This is the third reading of the aborning work by lyricist librettist Tim Nevits and composer GiHieh Lee, graduates of the New York University Tisch School of the Arts graduate musical theatre writing program, which produces the evening.
Daniele (Once on This Island, Ragtime) directed an earlier developmental workshop of the piece at 2nd Stage Theater. This new reading is meant to present the piece to industry professionals who might have interest in the show's future.
Celia Keenan-Bolger (Summer of '42) plays Chelsea, the main character. The reading cast also includes Lisa Howard, Sandy Binion, Bob DuSold, Joe Ricci, Alex Gemignani, Doug Brandt and Wayne Schroeder, among others.
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The flavor of the musical is "Japanese anime mixed with a fairy tale," Nevits said. "GiHieh's music definitely has an Asian influence to it, but there are also poppy numbers...it's a book musical." The collaborators met in the respected NYU program; they were paired up for their first assignment in the first year of the program, in fall 1998, and clicked. After shelving one idea for a show, they agreed on the original idea for Tock Tick, in which a clock in the center of the universe plays a part, back in September 1999.
Nevits is a Cleveland native who studied theatre at Wright State University, where he wrote shows. Lee is a Seoul, Korea native whose background is classical composition.
"The piece began at NYU, and the program is very supportive of its alumni," said Nevits.
The reading is produced with the help of the Frederick Loewe Foundation. The Loewe funding is meant to "help our alumni to take steps forward toward production," NYU musical theatre writing chair Sarah Schlesinger (The Ballad of Little Jo) told Playbill On-Line. As many as nine shows by NYU writers are expected to be heard in Loewe-funded readings over the next three years, with two more expected this season after Tock Tick.
Music direction for Tock Tick is by Vadim Feichtner.
The reading is 3 PM Oct. 17 at the Frederick Loewe Theatre, 35 W. 4th Street, in Manhattan.
For reservations, industry people may call Karen Henderson or Alex Zalben at (212) 992-9322. Lee is repped by John Buzzetti at the Gersh Agency at (212) 634 8126.
