NewsPHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Week at the NAMT New Musicals Festival With Bryce Ryness and FriendsAn impressive roster of Broadway's best come together each year for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals, a two-day event that showcases short presentations of eight new musicals. Bryce Ryness, who is working on two shows with the Fest, lets us in on the rehearsal process.
By
Matthew Blank
October 11, 2012
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PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Week at the NAMT New Musicals Festival With Bryce Ryness and Friends
PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Week at the NAMT New Musicals Festival With Bryce Ryness and Friends
An impressive roster of Broadway's best come together each year for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals, a two-day event that showcases short presentations of eight new musicals. Bryce Ryness, who is working on two shows with the Fest, lets us in on the rehearsal process. Read the Playbill.com story.
30 PHOTOS
Hi. I'm Bryce Ryness. I have the unique pleasure of being in two NAMT shows- Triangle and Sleeping Beauty Wakes- so I'll let you in on both. As always, everything starts at home, with family: Mercy (l) and Judah (r)
Bryce Ryness
I'm met on the first day of rehearsal by Sleeping Beauty Wakes composer Brendan Milburn. Having previous experience with the show, my "music pick-up" rehearsal was brief.
Bryce Ryness
SBW Stage Manager Marcy Reed's interpretation of "Smile for the camera!"
Bryce Ryness
Music rehearsal. Before you learn your part, it's a little tedious.
Bryce Ryness
Then, after you learn your part, you can really wail!
Music Director Brad Haak (and composer Brendan Milburn).
Bryce Ryness
Christy Altomare- who plays the sleep-trapped "Rose"- engages in intense character research.
Bryce Ryness
And, now over to Triangle. I'm greeted by the ever-pensive James Sampliner.
Bryce Ryness
One thing about readings, there are always changes. Dana Steingold collates her new script amongst her existing music score.
Bryce Ryness
One great thing about doing readings (and any developmental work) is that you get to meet new people! The first meeting of Adam Heller (standing) and Carrie Cimma (seated).
Bryce Ryness
My Sleeping Beauty Wakes cohort Tonya Pinkins. Combined, we have 1 TONY award. I'm so proud.
Bryce Ryness
Trying to condense a 2:45 musical into 45 minutes… you have to cut out a. lot. of. stuff.
Bryce Ryness
My view in the Triangle rehearsal room.
Bryce Ryness
Even though the presentations are only 45 minutes long, it's still daunting to learn a new musical. Wayne Wilcox, Adam Heller, and James Sampliner at work.
Bryce Ryness
James Sampliner explains the nuance of the intricate Curtis Moore score to Adam Heller… and I swear this shot wasn't staged.
Bryce Ryness
With limited time, it's imperative to take detailed notes. Wayne Wilcox's encouragement to himself, "Heady and floaty." Well said, Wayne.
Bryce Ryness
The Triangle girls, singing a tune: (R-L) Margot Seibert, Dana Steingold, Carrie Cimma.
Bryce Ryness
"Hey Dana, strike an 'actor' pose." … so profound.
Bryce Ryness
Music score under your belt? Check. Now it's time for Music Stand-o-graphy.
Bryce Ryness
A Triangle creative team meeting: (L-R) composer Curtis Moore, book/lyricist Thomas Mizer, and Director Meredith McDonough
Bryce Ryness
Something I find fascinating about readings: we won't dance, we won't fight, we won't touch… but we WILL kiss. Here, Wayne Wilcox gives me his best kissy face.
Bryce Ryness
Christy Altomare: kissy face.
Bryce Ryness
Margot Seibert: kissy face.
Bryce Ryness
The events of Triangle happen in-and-around the old Triangle Shirtwaist Factory, which is now NYU's Brown Building. Still there. #crazy #siteresearch
Bryce Ryness
Sleeping Beauty Wakes convenes for a table-read/work session.
Bryce Ryness
SBW composer Brendan Milburn, lyricist Valerie Vigoda, and actor Nicholas Kohn enjoy Rachel Sheinkin's humorous book.
Bryce Ryness
SBW directorial/writing staff hard at work: (L-R) Producer Mara Issacs, Director Rebecca Taichman, and book writer Rachel Sheinkin.
Bryce Ryness
Sound Check time. Margot Seibert and Dana Steingold show pizzaz, spunk… and TALENT!
Bryce Ryness
"Okay, Sleeping Beauty Wakes cast, one real smile- then- one fake smile." You decide which is which.
Bryce Ryness
The bare stage, ready for the Festival! Oct. 11 and 12 at New World Stages. Hope you get a chance to see some of these shows in their entirety sometime soon!
