19th Annual Festival of New Musicals
2007

Overview
October 7 - 8
New World Stages 340 W 50th Street, New York, NY
The 19th Annual Festival of New Musicals was held in New York City at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th Street on Sunday, October 7 and Monday, October 8, 2007 for an invited audience of NAMT members and musical theatre producers.
Festival ProgramMusicals
The Break Up Notebook: A Lesbian Musical
Director
Victoria Bussert
Music Director
David Manning
Cast
Hunter Bell, Jodi Dominick, Donna English, Ann Harada, Christine Lakin, Beth Malone, Jacqueline Maloney and Kelly Sullivan
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical examines a year in the life of the recently dumped Helen Hill. With her family of friends by her side she encounters: two-stepping twelve-steppers, Paxil popping lawyers, dental dams, grrrl bands, hot girl on girl action, and maybe…just maybe… the girl of her dreams. The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical features a book by television and screenwriter Patricia Cotter and music and lyrics by LA composer, Lori Scarlett.
Casey At The Bat
Director
Marilyn Magness
Music Director
David Shenton
Cast
Scott Barnhardt, Rachel Coloff, Holly Davis, Sarah Jane Everman, Matt Gumley, John Jellison, Eric Leviton, Adam Monley, Patrick Richwood, Robb Sapp, Sarah Solie, Will Swenson and Tommar Wilson
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
Based on the classic poem, and the book â€Casey On The Loose” by acclaimed sportswriter Frank Deford, Casey comes to bat for Mudville, U.S.A. in a big-hearted, small-town tale of humor, love, greed and the competitive spirit to learn that he can be a hero even when he strikes out. Bookwriter and lyricst Tom Child is a freelance writer of theatre, tv and film and has written dozens of tunes, and composer Gordon Goodwin is a Grammy and Emmy Award winning musician for his work on animation series and movie, “The Incredibles†and is leader of the big band Big Phat Band.
The Chocolate Tree
Cady Huffman
Director
Igor Goldin
Music Director
Ben Cohn
Cast
Brian D'Addario, Danielle Freid, Curtis Holbrook, Felicia Ricci, Christopher Sieber, Jason Michael Snow, Marlayna Syms and Richard True
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
A remarkable young girl stricken with a grave illness uses her rich fantasy world and indomitable spirit to bring the impossible to life, which takes her family and the audience on a powerful, transforming journey. The Chocolate Tree is written by the team Marshall Pailet and A.D. Penedo (Loch Ness and Where It’s At – ASCAP, New York International Fringe Festival).
FINISHING ARTHUR (fka Writing Arthur)
Music Director
Brian Nash
Cast
Courtney Balan, Jason Dula, Ana Gasteyer, Malcolm Gets, Michele Gray, Colin Hanlon, Heather Hawkins, Victor Hawks, Henry Hodges, Kevin Kern, Cassady Leonard, Sean McCourt, Michael Mendiola, Pamela Myers, Kelli O'Hara, Kate Pazakis, Sascha Peralta-Ramos, Halle Petro, Liz Power, Caesar Samayoa, Charly Seamon, Brian Sears, Tim Shew and Tom Stuart
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
Arthur Danby has finally found the perfect woman. Problem is, she’s a fictional character in his novel. When a very real woman steps into his life, his worlds collide. Will Arthur fall deeper into the world he’s created or allow life to write itself? Writing Arthur creator David A. Austin is a proud member of the BMI workshop, and has written book, music and lyrics for over twenty musicals. Mr. Austin has been commissioned by NAMT Members the Fifth Avenue Theatre and the Village Theatre, and received a commendation from the Antoine D’Exupery Foundation for his adaptation of The Little Prince.
