NYMF 2007 Announces Complete Schedule

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), now in its fourth year, is a three-week event in NYC that has premiered over 90 musicals in its first three years, becoming the largest musical theatre event in America.  Hailed as "the Sundance of Musical Theatre," NYMF is widely regarded as the essential source for new material and talent discovery.  Tickets for NYMF productions are available at www.nymf.org or by calling 212-352-3101.

This year's Festival will run from September 17 through October 7 with the following schedule of events:

FULL PRODUCTIONS: THE NEXT LINK PROJECT and INVITED WORKS

THE ANGLE OF THE SUN
Book and Lyrics by Rachel Lampert; Music by Larry Pressgrove

A brilliant female painter moves through a series of troubled relationships with reckless abandon, joie de vivre and a compulsive need to laugh at life in this new musical about the seductive tug-of-war between art and love, and the quest for honest art.

The Sage Theater, 711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd fl

SEPTEMBER 17 @ 7:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 18 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 18 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 1 PM

AUSTENTATIOUS
Book by Matt Board, Jane Caplow, Kate Gavlin, Luisa Hinchliff, and Joe Slabe; Music and Lyrics by Matt Board and Joe Slabe

A sold-out hit at the 2006 Philadelphia Fringe Festival, this new musical comedy follows the adventures of the Central Riverdale Amateur Players as they stage a new adaptation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice.  With a clueless director, a jealous diva and the world's best stage manager, bad theater has never been so good!

Julia Miles Theater, 424 West 55th Street

SEPTEMBER 18 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 4:30 PM

BACK HOME: THE WAR BRIDES MUSICAL
Book by Ronald Sproat; Lyrics by Frank Evans; Music by Christopher Berg

The heartwarming untold story of World War II British war brides and the American soldiers they loved.  Back Home follows these women's two-year struggle to be reunited with their husbands.  Cited by The Norwich Bulletin as "Best of the Year" and "the little musical that could" by The Philadelphia Inquirer.

The Sage Theater, 711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd fl.

SEPTEMBER 24 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 4:30 PM

THE BEASTLY BOMBING, or A TERRIBLE TALE OF TERRORISTS TAMED BY THE TANGLES OF TRUE LOVE
Book and Lyrics by Julien Nitzberg; Music by Roger Neill

Nitzberg and Neill's subversive Gilbert-and-Sullivan-style comic operetta about two white supremacist and two Al Qaeda terrorists who become sidetracked by love after trying to blow up the Brooklyn Bridge has already been dubbed "the first great work of comedy to emerge from the post-9/11 little planet of horrors." Outrageously irreverent and a must-see new satire! Winner, "Best Musical of the Year," L.A. Weekly Awards.

Julia Miles Theater, 424 West 55th Street

OCTOBER 2 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 7 @ 1 PM

BERNICE BOBS HER MULLET
Book, Lyrics and Music by Joe Major

A redneck teenage girl leaves her mom's trailer for Little Rock, Arkansas, only to find that the city life isn't all it's cracked up to be!  Bernice's rich, spoiled cousin and her bratty, catty friends conspire to send her packing, but she worms her way into the hearts of Little Rock's teenagers…and gets swept up in the glamour.  This heartwarming musical comedy teaches us the hard way that you shouldn't let popularity go to your head.

Julia Miles Theatre, 424 West 55th Street

SEPTEMBER 19 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 27 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 1 PM

THE BOY IN THE BATHROOM
Book and Lyrics by Michael Lluberes; Music by Joe Maloney

David lives in his bathroom.  He never comes out.  His mother feeds him thin, flat items she can slide under the door.  He has everything he needs.  David has obsessive-compulsive disorder and he's not going anywhere… until he meets Julie… and discovers that there just might be something—or someone—on the other side of the door that will make it worth opening…

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

SEPTEMBER 17 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 20 @ 9 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 4:30 PM

THE BRAIN FROM PLANET X
Book by David Wechter and Bruce Kimmel; Music and Lyrics by Bruce Kimmel

An affectionate and hilarious send-up of bad 50s sci-fi movies, The Brain From Planet X tells the story of an alien invasion circa 1958.  A Brain and its two alien cohorts, Zubrick and Yoni, land on Planet Earth and plot to take over the San Fernando Valley—starting with one happy nuclear family.  Tuneful, toe-tapping, terrifying fun!

