Recently added concerts, special events programming and newly revealed titles for the Developmental Series (NYMF's staged readings of incubating works) now complete the slate for the annual festival of new musicals.
NYMF's Freshly Announced Developmental Series 2008 includes:
Written by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj
Directed by Nick Petri
"Born Poor. Born Black. Born Female. Their journeys took them far beyond their pre-ordained lives into the heralded world of science. Yet they have remained the Footnotes of History. This is their story."
Book, music and lyrics by Timothy Huang
Directed by Maurice Brandon Curry
"Straight lines, curved lines, body lines, bloodlines. Lines of fire, lines of communication. Lines we sometimes shouldn’t cross and lines we always should. Composer/lyricist Timothy Huang (The View From Here) examines the word and its power in a brand new song cycle that travels from rock, to Americana, to contemporary theater, to R&B and back again. Five versatile actors lead us through twelve stories, questioning what happens when the line that separates black from white becomes irreversibly blurred."
Book by Dennis Nehamen; Music and lyrics by Craig Nehamen
"A hip-hop musical that carries you into the soul of a struggling artist and sets you face-to-face with the cold-hearted music industry, Wrapped is the warming story of a man, broken by his dreams, who lands on an unthinkably noble plan that has nowhere to lead but the dumps. When all inevitably goes awry, he's left fighting twice as hard to put his life back together."
Music and lyrics by John D. Bronston II; Book by Joshua Robinson
"Fairy Tales just got fabulous! This super-fierce Sleeping Beauty Redux follows the banishment of the evil queen – drag queen, that is! – and her revenge: to put the sweet-faced young prince to an enchanted sleep from which he can only be awakened by his one true love...his squire. A sly poke at the politics of gay marriage by way of Fairyland."
Music and lyrics by Phyllis Lynd, Book by Phyllis Lynd and Martha Kearns, with additional dialogue by Soir Aniroc and Scott Tobin
"Judith Carlin is the first female President of the United States. Her husband Dan is the first First Gentleman. Will the first Firsts persevere through thick and thin, sickness and health, Oval Office incest and garbage-slinging gubernatorials? See how the votes add up in this new musical comedy that takes a good hard look at the ins and outs of politics - in and out of the bedroom."
Book, music and lyrics by Tim Frey
"ZOUNDS! Tyranny abounds! Can Robin Hood save the day with a handful of daredevil orphans and a swashbuckling Marian? Find out in this rowdy rock musical comedy adventure."
Book by Brantley Aufill, Monty Holamon, and Tony Mayes; Music and lyrics by Monty Holamon
Based on Alfred Jarry's Ubu Plays
"Ubu: A 'Patamusical adapts all three of Alfred Jarry's infamously absurd Ubu Plays (Ubu King, Ubu Cuckolded, and Ubu Bound) into one new absurdist musical. Watch Pa Ubu kill the king, raid the treasury, go to war…and buy Ma Ubu a good, stout umbrella. Merde!" Newly added special events comprise Chocolate Soup, with music and lyrics by Matt Corriel and a book by Jill Jaysen (Sept. 21); A Puppet Music Thing, curated by Alissa Hunnicutt (Sept. 23); and Giant Killer Shark, with book, music, and lyrics by Sam Sutherland (Oct. 2).
Concerts include the Prospect Theatre Company’s 10th Anniversary Concert (Sept. 21), and Benj Pasek and Justin Paul in Concert (Sept. 22) and Jill Sobule sings Prozak & the Platypus (Oct. 2). An additional concert will be announced shortly.
NYMF's previously announced fully staged and produced 2008 Next Link Projects include About Face, Bedbugs!!! The Musical; Castronauts or: How I Killed Fidel; CYCLONE (and the Pig-Faced Lady); Fucking Up Everything: The Musical; Jason and Ben; The Jerusalem Syndrome; Love Jerry; To Paint the Earth; Twilight in Manchego; and Wood.
Four original dance musicals, The Hourglass and The Poisoned Pen, Sophia's Fall, Ward 9 and Wild About Harry, will also be presented as part of the annual festival.
NYMF membership tickets are currently available. Single tickets go on sale Sept. 1. For more information visit NYMF.
