOT Center. He has performed his own music at Lincoln Center and at the White House, and has won numerous ASCAP awards.