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Old Globe Will Reach Out to Students with New Hip-Hop Musical Kingdom in 2009

October 6, 2008

According to Old Globe, students and residents “will be given the opportunity to work with the author and Old Globe teaching artists to explore the art and story of Kingdom and explore elements of playwriting as hip-hop poetry, monologues and scenes. Students will also have the opportunity to create and perform their own original work.” Earlier developmental versions ofKingdom have garnered numerous accolades, including a 2008 Richard Rodgers Award, the Most Promising New Musical award at the 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival.
The production was chosen to represent the United States at the 2008 International Community Arts Festival in the Netherlands last March. It also received acclaim at the 2007 NAMT (National Alliance for Musical Theater) Festival of New Musicals showcase.
“When I saw the showcase at the NAMT Festival last year, I knew that this wonderful, well crafted musical represented a great opportunity for the Globe to connect with a new audience,” stated Old Globe executive producer Louis G. Spisto. “What’s really exciting is that this new work, which has garnered so much acclaim throughout its initial development, is going to be performed both at the Globe and at a new state-of-the art 750-seat theatre in southeastern San Diego. The partnership between Lincoln High School and our creative team and staff will result in some amazing programs, as students, teachers, community residents and artists will work together throughout the development and performance schedule of Kingdom. Students and artists in southeastern San Diego will be mentored by professional hip-hop theatre artists and create their own work as part of the residency.”

NAMT News

Toronto musical Broadway-bound

April 9, 2008

Once the show had closed, they returned to New York (where they have been living since 2001) and took it to veteran director/lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. (Ain’t Misbehavin’, Miss Saigon) who had them rewrite the musical considerably.
At a presentation last fall at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, The Story of My Life received standing ovations and most insiders felt it was only a matter of time until it was produced.

NAMT News

Musical Theatre Reps Vote with Their Feet

October 24, 2007

NAMT executive director Kathy Evans was also enthusiastic about The Break Up Notebook, as well as the entire program. The other musicals included Casey at the Bat by Tom Child and Gordon Goodwin, The Chocolate Tree by Marshall Pailet and A. D. Penedo, The Gypsy King by Randy Rogel and Kirby Ward, Kingdom by Aaron Jafferis and Ian Williams, Tinyard Hill by Mark Allen and Thomas M. Newman, and Writing Arthur by David Austin.
Evans reported that “every show had a champion,” which bodes well for the repercussions from the kind of busy weekend that three years ago yielded The Drowsy Chaperone and, prior to that, introduced Striking 12, which was produced Off-Broadway last year and was well received.
Evans agreed that this year’s frame was especially interesting for having no well-known participating creators; all of them were chosen by a committee unaware of who had written what. Overall, the festival was “very successful,” she said. “There was a tremendous turnout and feedback.” As evidence, Evans said 40 to 50 of the musical theatre producing community gathered to talk about the festival the day after it closed. Just as some of the work brought the attendees to their feet, some of the pieces made them want to stick around.

NAMT News

Tuner fest sings 'Break Up' song

October 12, 2007

If you haven’t seen — or even heard of — the musicals “The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical” or “The Story of My Life,” don’t worry. You probably will soon.
“Break Up” and “Story” were two of the most buzzed-about offerings at the industry-only annual fest of new tuners held by the Natl. Alliance for Musical Theater Oct. 7-8.
The national draw of the 19-year-old fest — which this year brought in more than 700 commercialproducers, regional theater reps and other legiters from around the country — has made the event a valuable marketplace for new musicals.
Fest alums include “The Drowsy Chaperone” and “Thoroughly Modern Millie.” Seven of last year’s eight productions went on to further development, with a musical incarnation of the play “Vanities” aiming for Broadway next season.
“There is no other service organization that gets this many producers in one room at one time to see a piece,” says Kent Nicholson of TheaterWorks in Silicon Valley.