By Adam Hetrick
07 Oct 2009
Tony Award-winning lyricist David Zippel and three-time Tony-nominated actress Dee Hoty will host the NAMT Songwriters Showcase on Oct. 19.
The Songwriters Showcase, directed by Branden Huldeen, will feature songs from The AverageAchievers Club (music/lyrics by Benji Goldsmith, book/lyrics by Jonathan Karpinos); The Black Suits (music/lyrics by Joe Iconis, book by Robert Maddock); Crazy, Just Like Me (by Drew Gasparini); The Great American Race (by Patrick Barry); POP! (book/lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman, music by Anna K. Jacobs); Southern Comfort (book/lyrics by Dan Collins, music by Julianne Wick); Venice (by Eric Rosen and Matt Sax, with additional music by Curtis Moore); and While I Wait (music by Deborah Abramson, book/lyrics by Amanda Yesnowitz).
NAMT has also announced additional casting for the eight musicals that will be featured in the festival. Newly added cast members include Tony nominees Gregg Edelman (Tale of Two Cities, City of Angels) and Liz Larsen (The Most Happy Fella, Hairspray), as well as Liz McCartney (Taboo, South Pacific), Frank Applegate (Young Frankenstein), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde), Jen Babiak (Fiddler on the Roof), Jill Abramovitz (Fame Becomes Me) and Becca Ayers (South Pacific, Sarah, Plain and Tall).
The Festival of New Musicals productions and casting follow:
Gordon Greenberg stages the new musical Band Geeks!, which he co-authored with Tommy Newman, Gaby Alter and Mark Allen. Musical director is David Loud. The cast includes Jill Abramovitz (Fame Becomes Me), Jared Gertner (Ordinary Days), Marie-France Arcilla (Lizzie Borden), Aaron J. Albano (Spelling Bee), Alex Brightman (Wicked), Adam Chanler-Berat (Next To Normal), Patti Murin (Xanadu), Griffin Matthews (Paper Mill’s 1776), Jenni Barber (Spelling Bee), John Bolton (Curtains), Dwayne Clark (In The Heights) and Kat Palardy (First Wives Club).
Victoria Bussert directs the Creighton Irons and Sean Mahoney musical Factory Girls, which features musical direction by Matt Hinkley. Casting includes Kate Rockwell (Legally Blonde), Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia!), Anika Larsen (Xanadu, Avenue Q), David Larsen (Billy Elliot), Steel Burkhardt (Hair), Kate Ferber, Lindsay Mendez (Everyday Rapture), Dana Steingold (Spelling Bee), Brian Sutherland (1776), Cortney Wolfson (Legally Blonde), Kayce Cummings and Nicole Weiss.
Oliver Butler will direct the Clay McLeod Chapman and Kyle Jarrow musical Hostage Song, with musical direction by Nathan Leigh. Casting includes Jeb Brown (Grease), Susan Goodwillie (Mourning Becomes Electra), John Hickok (Aida), Maria Christina Oliveras (Night Sky) and Caesar Samoya (Under Fire).
Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler's How Can You Run with a Shell On Your Back? is staged by Kent Nicholson, with musical direction by Deborah Abramson. The cast features Spring Awakening veterans Gideon Glick and Emma Hunton, as well as Carey Anderson (Mamma Mia!), Preston Sadleir and Derrick Trumbly.
The Susan DiLallo, Stephen Weiner and Peter Mills musical Iron Curtain features direction by Cara Reichel with musical direction by Remy Kurs. The cast includes Fred Applegate (The Producers), Maria Couch, Gregg Edelman (Wonderful Town), David Foley, Jr., Liz Larsen (A New Brain), Lisa Mindelle, Dara Seitzman, Doug Shapiro, Robby Sharpe (The Pursuit of Persephone), Jim Stanek (Little Women) and Betsey Wolfe (Everyday Rapture).
Barbara Anselmi and Brian Hargrove's It Shoulda Been You will star Tony winners Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cry-Baby) and Debra Monk (Curtains, Redwood Curtain), as well as Lisa Howard (Spelling Bee), Becca Ayers (South Pacific, Sarah, Plain and Tall), Jeremy Ellison Gladstone (The Fantasticks), Nathan Lee Graham (Wig Out!), Joe Grifasi (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Colin Hanlon (I Love You Because), Marla Mindelle (The Drowsy Chaperone), Michael Tucker (Enter Laughing) and Nick Wyman (Catch Me If You Can). Michael Bush directs with T.O. Sterrett as musical director.
Sara Cooper and Zach Redler's Memory Is the Mother of All Wisdom, reunites its cast and creative team from the Barrington Stage Company, including director Joe Calarco, musical director Vadim Feichner and cast members Leslie Kritzer (A Catered Affair, Rooms) and Catherine Cox (Baby).
Duane Nelsen's Ripper is staged by John Simpkins with music direction by Andy Einhorn. The cast features Elena Shaddow (The Light in the Piazza), Jen Babiak (Fiddler on the Roof), Liz McCartney (Taboo, South Pacific), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde), Cyrilla Baer (Adding Machine), Neal Benari (Aida), Joan Hess (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Eric William Morris (Mamma Mia!) and Bruce Winant (Ragtime).
While the Festival is created for producers and industry members, the general public can obtain free, stand-by tickets the day of the festival.
For more information visit NAMT.
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Founded in 1985 and based in New York City, The National Alliance for Musical Theatre is a national service organization dedicated exclusively to musical theatre. Kathy Evans is the executive director for the organization with members sprinkled throughout 33 states and six countries.
