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Overview

September 22 - 23

New World Stages 340 W 50th Street, New York, NY

Musicals

Great Expectations

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

Charles Dickens’ novel of Pip, Miss Haversham, Estella, and Magwitch brought to musical life: Pip’s education from boyhood to a man of class, and his unending love for Estella.

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Cowboy Waltz (fka Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief)

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

We knew him as Red Rock Brody, the ultimate TV Cowboy Hero. He rode out of the Old West and into your living room in 1951, and for thirteen years, youngsters in America spent every Saturday morning with him. Flash forward thirty years to join the now aging actor who originated the role of the Cowboy Hero, and a lawyer in mid-life, who grew up watching him on TV.

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I Sent A Letter To My Love

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

This is a chamber musical about a middle-aged sister and her physically disabled brother living in a small town in the fifties and what happens when they surprise each other and themselves with new possibilities.

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One Red Flower: Letters From 'Nam

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

A world premiere production sharing the stories of 6 U.S. soldiers during the Vietnam war as told through a series of letters to their wives, mothers, girlfriends. Based on actual letters provided by the New York Vietnam Veterans Memorial Commission, this is a poignant look at the trials, fears, hardships, and longing for home these men felt. It is a tribute to all veterans and their families.

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Making Tracks

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

A young Asian-American rock musician sets the beat in this innovative and colorful new musical. Audiences will journey with him through his family’s six-generation struggle to find their voice in America. A distinctly modern, mesmerizing musical tale of triumph and tragedy.

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The Mystery Of The Dancing Princesses

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

When a young wanderer named Caleb stumbles upon a desolate kingdom, he discovers that a devastating mystery is plaguing the king and his six daughters. With the help of Fulvio, an Italian prince-turned fox, Caleb sets out to solve the mystery and win the hand of a princess.

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Fabulous Fitches, The (fka Palm Beach)

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

The Fabulous Fitches is an American musical fable set in the screwball world of 1930’s. Liz, a biracial showgirl desperate for financial security, has passed herself off as a Brazilian coffee heiress in order to wed into the wealthy Fitch family — only to find that her ex-husband, Max, is posing as one of the Fitch family servants so that he can write a socialist exposé on the excesses of the upper class. Will Liz and Max be able to keep one another’s secret — especially when they’re still in love with each other? Will Liz’s handsome new fiancé, Lance, be able to keep certain secrets of his own now that he plans to marry? And how will all of this effect the Fitch family’s place at the pinnacles of industry, politics and society? The Fabulous Fitches is a brash musical comedy that asks how far people are willing to go to make sure they have a place at the American table. The book for The Fabulous Fitches is entirely original and is not an adaptation of any other work, film, or play.

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The Screams Of Kitty Genovese

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

A 12-person, single-set music drama, The Screams of Kitty Genovese is based on the true story of Kitty Genovese, who was stabbed to death outside her home in Kew Gardens, Queens on Friday, March 13, 1964. Using a sung-through score blending various musical styles, Kitty Genovese examines the plight of the victim as she screamed for more than a half-hour, as well as the plights of the 38 neighbors who watched from their windows and did nothing.

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Ug

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

Ug is a caveman who invents something he calls a “play” one night after dinner. When Ug and his fellow cave dwellers decided to show the play to a rival tribe, tensions run high as soon as they begin rehearsals.

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When The Rains Come

Genre & Style:

Synopsis

When the Rains Come is an epic musical of shamanism, love, and betrayal set in pre-and post- apartheid South Africa. This story reveals how, out of the darkness and fear of oppression, the light of love and the force of destiny can bring hope and a vision of a world where there is “plenty for all.”

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Writers & Artists

Paris Barclay

Book & Lyrics & Music, One Red Flower: Letters From 'Nam

David Bell

Book, Cowboy Waltz (fka Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief)

His work in Chicago Theatre, where he is associated with the Marriott Theatre (over 30 Productions) and the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (The Three Musketeers, Taming of the Shrew, As You Like It, The Comedy of  Errors), has earned him 35 Joseph Jefferson Award nominations (winning the coveted award 10 times) and 2 After Dark Awards. David served as the Artistic Director of Historic Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C., and Associate Artistic Director of Atlanta’s Alliance Theatre. David’s work has earned him 4 Carbonall nominations (Florida), a Dramalogue Award (L.A), 5 AJC Awards (Atlanta), an Atlanta Circle of Dramatic Critics Award, a Laurence Olivier Nomination (London), 2 National Endowment Awards, 3 Helen Hayes nominations (winning 1), (Washington D.C.), The Mac and Bistro Awards (NYC), and several National and International writing awards for creating Hot Mikado. He has worked On Broadway, Off Broadway, London, Paris, Berlin, Carnegie Hall, National and International tours, The Kennedy Center, Long Wharf Theatre, and, done the Atlanta sequence of the closing ceremonies of the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.  David is currently a professor of Music Theatre at Northwestern University.