The Gypsy King
Director
Marc Robin
Music Director
Craig Barna
Cast
Sebastian Arcelus, Megan Arnoldy, Michael Daly, Mark Fisher, Kathy Fitzgerald, Stephanie Iannarino, Paul Kandel, Geoffrey Lind, Lea Michele, Christine Mild, John O'Creagh, Ed Romanoff, Nathan Scherich, Nathaniel Shaw and Max Von Essen
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
Two penniless entertainers stumble into a small town and land smack dab in the middle of a plot to assassinate the King. When it’s discovered that one of them looks exactly like the doomed monarch, things get sticky. The Gypsy King is a collaboration between award winning film and television writer and composer Randy Rogel and actor, director, choreographer and film writer Kirby Ward.
Kingdom
Director
Jose Zayas
Cast
Marisa Echeverria, Ruth Pagan, Gerardo Rodriguez, Jon Rua, Renoly Santiago, Will Sierra, Renaldy Smith and Robin de Jesus
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
Inspired by the true stories of current and former Latin Kings, Kingdom chronicles the journey of two kids from the barrio who join the Kings in search of power and respect. When tragedy strikes, a power struggle tears the two friends apart – with devastating results. Kingdom composer Ian Williams is a NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writer, and book writer/lyricist Aaron Jafferis is known for his hip-hop poetry and plays.
The Story Of My Life
Director
Richard Maltby, Jr.
Cast
Will Chase and Jeffrey Kuhn
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
The Story of My Life is a two-character musical about Thomas, a writer, and Alvin – lifelong friends, until life sent them in different directions. When suddenly faced with the task of writing Alvin’s eulogy, Thomas digs through the cluttered collection of stories in his mind – with Alvin as his guide – to find a way to celebrate his friend’s life and understand his untimely death. Composer and lyricist Neil Bartram is a recipient of a Dramatists Guild Jonathan Larson Fellowship and a 2005 Jonathan Larson Foundation Award, and book writer Brian Hill is currently the Associate Director for the Broadway-bound The Little Mermaid.
Tinyard Hill
Director
Casey Hushion
Music Director
Gillian Berkowitz
Cast
Colin Donnell, Heather Ferguson, Michael Lanning and Sally Mayes
Genre & Style:
Synopsis
In South Georgia, 1964, a blacksmith and his son are desperate to keep the family’s two-hundred year old shop from becoming another “pioneer†tourist joke. But as the Vietnam Conflict escalates and a summer romance blossoms, the world grows too large to ignore in this moving story about big love and small-town dreams. Tinyard Hill has a score by published theatre and film composer Mark Allen (2005 ASCAP Max Dreyfus Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre Writing) and book and lyrics by Thomas M. Newman (O’Neill Center Theatre Fellow and NYU Musical Theatre Graduate Program Writer).
Songwriters Showcase
BEAUTIFUL CRIMINALS by AnnMarie Milazzo and Leigh Silverman
THE BLONDE STREAK by Dan Lipton and David Rossmer
BROTHER WOLF by Preston Lane and Laurelyn Dossett
EMILY by Richard Ouzounian and Marek Norman
HOW CAN YOU RUN WITH A SHELL ON YOUR BACK? By Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler
LUCKY LINDY by Barry Harman and Keith Herrmann
SAINT HEAVEN by Martin Casella, Keith Gordon and Steve Lyons
SECONDHAND LIONS by Rupert Holmes, Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner
Writers & Artists
Mark Allen
Music, Tinyard Hill
Mark Allen is winner of a 2009 Jonathan Larson Award. He has been a published songwriter and musician since he was ten. A studio vocalist and an award-winning actor, director and film composer, Mark has been a part of theatre his whole life. Mark is a graduate of Samford University and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program, where he was the winner of the 2005 ASCAP Max Dreyfus Award for Excellence in Musical Theatre Writing. Mark wrote Tinyard Hill, (NAMT Festival 2007)with Tommy Newman. He can be found on the web at www.markallenmusic.com.
