A mix of cutting-edge, funny and touching new musicals are premiering all over New York as part of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival honorarily chaired by Tony Award-winning director Jack O'Brien.
For the first time in the history of NYMF, a developmental reading in the festival, For Tonight will add a concert performance. Additionally, WikiMusical, a crowd hit, will extend for a second time.
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For Tonight
Book by Shenelle Williams, Spencer Williams and Whitney Rhodes
Music and Lyrics by Shenelle Williams and Spencer Williams
Directed by Joe Barros
Concert Performance July 18 at 9 PM, at the Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W. 42nd Street). "When their parents die of a mysterious illness in their small Welsh village, surviving children Thomas, Haydon, and Nettie are forced to fend for themselves. Inspired by the gypsies who once shared their home, Haydon heads off to Liverpool, guitar in hand, to find what the world has to offer. There he meets Mirela who speaks to his wandering soul. When Haydon learns that his sister is ill, he is forced to choose between family and the life he left behind, or freedom and the love he has now found."
Featuring Hannah Berggren ("Broadway or Bust"), Sean Buhr, Heather Botts, Colin Critchley (Waiting for Godot, Kinky Boots), Patrick Dunn, Hannah Elless (Godspell), Brandon Kalm (American Idiot), Kate Moore, CJ Pawlikowski and Krista Pioppi (Spring Awakening).
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WikiMusical
Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris
Music by Trent Jeffords
Directed by Richard J. Hinds
July 18-26, plus additional performance July 20 at 4 PM
"WikiMusical is a hilarious new musical satire of the virtual age. It tells the epic tale of two estranged brothers, Peter and Kurt Oglesby, who return to their childhood home for Christmas Eve and, through a series of mysterious events, are magically zapped inside the Internet. But getting back to reality isn’t as simple as clicking on the right hyperlink; the brothers must put aside their differences and come to terms with their pasts in order to save the future. Along the way, they will need to rely on help from allies like the Cuddly Kittens (who may or may not have created the Internet), a cowardly Emoticon (who is searching for his long lost love, Princess LOL), and an omniscient Narrator (who may or may not be Morgan Freeman)."
Featuring Brenda Braxton, Darius Harper, Trey Harrington, Michael Mahany, Noah Marlowe, Alison Novelli, Heather Jane Rolff, Lucas Schultz, Barry Shafrin, Adam B. Shapiro, Perry Sherman and Bob Walton.
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NYMF continues through July 27 at several locations throughout New York City. Tickets, exact performance venues, times and more information are all available at nymf.org.