Craig Carnelia

Lyrics & Music, Cowboy Waltz (fka Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief)

Robert Cary

Book & Lyrics, Fabulous Fitches, The (fka Palm Beach)

ROBERT CARY is the co-writer of GREASE LIVE and A CHRISTMAS STORY LIVE for Fox Television, the co-author of the book for SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL on Broadway, and contributed book revisions for the 2015 revival of ON THE TOWN on Broadway; he is also the co-writer and co-lyricist of FLASHDANCE (West End, US National Tour, multiple international productions) and is the lyricist and co-writer of PALM BEACH (NAMT 2001, La Jolla Playhouse). Other work includes THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND JUNE with Des McAnuff, HEARTBREAKERS (NAMT 2010), and A CONCERT FOR UKRAINE and GET HAPPY, both at Carnegie Hall. He is the director of the feature films IRA AND ABBY, SAVE ME, and ANYTHING BUT LOVE.

David Feinsein

Book, When The Rains Come

David Feinstein, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist and a pioneer in developing innovative therapeutic approaches, leading to nine national awards for his books on consciousness, mythology, and energy healing. He has served on the faculties of The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Antioch College. He is a recipient of the Marquis Who‚’s Who Lifetime Achievement Award and the U.S.A. Book News Best Psychology/Mental Health Book Award of 2007 (for Personal Mythology). He and his wife, Donna Eden, have built the world’s largest and most vibrant organization teaching energy medicine. Their latest book, The Energies of Love, achieved best-seller status on the NY Times Relationship List. To learn more, visit www.EnergyPsychEd.com.

Benjamin Feldman

Book, Fabulous Fitches, The (fka Palm Beach)

Benjamin Feldman wrote Danny and Faye (produced w/Tovah Feldshuh), and co-wrote NAMT Festival 2001 show Palm Beach.  Also an Entertainment Attorney — clients from Rabbit Hole (upcoming, w/Nicole Kidman) to Memphis (B’way, winner Best Musical Tony Award), Ars Nova, and many theaters, producers and artists in television, theater and film.    Published in the CTI Guide to Producing.  Producer credits:  Mae West’s Sex, Trouble in Paradise and The Stand In on stage; Film: The Cutting Room, Another Gay Movie, Another Gay Sequel and The Understudy.  Yale grad.  Boards: The Hourglass Group, the Chase Brock Experience.

Jim Geoghan

Book & Lyrics, Ug

David Gursky

Music, Fabulous Fitches, The (fka Palm Beach)

DAVID GURSKY is a New York City-based theater composer and conductor. He is the composer of PALM BEACH (co-written with Robert Cary and Benjamin Feldman), which had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse in June 2005, directed by Des McAnuff. He also composed the musical stage adaptations of the MGM films HEARTBREAKERS and THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, both commissioned by MGM On Stage. HEARTBREAKERS was presented at the NAMT Festival in 2010, directed by Christopher Ashley. Current composing projects include the new “wellness” musical BRAND NEW YOU and TRICK! THE MUSICAL, based on the 1999 romantic comedy film. David was the Music Director for the recent Broadway production of DAMES AT SEA, and has also conducted the Broadway productions of THE NANCE, THE PRODUCERS, ANYTHING GOES, FINIAN’S RAINBOW, WHITE CHRISTMAS, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN AND JANE EYRE. His other NYC credits include the 2022 Broadway revival of INTO THE WOODS, DAME EDNA: THE ROYAL TOUR, FOREVER PLAID, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, and over twenty Encores! productions at New York City Center. On national tour, David conducted THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE PRODUCERS, and BIG. For television, he conducted THE WONDER PETS, and for several years was the principal pianist in the KENNEDY CENTER HONORS Orchestra on CBS. David holds a B.A. in Music from Yale College.

Edward Henderson

Music, When The Rains Come

Ed Henderson has composed scores for CBC, CTV, Bravo, Knowledge, Vision Networks and others; Theatrical scores for The Stratford Festival, Tarragon Theater, Arts Club Theatre and others; commissions for Vancouver Chamber Choir, Elektra Women’s Choir, The Dance Centre, Canadian Music Centre, Vancouver Inter-Cultural Orchestra, musica intima, Hamilton Symphony, Tapestry Music Theatre and others. He has collaborated with Ann Mortifee on several large theatrical works (When the Rains Come, Into the Heart of the Sangoma, The Mysteries).
Ed works extensively in the music community across Canada and performs with Chilliwack, Diane Tell, Tangissimo, Ann Mortifee, Vancouver Symphony and many others.
His choral works are widely recorded, presented and published by Schirmer/Hal Leonard, Cypress, earthsongs, Santa Barbara and self-publishing.
Ed has recorded three original solo guitar CDs: Intimate, guitarwall and Winter Child and was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, along with the other members of Chilliwack.

