22nd Annual Festival of New Musicals

Will Aronson is a composer whose work includes Maybe Happy Ending (Alliance Theatre; Richard Rodgers Production Award), Mother, Me & the Monsters (Barrington Stage Company; Boston Globe Critic’s Pick), Pete the Cat (Lucille Lortel Theatre; five national tours), My Scary Girl (Best Musical, New York Musical Festival), and Bungee Jump, cited by The New York Times in 2013 as Korea’s Äúmost popular original musical.Äù Recipient of a Fulbright Grant, an ASCAP Frederick Loewe Scholarship, an EST/Sloan Project commission, and three Korean Musical Awards. www.willaronson.com/

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.

ROBERT CARY (lyrics) is the co-writer of GREASE LIVE (dir. Tommy Kail) and A CHRISTMAS STORY LIVE for Fox Television, the co-author of the book for SUMMER: THE DONNA SUMMER MUSICAL on Broadway (NAACP Theatre Award Nomination for Best Playwright), and revised the book for the 2015 Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN. He is also the co-writer and co-lyricist of FLASHDANCE (West End, US National Tour, international productions) and the lyricist and co-writer of PALM BEACH (La Jolla Playhouse, Des McAnuff, dir). He is the director of the feature films IRA AND ABBY (Los Angeles Film Festival Audience Favorite Award), SAVE ME and ANYTHING BUT LOVE, and the co-writer of the upcoming musical THE BALLAD OF JOHNNY AND JUNE, written with Des McAnuff, as well as TAKE THE LEAD, based on the New Line film and directed by Chris Gattelli.

Plays: The Irish Curse (Off Broadway, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, FringeNYC- Outstanding Playwriting Award); Scituate, George Bush Goes To Hell, Grand Junction, Desert Fire, Beautiful Dreamer, Paydirt, Mates (L.A. Weekly, Drama-Logue Awards).  Musicals: Saint Heaven, Paper Moon (NAMT Festival 1995), Happy Holidays, Taking Care of Mrs. Carroll, DOO-DAH!. Screenplays: One Night Stand.  Upcoming: Free Money∏ musical about the invention of credit cards; Miss Maude, a play about photographer Eugene Smith; Tom’s Dad, a film for director Lass Hallstrom starring Patrick Dempsey; and film Busted Jesus Comix.  Taught playwriting at Cal Arts and Harvey Milk High School in NYC.  WGA, Dramatists Guild, SAG and AEA.

Steven has been telling stories for four decades in New York, Nashville, Austin, and on the road as a songwriter, writer, and performer, including dozens of shows in the New York downtown music and theater scenes of the 1980s and 90s. In ten years with the neo-vaudeville duo Y’all, he made CDs, books, and a feature film, and performed across North America and Europe and appeared on MTV and Comedy Central. His musical, LIZZIE, began in 1990 as an experimental rock show but has since transformed into a full-length rock opera seen in dozens of productions across the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Steven is a 2019 Jonathan Larson Grant finalist, a MacDowell Fellow, and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin with a degree in American Studies. For more information: stevencheslikdemeyer.com

Nathan Christensen earned his MFA from NYU’s Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. With composer Scott Murphy, he wrote the concept musical BROADCAST, about the history of radio. It was showcased at Playwrights Horizons with a cast including Will Chase, Julia Murney, and Daniel Jenkins. It was later developed at the O’Neill Theatre Center under the direction of Joe Calarco. Their adaptation of Lois Lowry’s novel THE GIVER was featured in the 2010 NAMT Festival of New Musicals, and has been produced in several univerity settings. SPITTOONIA ON THE ERIE, a farcical fairy tale written with composer David Mallamud, was premiered by the Rochester Philharmonic on a barge in the Erie Canal. It is slated for production at Northern Sky Theater. Additonal works include THE BATTLE CREEK CURE (an immersive comedy about wellness trends), and THE IBSEN GAME (a mash-up of A DOLL’S HOUSE and Dungeons & Dragons).

