A mix of cutting-edge, funny and touching new musicals are premiering all over New York as part of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival honorarily chaired by Tony Award-winning director Jack O'Brien.
Two more of these innovative new works, Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade and WikiMusical, are already extending their runs.
NYMF continues through July 27 at several locations throughout New York City. Tickets, exact performance venues, times and more information are all available at nymf.org.
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Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade
Book, Music and Lyrics by Cheryl E. Kemeny
Directed by Michelle Tattenbaum July 17-24, plus additional performance July 26
"Mother Jones won't quit and she won't stay quiet! It’s the turn of the century and aging Mary Harris 'Mother' Jones is on a tireless crusade for justice as she leads ragged mill children on a march to end child labor. Inspiring, heartbreaking, and hopeful, this thrilling new musical following “the most dangerous woman in America” will captivate audiences of all ages with its vibrant score blending period infused melodies with powerful contemporary anthems to deliver an uplifting message of human dignity that transcends time."
Featuring Lynne Wintersteller (A Grand Night for Singing), Robin De Jesús (In the Heights), Frenie Acoba (Matilda), Tessa Grady (Annie), Lizzie Klemperer (A Christmas Story, The Addams Family), Lulu Lloyd, Marissa Miller (Wicked), Zachary Mackiewicz (Mary Poppins), Johnny Marx, Grace Matwijec (White Christmas), Robert Mammana (Les Miserables) and Kevin Reed.
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WikiMusical
Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris
Music by Trent Jeffords
Directed by Richard J. Hinds
July 18-26, plus additional performance July 22
"WikiMusical is a hilarious new musical satire of the virtual age. It tells the epic tale of two estranged brothers, Peter and Kurt Oglesby, who return to their childhood home for Christmas Eve and, through a series of mysterious events, are magically zapped inside the Internet. But getting back to reality isn’t as simple as clicking on the right hyperlink; the brothers must put aside their differences and come to terms with their pasts in order to save the future. Along the way, they will need to rely on help from allies like the Cuddly Kittens (who may or may not have created the Internet), a cowardly Emoticon (who is searching for his long lost love, Princess LOL), and an omniscient Narrator (who may or may not be Morgan Freeman)."
Featuring Brenda Braxton, Darius Harper, Trey Harrington, Michael Mahany, Noah Marlowe, Alison Novelli, Heather Jane Rolff, Lucas Schultz, Barry Shafrin, Adam B. Shapiro, Perry Sherman and Bob Walton.