John Jakes

Book & Lyrics, Great Expectations

Melissa Manchester

Music, I Sent A Letter To My Love

Mel Marvin

Music, Great Expectations

Ann Mortifee

Book & Lyrics & Music, When The Rains Come

Ann Mortifee is known by many to be a truly Renaissance woman: a unique and passionate performing artist, composer and librettist, narrator, workshop facilitator, author, and keynote speaker. Her albums, books, one woman shows, musicals, ballets and her deep work with people have won her, among many awards, the prestigious Order of Canada and YMCA Woman of Distinction Award. She has been Chair of the BC Arts Council, travelled the world, worked with the dying, dined with the Queen, spent time with the head Sangoma of the Zulu Nation, worked in Calcutta with Mother Teresa, and co-founded The Trust for Sustainable Forestry, a model for conservation and Ecosystem Based forestry and The Somerset Foundation, with her brother, Peter, to support social innovation and well-being.

Woody Pak

Music, Making Tracks

Rick Rhodes

Lyrics & Music, Ug

Vivian Rhodes

Lyrics, Ug

David Simpatico

Book & Lyrics, The Screams Of Kitty Genovese

DAVID SIMPATICO is a playwright, librettist and performance artist whose work has been presented at major theatres around the globe, including London’s Hammersmith Apollo, Williamstown Theatre Festival, and the New York Shakespeare Festival. Career highlights include: the stage adaptation of High School Musical (Disney Theatricals); the full length opera, The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing (Justine Chen, composer; commissioned by American Lyric Theatre); the sung-thru music drama, The Screams of Kitty Genovese (Will Todd, composer; Edinburgh Fringe Festival); and the libretto for Pulitzer Prize-winner Aaron J. Kernis’ Garden Of Light (NY Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall, conducted by Kurt Masur). David earned his MFA in Creative Writing from the MountainView Writers at SNHU. His thesis project, Wilde About Whitman, was chosen for publication by the Idaho Review. David is an alumnus of the Composer Librettist Development Program at American Lyric Theater, and a graduate of Northwestern University.

Jeffrey Sweet

Book & Lyrics, I Sent A Letter To My Love

Will Todd

Music, The Screams Of Kitty Genovese

Will Todd’s theatre works include The Screams of Kitty Genovese, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Migrations for Welsh National Opera and The Blackened Man, a prizewinner in the International Verdi Opera Competition. Will has had a fruitful collaboration with the award-winning chamber choir Tenebrae with whom he has made the two highly acclaimed albums The Call of Wisdom and Lux et Veritas; the latter was voted one of the top 20 albums of 2014 by Classic FM. Will’s love of choral music is reflected in a large output including masses, anthems and larger sacred concert works including Mass in Blue, which has been performed hundreds of times around the world since its 2003 premiere. His carol My Lord Has Come has become a worldwide favorite since it was included in Oxford University Press’s Carols for Choirs Five in 2012.

Michael Weiner

Book & Lyrics & Music, The Mystery Of The Dancing Princesses

Michael Weiner & Alan Zachary wrote songs for Broadway’s First Date, which ran at the Longacre Theatre after a sold-out run at Seattle’s 5th Avenue/ACT Theatres. The show can now be seen in productions across the U.S. and around the world. Recently, Zachary and Weiner penned songs for the acclaimed musical episode of Once Upon a Time on ABC. The team wrote the score for a musical adaptation of the film Secondhand Lions (book by Rupert Holmes) which premiered at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Upcoming musical projects include: 17 Again directed by Adam Shankman and 13 Going on 30 directed by Andy Fickman. For Universal Studios, the duo wrote songs with J.K. Rowling for Celestina Warbeck & the Banshees playing at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Currently, Zachary and Weiner are developing a TV series with Universal Television starring Kristin Chenoweth and have created shows for ABC, FOX, Disney Channel, Disney Animation and Disney Parks around the globe. Zachary and Weiner are recipients of the ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award. www.zacharyandweiner.com

Welly Yang

Book, Making Tracks

Brian Yorkey

Book & Lyrics, Making Tracks

Alan Zachary

Book & Lyrics & Music, The Mystery Of The Dancing Princesses

Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner wrote songs for Broadway’s First Date, which ran at the Longacre Theatre after a sold-out run at Seattle’s 5th Avenue/ACT Theatres. The show can now be seen in productions across the U.S. and around the world. Recently, Zachary and Weiner penned songs for the acclaimed musical episode of Once Upon a Time on ABC. The team wrote the score for a musical adaptation of the film Secondhand Lions (book by Rupert Holmes) which premiered at the 5th Avenue Theatre. Upcoming musical projects include: 17 Again directed by Adam Shankman and 13 Going on 30 directed by Andy Fickman. For Universal Studios, the duo wrote songs with J.K. Rowling for Celestina Warbeck & the Banshees playing at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Currently, Zachary and Weiner are developing a TV series with Universal Television starring Kristin Chenoweth and have created shows for ABC, FOX, Disney Channel, Disney Animation and Disney Parks around the globe. Zachary and Weiner are recipients of the ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award. www.zacharyandweiner.com

This page was last updated on 07/18/2018. Some musical and writer information may be more recent.