The show (billed as a "theatri-concert") is written by Hunter Bell and Susan Blackwell, with songs by composer-lyricist Jeff Bowen, "based on a collaboration by Hunter Bell, Michael Berresse, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jeff Bowen and Larry Pressgrove."
All New York City incarnations of [title of show] — a profane, meta-theatrical rumination on the creative act, through the lens of four musical theatre geeks based on the performers — featured Bell, Bowen, Blickenstaff and Blackwell, plus keyboardist Pressgrove in a (mostly) non-speaking role. They are also heard on a cast album that fans cherish. The property is now licensable and is popping up in college and regional theatres.
A limited number of Now.Here.This. tickets are available to the general public. The Vineyard (108 East 15th St.) is where Avenue Q, [title of show] and The Scottsboro Boys played prior to Broadway. If history means anything, a full production of Now.Here.This. may appear, though for now the focus is on refining the show in front of a sympathetic audience of Vineyard subscribers and others.
A June 19 performance will benefit Vineyard Theatre.
Musical direction and arrangements are by [title of show]'s Larry Pressgrove. Michael Berresse directs, as he did [title of show]. Berresse, Bowen and Bell won Village Voice Obie Awards for their work on [title of show]. After [title of show] moved to Broadway, Bell earned a Best Book Tony Award nomination. Now.Here.This. is billed this way: It's "an original 'theatri-concert' that investigates and celebrates living in the present, featuring autobiographical stories, songs and a multi-piece band."
According to the six collaborators, "The piece explores what goes down in the space between the past and the future, and how the universe conspires to bring people together."
The show "also promises to solve the mysteries of JCPenney plain pocket jeans, middle school talent shows and the space time continuum."
Vineyard Theatre Labs are developmental productions which are not open for review, and do not guarantee future full productions of the work. Performances of Now.Here.This. will play Mondays and Tuesdays at 7 PM, Thursdays and Fridays at 8 PM, Saturdays at 5 PM and 9 PM; and Sundays at 3 PM. On Sunday, June 5 there will be an additional performance at 7 PM.
For information, call (212) 353-0303 or visit www.VineyardTheatre.org or the Vineyard Theatre Box Office.
Now.Here.This. can be followed on Twitter @TweetHereThis.