By Adam Hetrick
19 Oct 2009

Ripper's Elena Shaddow

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals begins its annual run in Manhattan Oct. 19 at New World Stages.

The industry event, running through Oct. 20, allows theatre writers the opportunity to present their works to an invited audience of producers and industry professionals from around the world. Many of the productions showcased in the 45-minute presentations are produced regionally, Off-Broadway and on Broadway.

NAMT will also offer a Songwriters Showcase, presented at 2:15 PM on Oct. 19 at New World Stages, that highlights the work of emerging composers.

Branden Huldeen directs the Songwriters Showcase, hosted by David Zippel and Dee Hoty, that features 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).

The Festival of New Musicals productions and casting follow:

The cast of Band Geeks! includes Jill Abramovitz (Fame Becomes Me), Aaron J. Albano (Spelling Bee), Marie-France Arcilla (Lizzie Borden), Lindsay Mendez (Everyday Rapture), John Bolton (Curtains), Alex Brightman (Wicked), Adam Chanler-Berat (Next To Normal), Dwayne Clark (In The Heights), Jared Gertner (Ordinary Days), Griffin Matthews (Paper Mill's 1776), Patti Murin (Xanadu) and Kat Palardy (First Wives Club). Gordon Greenberg stages the new musical, which he co-authored with Tommy Newman, Gaby Alter and Mark Allen. Musical director is David Loud.

"Band Geeks! is a high-stepping tribute to high school marching bands and misfits everywhere," according to press notes. "With just nine members and dwindling funds, the Cuyahoga High Marching Beavers are close to extinction. When a troubled athlete is relegated to their ranks, Elliott, the tuba-playing band captain and Laura, his best friend, must find a way to unite the band, overcome their pride and embrace their inner geek."

Factory Girls features Steel Burkhardt (Hair), Kayce Cummings, Allison Cusano, Kate Ferber, Tom Ford (By Jeeves), Molly Hager, Anika Larsen (Xanadu, Avenue Q), David Larsen (Billy Elliot), Carrie Manolakos (Mamma Mia!), Kate Rockwell (Legally Blonde), Dana Steingold (Spelling Bee) and Nicole Weiss. Victoria Bussert directs the Creighton Irons and Sean Mahoney musical Factory Girls, which features musical direction by Matt Hinkley.

"At the dawn of the American Industrial Revolution in 1844, Sarah Bagley leaves her New Hampshire farm to work, socialize, and write with thousands of young women in the growing textile mills of Lowell, Massachusetts. When conditions deteriorate, Sarah risks everything they have gained to fight the 'soulless corporation.' With rock, funk and folk music, Factory Girls captures the passion and upheaval of a time in American history when, for better or worse, our country chose to leave the farm behind."

Casting for Hostage Song includes Jeb Brown (Grease), Susan Goodwillie (Mourning Becomes Electra), John Hickok (Aida), Maria Christina Oliveras (Night Sky) and Caesar Samoya (Under Fire). Oliver Butler directs the Clay McLeod Chapman and Kyle Jarrow musical that has musical direction by Nathan Leigh.

"Bound and blindfolded in a war-torn country, two hostages take refuge in music, memory and each other in this new indie-rock musical. But the further into their fantasy world the two of them go, the more the space between reality and escape blurs."

How Can You Run with a Shell On Your Back? features Gideon Glick (Spring Awakening), Emma Hunton (Spring Awakening), Carey Anderson (Mamma Mia!), Derrick Trumbly, Melissa Menezes, Greg Vinkler (West Side Story) and Noah Weisberg (South Pacific). Michael Mahler and Alan Schmuckler's musical is staged by Kent Nicholson, with musical direction by Deborah Abramson.

"After-school detention becomes an adventure when a stranger shows six students the power of a good story. The Tortoise and the Hare, The Ant and the Grasshopper, Androcles and the Lion... Aesop's timeless fables take an entertaining turn in this new musical that reveals universal truths through appealing, age-old allegories."

Inhabiting Iron Curtain are 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). The Susan DiLallo, Stephen Weiner and Peter Mills musical features direction by Cara Reichel with musical direction by Remy Kurs.

"New York, 1954: two hapless songwriters are kidnapped by the KGB, brought to Moscow, and forced to 'fix' a Communist Propaganda musical. Iron Curtain is a madcap farce filled with divas and dominatrixes, secrets and spies, and mishaps and misdirects, as our heroes desperately try to get back home."

Tony winners Harriet Harris (Thoroughly Modern Millie, Cry-Baby) and Debra Monk (Curtains, Redwood Curtain) lead the cast of It Shoulda Been You, which also features Becca Ayers (South Pacific, Sarah, Plain and Tall), Fred Berman (Shockhead Peter), Jeremy Ellison Gladstone (The Fantasticks), Nathan Lee Graham (Wig Out!), Joe Grifasi (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Colin Hanlon (I Love You Because), Lisa Howard (Spelling Bee), Marla Mindelle (The Drowsy Chaperone), Michael Tucker (Enter Laughing) and Nick Wyman (Catch Me If You Can). Michael Bush directs Barbara Anselmi and Brian Hargrove's musical that has T.O. Sterrett as musical director.

"In a world where nothing is what it seems — religions collide, plots are hatched, pacts are made, and secrets exposed - hope is found where you least expect it. Is it Iran? Is it Iraq? No, it’s just the Steinberg Wedding. Come see the truth unveiled."

Leslie Kritzer (A Catered Affair, Rooms) and Catherine Cox (Baby) co-star in Sara Cooper and Zach Redler's Memory Is the Mother of All Wisdom, directed by Joe Calarco with musical director Vadim Feichner.

"Memory Is The Mother Of All Wisdom is a two-person comic tragedy about the troubled relationship of a woman who has just been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and her estranged daughter who moves back home to take care of her."

The cast of Duane Nelsen's Ripper includes Jen Babiak (Fiddler on the Roof), Cyrilla Baer (Adding Machine), Neal Benari (Aida), Michael Kadin Craig (Altar Boyz), Joan Hess (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Liz McCartney (Taboo, South Pacific), Eric William Morris (Mamma Mia!), Rob Richardson (Tale of Two Cities), Ivan Rutherford (Titanic), Elena Shaddow (The Light in the Piazza), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde) and Bruce Winant (Ragtime). John Simpkins directs with music direction by Andy Einhorn.

"In this Victorian thriller, the PennyWise Music Hall is home to an illusionist who saws women in half while real murders are taking place on the streets outside. Reporter Chester Talbot sets out to unravel the story, but what he sees may not be what it seems."

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 throughout 33 states and six countries.