The latest volume of musicals created by six teams of writers within a one-day period will be performed by Ashlie Atkinson, Lisa Barnes, Declan Bennett, Deborah S. Craig, Natalie Douglas, Lawrence Feeney, Brian Geraghty, Blythe Gruda, Cady Huffman, Jose Llana, Michael Shawn Lewis, Jaygee Macapugay, Orville Mendoza, Donovan Patton, John Eric Parker, Christine Pedi, Michael Pemberton, Darcie Siciliano, Rene Ruiz and Melanie Vaughan.
Those who have created the new 15-minute musicals include writers Craig Pospisil, Barbara Hammond, Jonathan Marc Sherman, Erica Silberman and Jacquelyn Reingold; lyricist-composers Gaby Alter, Brian J. Nash, and Jeremy Schonfeld; and director/choreographers Barry McNabb, Edie Cowan, Tony Parise, Joe Ricci/Tricia Brouk, David Brind and David Hilder. Also involved are Alec Berlin (musical director), Andrea "Spook" Testani (production supervisor), Andrew Donovan (original scenic design) and Rocky Noel (lighting and sound design).
TheAtrainplays, which are a celebration of New York, are created, according to press notes, "by six teams while traveling the entire route of the A train, from 207th Street & Broadway to Far Rockaway and back. On Tuesday evening, June 24, four librettists will hop on the A train at 207th Street and begin writing the books for four 15-minute musicals, all set on the A train. Before each of the teams begins their journey, they pick a number between 3 and 5 to set the number of characters, then they choose headshots from a blind draw to determine who is in each piece. When the librettists reach the Far Rockaway stop, they randomly select, through another blind draw, their collaborative lyricists, composers, directors and choreographers, who have been awaiting their arrival at a nearby McDonald’s with two playwrights joining them and just beginning their journey. Two directors will meet the creators of the now finished plays at 207th Street and they all proceed to Columbus Circle where they meet the pre-selected pool of actors decipher their scribbles, copy the scripts and begin rehearsals. They have until show time the next day, Wednesday night, June 25th at 8 PM to develop these works into six exciting new musical experiences."
New World Stages is located in Manhattan at 340 West 50th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. Tickets — priced $50 for the performance, $100 for premium seats with a post-show benefit party with the cast and creative team — are available by calling (212) 239-6200 or by visiting www.telecharge.com.
