Philly Musicals Troupe to Stage Concert Featuring Blaemire, Kerrigan, Lowdermilk, Miller, Tysen and More

By Kenneth Jones
May 23, 2008

Philadelphia Music Theater Works, a new company devoted to new, recent and classic musicals, will introduce itself to the theatre community with a concert called FRESH: New Musicals—Stripped on June 13.

This concert "is a celebration of new work for the musical theatre" featuring the songs of Nick Blaemire (Broadway's Glory Days), Chris Miller & Nathan Tysen (The Burnt Part Boys, The Mysteries of Harris Burdick), Brian Lowdermilk & Kait Kerrigan (Off-Broadway's Henry & Mudge, The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown), Jonathan Reid Gealt (Forward), David Ogrin (Hell Hole Honeys), Andre Vermeulen & Randy Petersen (Jailbirds) and Philly writers Dan Martin & Michael Biello (NYMF's The Cousins Grimm).

The FRESH evening will be hosted by artistic director Jeremiah Downes and Tom Dooley (of Off-Broadway's Awesome 80's Prom) and will feature performances by Josh Lamon (Barrymore Award winner, Wicked), Sarah Bolt (Off-Broadway's Walmartopia), Kimberly Rehfuss (Broadway's Taboo), Ben Sheaffer (Broadway's 1776, Sound of Music), Jillian Louis (Off-Broadway's Shlomo), Larry Hamilton (Off-Broadway's Captain Louie), Billy Bustamante, Stearns Matthews, Jeremy Scott, Amanda Brizzi, Joy Mayweather, Fred Ross, Mat Burrow and the cast of the Ritz Theatre Company's Jailbirds.

Musical direction is by Christopher Ertelt.

Downes told Playbill.com that FRESH will be an annual concert event.

"It's our first event in what we hope will serve as a launching pad for the development of new musicals in Philly, both with our company and the many other producing theatres who stage musicals in town," Downes said.

In the troupe's early life, expect concerts and small-cast shows. Philly composer Charles Gilbert (Gemini, the Musical) will be represented this season with a production of his revue Watch the Birdie, about "the mixed blessings of contemporary family life," featuring a cast of Philadelphia actors.

FRESH: New Musicals—Stripped will play 8 PM June 13 at the Ethical Society Building on Rittenhouse Square, 1906 South Rittenhouse Square, in Philadelphia.

Tickets will be sold at the door or can be ordered online at www.phillymusictheater.org.

*

The Philadelphia Music Theater Works "is committed to the development and performance of the vast and ever changing world of the musical theatre."

It aims to be "one of the nation's few producing theatres dedicated to the art and craft of the music theatre."