Neil Bartram
Lyrics & Music, The Story Of My Life
Neil Bartram (Composer and Lyricist) BROADWAY: The Story of My Life (Drama Desk Award nominations for outstanding music, lyrics, and new musical). REGIONAL: Signature Theatre: Spin; Chicago Shakespeare Theater: The Adventures of Pinocchio; Goodspeed Musicals: The Theory of Relativity, The Story of My Life, Not Wanted on the Voyage; AMTP: Not Wanted on the Voyage; CMTP: The Theory of Relativity; The Stratford Festival: Not Wanted on the Voyage, Clara’s Piano; Canadian Stage: The Story of My Life. UPCOMING: Something Wicked This Way Comes, Bedknobs and Broomsticks. AWARDS: Jonathan Larson Award, Dora Award, Dramatists Guild Fellowship. OTHER: Dramatists Guild and ASCAP member, alumnus of the BMI Lehman Engel Music Theatre Workshop. Published by Warner/Chappell.
Patricia Cotter
Book, The Break Up Notebook: A Lesbian Musical
Patricia Cotter: Plays: Rules of Comedy The Humana Festival of New American Plays, Humana Tens 2015; The Break Up Notebook (A GLAAD Award nominee); Three; Best/Worst; (Apartment A Theatre Company, Venice, CA.) Musicals (librettist/adaptations) include: Rocket Science: A Musical, Richard Rodgers Development Award 2010. Readings: Playwrights Horizons (directed by Kathleen Marshall). Productions: The Village Theatre, Seattle, WA The Break Up Notebook: A Musical, (based on her play) Readings: The Vineyard Theatre, NYC. Productions: Hudson Theater, LA; Diversionary Theater, San Diego; The Beck Center, Cleveland, Asbury Park, NJ, and Pandora Theatre, Louisville; Mulan, Jr. based on the Disney film, Mulan. Patricia ‘s new musical Ladykillers was developed at the Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. Patricia is an Emmy Award-winning, Groundling Theatre Alum.
Brian Hill
Book, The Story Of My Life
Brian Hill (Book Writer) BROADWAY: The Story of My Life (Drama Desk Award nominations for outstanding book and new musical), The Little Mermaid (associate director), The Lion King (resident director). REGIONAL: Goodman Theatre: Brigadoon (new book); Signature Theatre: Spin; Chicago Shakespeare Theater: The Adventures of Pinocchio; Goodspeed Musicals: The Theory of Relativity, The Story of My Life, Not Wanted on the Voyage, Come From Away (director); CMTP: The Theory of Relativity (book writer and director); AMTP: Not Wanted on the Voyage; The Stratford Festival: Not Wanted on the Voyage (book writer and director), Clara’s Piano; Canadian Stage: The Story of My Life. UPCOMING: Something Wicked This Way Comes, Bedknobs and Broomsticks.

Aaron Jafferis
Book & Lyrics, Kingdom
Stuck Elevator at ACT (SF Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award, NEA, Creative Capital, NEFA National Theatre Project, Edgerton New American Play Award);Kingdom at The Old Globe (NAMT Fest ’07, Richard Rodgers Award, NYMF Most Promising New Musical); Shakespeare: The Remix (TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, Capital Rep, Zach Scott). Musicals developed by the Public Theater, Sundance Theatre Lab, Atlantic Theater, Oregon Shakespeare Festival and many others. A former Open Rap Slam champion at the National Poetry Slam Championships, Aaron teaches poetry at a children’s hospital in his hometown of New Haven. BA: UC Berkeley. MFA: NYU GMTWP.
