The new musical is by Brendan Milburn, Rachael Sheinkin & Valerie Vigoda and is performed by the pop band GrooveLily: Vigoda (vocals and electric violin), Milburn (vocals and keyboards) and Gene Lewin (vocals and drums).
The series of public concerts of new musicals "reflects MPTC's ongoing mission to develop and produce new American work." The three performances play 8 PM Sept. 11, 3 PM and 7 PM Sept. 12 at the intimate Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway at 95th Street in Manhattan.
"This is the New York concert premiere of Striking 12, and the only chance for East Coast fans to see the revised show," according to the announcement. "The concerts will be recorded live, for an album to be released in December 2004 to coincide with performances of Striking 12 at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto, California."
Tickets are $26, and may be purchased at the Symphony Space box office at (212) 864-5400, or at www.SymphonySpace.org.
Proceeds benefit MPTC's new work development programs. Interested theatre producers should contact MPTC directly for tickets. What's the show about? "A wacky rewiring of Hans Christian Andersen's 'The Little Match Girl,' Striking 12 is a festive fairy tale that features the acclaimed trio GrooveLily, one of the hottest bands in the country. Their sweet, witty concert-play is a clever mix of musical comedy, pop-rock tunes, and old-fashioned uplift, illuminated by an incandescent salesgirl whose holiday spirit just can't be matched."
Milburn and Sheinkin are alumni of the prestigious New York University Tisch School of the Arts Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Vigoda, Milburn, and Lewin comprise the "smart pop" trio, GrooveLily, and have been touring the country since 1995. They have released five albums of their own songs.
Striking 12 was previously produced at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia in 2002 and the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego in 2003.
The first show in Melting Pot's Preludes series in April 2004 was Vanishing Point by Rob Hartmann, Liv Cummins and Scott Keys. Tony Award nominees Alison Fraser, Emily Skinner, and Barbara Walsh starred. In February 2005, MPTC will present the world premiere production of the play Flight, by Garth Wingfield, starring four-time Tony Award nominee Gregg Edelman.
Melting Pot Theatre Company "creates, develops, and produces New York premieres of plays and musicals that explore the themes, people, and events that shape the unique American experience."
Since 1997, MPTC has presented 14 Off-Broadway shows, including three world premieres and seven New York premieres, earning 18 award nominations, including a 2001 Drama Desk Award. Hits include Cookin' at the Cookery: The Music & Times of Alberta Hunter, Miss Evers' Boys, The Devil's Music: The Life & Blues of Bessie Smith, Cobb and Woody Guthrie's American Song.
For more information, visit www.MeltingPotTheatre.com.
