New York Musical Theatre Festival Tunes Up Sept. 28

By Adam Hetrick
28 Sep 2009

The sixth annual New York Musical Theatre Festival, featuring works by Tony nominees Bill Russell, Chad Beguelin, Matthew Sklar, as well as Peter Melnick, John Mercurio and Joe Drymala, launches in Manhattan Sept. 28.

A host of Broadway talent have assembled for the three-week festival that will run through Oct. 18. The productions, which offer New Yorkers the chance to see what could become the next big hit, often sell out their limited engagements. Several, including Hurricane, Academy, Fat Camp and The Last Smoker in America, have already added additional performances.

Among the actors appearing in the 2009 NYMF are Natalie Venetia Belcon, Leslie Kritzer, Daniel Reichard, Barbara Walsh, Corey Boardman, Mary Testa, Doug Kreeger, Brenda Braxton, Michael Buchanan, Liz Larsen, Tituss Burgess, Jenna Coker-Jones, Jenn Colella, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Clarke Thorell, Nick Blaemire, Jenn Colella, Janine DiVita, Willy Falk, Felicia Finley, Kathy Fitzgerald, Rita Gardner, Michael McCormick, Lisa Howard, Neil Haskell, Nikki Snelson, Jack Noseworthy, Christine Pedi, Kristine Zbornik and Michael Winther.

NYMF Next Link Productions include Academy (book, music and lyrics by John Mercurio); All Fall Down (book by Greg Turner, music and lyrics by Selda Sahin); Fantasy Football: The Musical? (book, music and lyrics by David Ingber); Fat Camp (book by Randy Blair and Timothy Michael Drucker, music by Matthew roi Berger, lyrics by Randy Blair); Marrying Meg (book, music and lyrics by Mark Robertson); Mo Faya (book and music by Eric Wainaina, additional music by Joshua Mwai, Morris Otis Omollo and Helen Akoth Mtawali); My Illustrious Wasteland (book, music and lyrics by Tod Kimbro); Open the Dark Door (book, music and lyrics by David Lefort Nugent); Plagued (book and lyrics by Vynnie Meli, music by Casey L. Filiaci); Rainbow Around the Sun (music and lyrics by Matthew Alvin Brown, book and additional lyrics by Tom Stuart); Seeing Stars (book by Shelley McPherson, music by Don Breithaupt, lyrics by Jeff Breithaupt); and The Toymaker (book, music and lyrics by Bryan Putnam).

The NYMF Invited Productions include Anjou: A Tale of Horror (book, music and lyrics by Guillermo Mendez and Lupita Sandoval); Cross That River (music, lyrics and story by Allan Harris, book by Andrew Carl Wilk); The Cure (book, music and lyrics by Mark Weiser); F#@KING UP EVERYTHING (book by Sam Forman and David Eric Davis, music and lyrics by David Eric Davis); Gay Bride of Frankenstein (book by Dane E. Leeman and Billy Butler, music and lyrics by Billy Butler); The Happy Embalmer (book, music and lyrics by Mark Noonan and Nick Oddy); Hurricane (book by Michael Holland and Eric Bernat, music and lyrics by Michael Holland); Judas and Me (book and lyrics by Chad Beguelin, music by Matthew Sklar); The Last Smoker in America (book and lyrics by Bill Russell, music by Peter Melnick); Lighter (book, music and lyrics by Monica Bauer); Lorenzo (music by Judd Woldin, lyrics by Richard Engquist, book by Judd Woldin and Richard Engquist); Max Understood (book by Nancy Carlin, music by Michael Rasbury, lyrics by Nancy Carlin and Michael Rasbury); Street Lights (book, music and lyrics by Joe Drymala); Under Fire (book and lyrics by Barry Harman, music by Grant Sturiale); and Whatever Man (book, music and lyrics by Benjamin Strouse).

Dance musicals include Andy Warhol Was Right (book by Sammy Buck, music by Dan Acquisto, with choreography by Daryl Gray, Darren Lee and Shea Sullivan); and Encore (directed and choreographed by Daniel Gwirtzman).

For tickets and a complete list of NYMF programming, phone (212) 352-3101 or visit NYMF.