NewsCuban and the Redhead, Pamela and Stagecoach Mary Sing at NAMT Festival Oct. 20-21The 2008 National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals, featuring Pamela's First Musical, The Yellow Wood and See Rock City, gets underway Oct. 20.
By
Adam Hetrick
October 20, 2008
Jenn Colella
New World Stages hosts the industry-only event, running Oct. 20-21, that provides eight new musicals a platform for greater exposure to potential producers and regional companies seeking to aid in the development of new work.
Founded in 1985 and based in New York City, The National Alliance for Musical Theatre is a national service organization dedicated exclusively to musical theatre. Kathy Evans is the executive director for the organization with members sprinkled throughout 33 states and six countries.
The 2008 NAMT selected musicals and their respective casts follow:
Barnstormer, featuring book and lyrics by Cheryl L. Davis and music by Douglas J. Cohen (The Big Time).
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Jerry Dixon (Laugh Whore, Once on This Island) directs a cast including Kenita Miller (Xanadu), Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid), Julia Lema (Little Ham), Stu James (The Color Purple), C.E. Smith (The Full Monty), Glenn Turner (Five Guys Named Moe) and Rema Webb (The Lion King).
Beatsville, with music and lyrics by Wendy Leigh Wilf and a book by Glenn Slater (The Little Mermaid). The musical is based on the film "A Bucket of Blood." Todd Buonopane (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Alli Mauzey (Cry-Baby), Stephen Buntrock (Grease), Hilary Gardner, Tommar Wilson (Hairspray), Cameron Barnett, Beth Malone (Marvelous Wonderettes), Richard Roland (Thoroughly Modern Millie), Stephen DeRosa (The Gershwins' An American in Paris), Marla Mindelle, Joe Kenosian and Dan Sherman appear in Beatsville, under the direction of Tony nominee Robert Longbottom (Side Show, Flower Drum Song).
The Cuban and the Redhead, penned by Broadway Backwards creators Robert Bartley and Danny Whitman. Bartley directs High Fidelity star Jenn Colella as Lucy, opposite Gypsy's Tony Yazbeck as Desi in a cast that also features Eliseo Roman (In the Heights), Eileen Galindo, Michelle Blakely (Annie Get Your Gun), Jessica Carter, Miguel Cervantes, Hattie Davis, Cristin J. Hubbard, Jay Russell (The Play What I Wrote), Tim Salamandyk, Roland Rusinek, Philip D'Amore, Cheryl Stern and Kirsten Wyatt (Grease).
The Legend of Stagecoach Mary, created by Thomas Mizer and Curtis Moore. Tony nominee Christopher Gatelli (South Pacific) directs Danielle Lee Greaves (Rent) in the title role. Stagecoach Mary also features Lauren Kennedy (Vanities), Madeleine Doherty (The Producers), Sarah Saltzberg (Spelling Bee), J. Austin Eyer (The Secret Garden), Josh Henry (In The Heights), Steve Kazee (110 in the Shade), Jose Llana (Spelling Bee), Jason Patrick Sands (A Chorus Line), David Driver and Nick Wyman (A Tale of Two Cities).
Ordinary Days, written by Adam Gwon. Legally Blonde's Kate Shindle and Kate Wetherhead join Jared Gertner (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) and Adam Jacobs (Les Miserables) for Ordinary Days under the direction of Matt Toronto.
Pamela's First Musical, created by the Tony-winning trio of Wendy Wasserstein (book), David Zippel (lyrics) and Cy Coleman (music). Lyricist Zippel directs Mary Poppins' Lila Coogan as Pamela in a cast that also features Karen Mason (Mamma Mia!), Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys), Steven Bogardus (Irving Berlin's White Christmas, Falsettos), Karen Ziemba (Curtains), Lewis Stadlen (The Producers), Dan Bogart (Les Miserables), Dan Petrotta (A Tale of Two Cities), Devin Richards (A Tale of Two Cities), Adam Jacobs (Les Miserables), Deborah Lew (Beauty and the Beast), Allison Blackwell, Carrie A. Johnson and Allison Walla.
See Rock City & Other Destinations, with book and lyrics by Adam Mathias and music by Brad Alexander. Altar Boyz book writer Kevin Del Aguila directs the musical that includes Skylar Astin (Spring Awakening), Hunter Foster (Frankenstein), Jill Abramovitz (Fame Becomes Me), John Jellison (All Shook Up), Cassie Wooley, David Rossmer (Titanic) and Wesley Taylor.
The Yellow Wood, with a book by Michelle Elliot, music by Danny Larsen and lyrics by both Elliot and Larsen. Brian Yorkey directs Yellow Wood, which features Danny Larsen, Melinda Bass, Randy Blair (Adding Machine), Bob De Dea, MaryAnn Hu (South Pacific), Diana Huey Morgan Weed (Saved) and Amy Linden.
Musicals previously presented in NAMT's Festival of New Musicals include Vanities, Dangerous Beauty, Emma, The Gypsy King, The Story of My Life, Tinyard Hill, The Drowsy Chaperone, Thoroughly Modern Millie, I Love You Because, Songs for A New World, Striking 12, Summer of '42, Ace, Children of Eden, Harold and Maude, Honk! and Meet John Doe.