NAMT invites industry members from across the country and around the world to attend the two-day event that showcases 45-minute presentations of eight new musicals. Betsy King Militello is the executive director of NAMT, which is presenting its 24th annual festival.
Tonya Pinkins (Jelly's Last Jam), Tony nominee Peter Friedman (Ragtime), Christy Altomare (Carrie), Katrina Diderickson (Pregnancy Pact), Olli Haaskivi (Bernice Bobs Her Hair), Nicholas Kohn (Avenue Q), Mary Jo Mecca (Little House on the Prairie) and Bryce Ryness (Hair/See Rock City) are part of Brendan Milburn, Rachel Sheinkin and Valerie Vigoda's Sleeping Beauty Wakes, directed by Rebecca Taichman with music direction by Brad Haak. Sutton Foster ("Bundheads," Anything Goes, Thoroughly Modern Millie) leads the dast of The Circus in Winter, Ben Clark and Beth Turcotte's musical that also features Rachael Ferrara (Amazing Grace), Pat McRoberts (Miss Saigon), Brian Sutherland (1776), Steel Burkhardt (Hair), Kate Rockwell (Bring It On!), Marie-France Arcilla (Working), Emily Behny (Beauty and the Beast), Derrick Cobey (The Scottsboro Boys), Jonathan Jensen, Corey Mach (Godspell) and Jen Noble (Ghost). Victoria Bussert directs and Matthew Webb is the music director.
Kerry Butler (Catch Me If You Can), Drew Aber (A Tale of Two Cities), Demond Green (Sister Act), Kenita Miller (Xanadu), Alysha Umphress (American Idiot) and Emily Walton (The Shaggs) appear in Kirsten Childs' Funked Up Fairy Tales. Jerry Dixon directs with Steve Marzullo as music director.
Justin Levine's musical Bonfire Night features Tony nominee André De Shields (Play On), Chester Gregory (Sister Act), Bryce Pinkham (Ghost), Michael Winther (33 Variations), Tony nominee André De Shields (Play On), Jeremy Morse (Bloodsong of Love), Omar Lopez-Cepero (American Idiot), Eddie Wardel, Santino Fontana (Cinderella), Chris Hoch (Shrek) and Wade McCollum (Triassic Parq). Sam Buntrock directs with Kimberly Grigsby as music director.
Bleeding Love, by Jason Schafer, Arthur Lafrentz Bacon and Harris Doran, features Nicolette Hart (Rent), Tony nominee Nancy Opel (Urinetown), Damon Daunno (Brief Encounter), Robin DeJesus (In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles), Sarah Stiles (Into the Woods) and William Ryall (Chaplin). Stephen Brackett directs with musical direction by Jason Wetzel.
Curtis Moore, Thomas Mizer and Joshua Sher's Triangle features Wayne Wilcox (Chaplin), Adam Heller (Elf), Carrie Cimma (Lizzie Borden), Bryce Ryness (See Rock City…), Dana Steingold and Margot Siebert. The musical is directed by Meredith McDonough with James Sampliner as music director.
Itamar Moses and Gaby Alter's Nobody Loves You will feature Carla Duren (110 in the Shade), Adam Kantor (Rent), Lauren Molina (Rock of Ages), Nicole Lewis (Hair), Heath Calvert (Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson), Kelsey Kurz (The Merchant of Venice), Phoebe Strole (Spring Awakening) and Etai Ben Shlomo (Wicked). Mike Pettry joins the team as music director. Michelle Tattenbaum will direct.
Dan Collins and Julianne Wick Davis' Southern Comfort will feature Erik Lochtefeld (Metamorphoses), Emmy and Academy Award nominee Annette O'Toole ("A Mighty Wind"), Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown), Natalie Joy Johnson (Legally Blonde), Robin Skye (Parade), Allison Briner (Mamma Mia!), Lizzie Hagstedt (Sweeney Todd), Joel Waggoner, Randy Redd (War Horse) and Andy Taylor (Once) in Southern Comfort. Tom Caruso directs with Emily Otto as music director.
As previously announced, the 2012 Songwriters Showcase, which highlights shows in development at NAMT's member organizations, will be hosted by Tony Award-winning Memphis writer Joe DiPietro and Tony-nominated actress Nancy Opel (Memphis, Urinetown).
The production will include Bernstein’s incidental music for Lillian Hellman’s adaptation of The Lark, and Menotti’s The Unicorn, The Gorgon, and The Manticore.
Based on the novel and film by Frank Cottrell Boyce, the new musical will reunite Guettel with Tony-winning Light in the Piazza director Bartlett Sher.