Tommy Newman
Book & Lyrics, Tinyard Hill
Band Geeks! (Goodspeed Musicals, Human Race Theatre Co., NAMT Fest ‘09), Tinyard Hill (Theatreworks Silicon Valley, Red Mountain Theatre, Human Race Theatre, Goodspeed, NAMT Fest ‘07). Off Broadway: We the People: America Rocks (Theatreworks, USA, Lortel Nomination 2010), The Yellow Brick Road (TheatreworksUSA) and 29 (NYU with Gaby Alter). In development: The Teacher from the Black Lagoon and Other Stories (TheatreworksUSA), The Odyssey Suite, ELEkTRA, The House of the Rising Sun. Tommy teaches in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Troy University. BS in Music Education, Theatre and Business, Troy University. MFA, Musical Theatre Writing, NYU Tisch. www.tommynewman.com
Marshall Pailet
Book & Music, The Chocolate Tree
Marshall Pailet – Off Broadway: Who’s Your Baghdaddy; or How I Started the Iraq War (NY Times Critics Pick); Triassic Parq (Ovation Award – Best Musical, Ovation Nom – Best Director). Other Theater: Claudio Quest; Loch Ness; The Chocolate Tree (NAMT ‘07). Film: VeggieTales: Noah’s Ark. As Director: Eudaemonia; Uncle Pirate; Stuck; The 49 Project; Thursday; With Kings in the Back; Bat Boy; Escape Artists; One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. He is developing stage musicals with RKO Stage, DreamWorks Theatricals, and Two River Theater. Graduate of Yale University.
A.D. Penedo
Book & Lyrics, The Chocolate Tree
Produced Musicals:
• Who’s Your Baghdaddy? or How I Started the Iraq War – The Actors Temple Theater, New York (OBA Nominee, Best Off-Broadway Musical 2015; New York Times Critics Pick, 2015; Manhattan Digest’s Best of 2015 Theater).
• Loch Ness – Chance Theater, Anaheim, CA (Best Musical Production of 2015, The OC Weekly; Best Production 2015, Orange Curtain Review).
• The Chocolate Tree – Stages Rep, Houston; ACE Theater, Eugene, Oregon; NAMT; NYMF.
• Where It’s At – Yale 2008; NY Fringe Festival 2005; Princeton 2005
• Cratchett Farm – Dillons, New York, 2003; ASCAP 2003
Produced Plays:
• The Three Times She Knocked – FringeNYC (Best Playwrighting).
• Dance of the Fireflies – Payan Theater, New York; Yale.
• Thursday – Yale
• Off the Record (One Act) – New York
www.adpenedo.com
Lori Scarlett
Lyrics & Music, The Break Up Notebook: A Lesbian Musical
Lori Scarlett is an award-winning composer/lyricist (Ovation, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, and Backstage West Garland Awards for THE BREAKUP NOTEBOOK, book by Patricia Cotter.) Her work has been performed on both coasts and around the country. Lori is the composer/lyricist of FUCKING HIPSTERS (book by Keythe Farley, co-composed with John Ballinger), which premiered at the Signature Theater in New York City as a 2011 NYMF Next Link Selection. Her critically acclaimed first musical SNEAUX! THE SIN-SATIONAL GOTHIC FIGURESKATING MUSICAL was directed by Andy Fickman and ran for seven months at L.A.’s Matrix Theater. Lori, along with co-composer David Manning, was recently nominated for a 2013 Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Score for JUSTIN LOVE (Book by Patricia Cotter and David Elzer) following a much-lauded run at the Celebration Theater.
Kirby Ward
Book, The Gypsy King
Mr. Ward has written for TV, stage and film. He has headlined with symphonies all over the world and created the role of Bobby Child in London’s West End production of Crazy For You in 1993. He’s a director and choreographer of musicals such as She Loves Me,Thoroughly Modern Millie and Big River all across the United States. He staged Debbie Reynolds’ and Donald O’Connor’s nightclub acts, and was instrumental in the translation and direction of both the Chinese and Korean productions of Crazy For You in Seoul and Beijing. He was co-creator of the musical The Gypsy King, which was presented at the Village Theatre in 2010. His film, Down in the Mouth, received the Best Short Film award at the Kent Film Festival in Connecticut, and was an “Official Selection” at five other national and international film festivals.