As a composer, arranger, music director and actor, he has worked at the Kennedy Center, Alliance Theatre, Marriott Theatre, Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, New York’s La MaMa Theatre and the New York Music Theatre Festival, among others. Most recently, Jeremy served as the musician for the Kennedy Center’s production of Master Class. Jeremy is a native of New York and a proud graduate of Northwestern University www.jeremy-cohen.com.

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.

DAVID GURSKY (music) is the composer of PALM BEACH (NAMT 2001), which had its world premiere at the La Jolla Playhouse in June 2005, directed by Des McAnuff. David is also the composer of musical stage adaptations of the MGM films HEARTBREAKERS (NAMT 2010, Christopher Ashley, dir.) and THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR, both commissioned by MGM On Stage. On Broadway, David was the Music Director of DAMES AT SEA and THE NANCE, and has led the orchestras of THE PRODUCERS, ANYTHING GOES, FINIAN’S RAINBOW, WHITE CHRISTMAS, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, and JANE EYRE. His other NYC credits include DAME EDNA: THE ROYAL TOUR, INTO THE WOODS (Broadway, 2022), FOREVER PLAID, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, and over twenty Encores! productions at New York City Center. National tours: THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE PRODUCERS, and BIG. Regional: A FUNNY THNGĶFORUM (St. Louis Muny). Film: IRA & ABBY. Television: THE WONDER PETS. Education: Yale University.

Spring Awakening, Bass (Orig. B’way Prod. & 1st Natl Tour); Everyday Rapture, (Second Stage); Lizzie BordenÄö Composer, Musical Director, Orchestrator, Bass, Piano (Living Theatre); Brecht’s BaalÄö Composer, Musical Director, Piano, Guitar (Looking Glass Theatre); The Signal Corps (myspace.com/thesignalcorps); Big Mess Cabaret/OrchestraÄö Bass (bigmessorchestra.com); The Low Road (myspace.com/thelowroad). BM in Composition from Mannes/The New School where he studied with Robert Cuckson. ASH is originally from Philly and lives in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Thanks to Pete and Hillary for their vision and support, Steven and Tim for their trust and dedication, and all the actors, musicians, designers, crew and extended family who helped make Lizzie ROCK! ash@alanstevenshewitt.com

Jeff Hughes was the recipient of the 2009 Richard Rodgers Award for new musical theatre as the bookwriter/lyricist of Red Clay.  He is the author of the plays Shore Points, A Good Tavern and In the Jersey City Moonlight, which will receive its world premiere in June 2011.  He is a former member of the BMI Workshop and was a Dramatists Guild Fellow in 2005-2006.  He is the writer of DaBearsBlog.com, currently under the auspices of the Chicago Tribune.  He is from Kearny, New Jersey and damn proud of it.

John Jiler’s plays have been seen coast to coast, from the O’ Neill to the Kennedy Center to Seattle Rep.  Jiler received both the Richard Rodgers Award and the Kleban Librettists’ Award for his musical Avenue X, and the Weissberger Prize from New Dramatists for his play Sour Springs.  Literary works include, Sleeping With The Mayor (a New York Times “Most Notable Book’) and Dark Wind, called Äúa classicÄù by the Village Voice.  His current projects are a one-man show, Explicit Vows (Playwrights HorizonsThe Flea Theatre), and two new plays; Channel, in development with Labyrinth Theatre, and Sirocco, at The Actor’s Studio. 

Tim Maner has written, directed, musical directed and produced over 20 original music/theater works including Frankenstein, with composer Steven Cheslik-DeMeyer; The Hawthorne Project, a trilogy of multi-layered multi-media events adapted from Nathaniel Hawthorne’s three American novels, with writer/adaptor Elizabeth Banks; and The Opera Project, a trilogy of new wave operas, with composers Matthew Pierce and Fred ho and writer Ruth Margraff. He is a founding member of the critically acclaimed Tiny Mythic Theatre Company and the award-winning arts center HERE. With them, his theatrical producing/presenting history spanned hundreds of productions over 10 years.

Daniel†Maté†is an award-winning composer, lyricist, and playwright for musical theatre who has received the Kleban Prize, Cole Porter Award, and Jonathan Larson Grant for his music and lyrics. He holds an M.F.A. in Musical Theatre Writing from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, as well as a B.A. in Psychology and Philosophy from McGill. Musicals include ‘The Longing and the Short of It’, ‘The Trouble With Doug’ (NAMT 2010), and ‘Middle School Mysteries’. Daniel co-authored the New York Times bestselling book,†The Myth of Normal: Trauma, Illness and Healing in a Toxic†Culture, with his father†Dr. Gabor Maté. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Daniel now lives in Brooklyn, New York, where he runs the world’s only ‘mental chiropractic’ service, Take A Walk With Daniel.

Scott Murphy received his MFA in musical theatre writing from NYU in 2004. He is currently writing music and lyrics for MeanwhileĶon the other side of Mount Vesuvius, a musical commissioned by Yale Rep, with book by Jay Reiss, as well as songs for Magnus, a feature film. With Nathan Christensen, Scott is currently writing music for a new work for The Old Globe. In 2005, Scott was selected by Stephen Sondheim to receive the Marian Seldes/Garson Kanin award from the Theatre Hall of Fame. With Nathan Christensen, he received the Richard Rogers award, the Jonathan Larson award, and the 2004 Dramatist Guild Fellowship. Scott works as a teaching artist for Lincoln Center.

GEORGIA STITT is an award-winning composer, lyricist, music producer, and pianist. Her original musicals include Snow Child (Arena Stage); Big Red Sun (11th Hour); Samantha Spade, Ace Detective (TADA Youth Theater); The Big Boom; The Water; and Mosaic. She has released four albums of her music, A Quiet Revolution; My Lifelong Love; Alphabet City Cycle; and This Ordinary Thursday, and she’s currently at work on an oratorio and a collection of theatrical art songs. Georgia is on Council at The Dramatists Guild and is Founding Director of MAESTRA, a not-for-profit organization for women and nonbinary theater musicians. www.georgiastitt.com

Phillip Swann is the composer of The People vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet (nominated for three Jeff awards), and DeLEARious (2009 Garland Award winner for Best New Score).  Other musicals include In a Booth at Chasen’s, Trombone, Neil Simon’s Fools– The Musical and Shakespeare’s Greatest Hits.  A former staff songwriter and producer for DreamWorks, Swann’s songs have been heard on television, film and have been recorded by such artists as Clay Aiken, Lee Ann Womack, Blake Shelton and Lee Greenwood.  He lives in Los Angeles with his wife, theatre educator, Amanda Swann.

Aaron Thielen is the Artistic Director for the Marriott Theatre. He recently wrote a musical adaptation of For The Boys; the popular 1991 Fox film starring Bette Midler. This new musical will get its world premiere at the Marriott Theatre in August of 2011. Joining forces with Michael Mahler (NAMT 2009 author), Aaron also wrote a new musical titled Hero, which had a staged reading at The Marriott and is slated to be presented there in summer of 2012. He co-wrote and Artistic Directed the Marriott Theatre’s Jeff Award winning hit The All Night Strut- A Fascinating Rhythm. Associated with the Marriott Theatre since 1995, he was a featured actor in more than 20 productions, choreographed Marriott’s hit production of Forever Plaid, and was instrumental in facilitating the theatre’s expansion in 2001.

Mark Winkler is a platinum award winning singer/lyricist who has had over 150 of his songs recorded by such artists as Dianne Reeves, Lea Salonga and Liza Minnelli.  He is the co-writer of the musical review Naked Boys Singing! in its 11th year playing Off Broadway.  He is the creator/co-writer of Too Old for the Chorus which is now being published by Samuel French and he is the co-writer/bookwriter of the musical Bark! which is now touring the country. His CD of original jazz songs Till I Get It Right was named one of the best CDs of 2009 by ÄúJazz Times Magazine.Äù