The Acorn Theater, 410 West 42nd Street

SEPTEMBER 20 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 8 PM

EMMA
Book, Lyrics and Music by Joel Adlen

Jane Austen's novel comes to life in this delightful musical comedy.  In the town of Highbury, Emma Woodhouse sets about matchmaking her protégé to the town's vicar, but the scheme backfires.  Mistaken notions of who loves whom turn Emma's world upside-down until she finally discovers what she has long denied: Cupid's bow is pointed at herself, and love can be found from an unexpected source.

The Acorn Theater, 410 West 42nd Street

OCTOBER 2 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 7 @ 1 PM

THE FAMILY FIORELLI (AND HOW THEY STAYED ONE)
Book and Lyrics by Fred Anthony Marco; Music by Alastair William King

The Fiorelli Vineyard, Long Island: home to winemaking, lovemaking...and vowbreaking.  Also home to a 9-year-old wine prodigy who talks to saints, a 13-year-old karate kid with cerebral palsy and a vintner's wife undergoing a serious mid-life crisis that is about to take her fellow Fiorellis on one wild ride.  This tart, oaky new musical comedy will have you laughing, crying and reevaluating your beliefs about the definition of family.

TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street

SEPTEMBER 27 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 4:30 PM

GEMINI THE MUSICAL
Book by Albert Innaurato; Lyrics by Charles Gilbert and Albert Innaurato; Music by Charles Gilbert

Sex, guilt and opera make for a hot summer in South Philly!  When Francis Geminiani comes home from Harvard to his working-class neighborhood, he faces his biggest challenge yet: coming out to his macho father, Fran.  Based on the long-running Broadway comedy, Gemini the Musical features the a cast of unforgettable characters, with a score as tasty as good South Philly gravy.

The Acorn Theater, 410 West 42nd Street

SEPTEMBER 18 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 1 @ 8 PM

GOING DOWN SWINGIN'
Book and Lyrics by Matt Boresi; Music by Peter Hilliard

It's 1956, and cad crooner Dean Newhouse's once-successful radio variety show is facing a dangerous new foe: Television.  As Dean struggles to keep his show afloat, his bitter and double-crossed cast plots his come-uppance, in this sexy and swingin' reinvention of Don Giovanni!

TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street

SEPTEMBER 24 @ 8:00 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 8:00 PM; OCTOBER 1 @  1:00 PM; OCTOBER 2 @ 1:00 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 1:00 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 8:00 PM

THE GOOD FIGHT
Book and Lyrics by Nick Enright; Music by David King

What makes a hero?  This new Australian musical drama follows the epic journey of two young men—one a national icon, the other a mere soldier—caught between their own personal beliefs and those of their war-mongering government.  The Good Fight  takes us from the battlefields of World War I to the boxing rings and music hall stages of Australia and America and features graduate students from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

Julia Miles Theater, 424 West 55th Street

SEPTEMBER 20 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 4:30 PM

I SEE LONDON, I SEE FRANCE (THE UNDERWEAR MUSICAL)
Book and Lyrics by Vid Guerrerio; Music and Lyrics by Jeremy Desmon

When brainy ad exec Gina is dumped for a bimbo on her 35th birthday, her universe starts to crumble.  Haunted by a trio of singing lingerie models, she's shocked to find herself falling for the dim-but-smoldering poster boy for her agency's most salacious campaign. In this fast-paced, scantily-clad musical comedy, seven colorful characters drag Gina to the brink of insanity and back on a round-the-globe search for love, happiness and an underwear ad that just might change the world.

TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street

SEPTEMBER 18 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 19 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 4:30 PM

THE KIDS LEFT, THE DOG DIED, NOW WHAT?
Book, Lyrics and Music by Carole Lonner

As introduced on NBC's TODAY show, The Kids Left, The Dog Died, Now What?  follows a group of baby-boomers valiantly struggling with the effect of gravity on their bodies, divorce on their hard-won bank accounts, grandchildren on their self-images and the dating scene on their egos.  Of the 78 million baby-boomers defiantly hanging on their youth, author Carole Lonner has chosen 20 around which to weave her musical.  Mid-life foreplay is the final frontier.

TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street

SEPTEMBER 25 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 2 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 7 @ 1 PM

THE LAST STAR FIGHTER
Book by Fred Landau; Original Screenplay by Jonathan Betuel; Lyrics and Music by Skip Kennon

From Jonathan Betuel's screenplay to the beloved 1984 film comes the story of 18-year-old Alex Rogan, stuck in a tiny trailer park with nothing much to do but master his favorite video game.  Little does he know that the video game has been placed on Earth by Centauri, a con man from another galaxy desperate to save his people and (more importantly) make a buck or two, in this cosmically-entertaining sci-fi fantasy romance.

Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street

SEPTEMBER 28 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 9 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 9 PM; OCTOBER 7 @ 4 PM

LIKE LOVE
Book and Lyrics by Barry Jay Kaplan; Music by Lewis Flynn

He meets She.  He likes She.  She likes He. They meet regularly for Great Sex, then Love enters the picture.  Things get...complicated.  Revisit love in all of its joys and sorrows in this fascinating, intimate three-hander with a sensual, jazz-influenced score.

TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street

SEPTEMBER 20 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 4:30 PM

LITTLE EGYPT
Book by Lynn Siefert; Music and Lyrics by Gregg Lee Henry

A shy mall security guard woos an even shyer waitress in this tragicomic tale of geek love set in Little Egypt, Illinois in the early 1980s.  Pushed together and then pulled apart by their brash, oversexed relatives and their own crippling insecurities, will misfit knight Victor win damsel Celeste's heart?  Little Egypt follows the full ride of love: funny, sad and, when you least expect it, magical.

The Acorn Theater, 410 West 42nd Street

SEPTEMBER 27 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 4:30 PM

LOOK WHAT A WONDER JESUS HAS DONE
Book, Lyrics and Music by Walter Robinson

Charleston, South Carolina. 1822.  Ex-slave Denmark Vesey strives to buy the freedom of his enslaved wife and two young children. But his plan is complicated when their love-obsessed master thwarts him and the Charleston police shut down his independent Black church. Will Denmark secretly escape with his family to the safety of the North, or stay to lead his church members and slaves in an insurrection against their oppressors? A powerful work with a gospel-influenced score.

Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street

SEPTEMBER 19 @ 8 PM ; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 5 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 9 PM; SEPTEMBER 27 @ 5 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 9 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 4 PM

LOVE KILLS
Book, Lyrics and Music by Kyle Jarrow

Nebraska, 1958: the world is closing in on Charlie Starkweather and Caril Fugate, teenage lovers charged with committing eleven cold-blooded murders.  As both are pressured to confess by dawn, facts blur.  Loyalties shift.  But the question remains: how far will you go for someone you love?  Based on the true story that inspired the films Badlands and Natural Born Killers, this world-premiere emo rock musical by OBIE Award-winning playwright Kyle Jarrow (…Children's Scientology Pageant and Gorilla Man) explores the intersection of love and desire.

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

SEPTEMBER 18 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 8 PM  

LOVE SUCKS
Book and Lyrics by Stephen O'Rourke; Music by Brandon Patton

Shakespeare Goes Gonzo as Love's Labour's Lost is transported to the burgeoning punk scene of the 1970s East Village. Two competing rock bands, The [All-Guy] Molotovs and The [All-Girl] Gutter Snipes, swear off love in order to stay focused on their music.  But their "best-laid" plans go awry upon meeting…each other.

Julia Miles Theater, 424 West 55th Street

SEPTEMBER 26 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 27 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 1 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 6, 8 PM  

MACCABEAT!
Book and additional music and lyrics by Chayim Ben Za'ev; Lyrics by Richard Jarboe; Music by Harvey Shield

Hebrew hottie Judah Maccabee is torn between Judaism and the allure of the modern world around him.  Join him on his quest for answers as he tries out for the Olympics, falls for a  Greek "goddess" and discovers his destiny, with a little help from his crew and the world's first Valley Girl.  Forget everything you've heard about the oil lasting eight nights:  THIS is the true story of Hanukkah, sort of.

The Acorn Theater, 410 West 42nd Street

SEPTEMBER 24 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 30 @ 1 PM, OCTOBER 3 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 4:30 PM, OCTOBER 6 @ 8 PM

MUD DONAHUE & SON
Book by Jeff Hochhauser, based on Jack Donahue's "Letters of a Hoofer to His Ma"; Lyrics by Jeff Hochhauser and Bob Johnston; Music by Bob Johnston

When 19-year old tap-dance whiz kid Jack Donahue runs away from home in 1910 to join a small-time New England vaudeville tour, he comes face to face with floozies, flossies and show people.  What plain-speaking, God-fearing Irish mother wouldn't be upset?  Meet Mother "Mud" Donahue and son Jack in this charming, taptastic new two-hander!

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

OCTOBER 2 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 7 @ 1 PM

PETITE ROUGE: A CAJUN RED RIDING HOOD
Book, Lyrics and Music by Joan Cushing

When the Big Bad Gator spies plucky duckling Petite Rouge heading down the bayou to Grand-mere's house, Petite and her quick-witted cat Tejean lead him on a wild duck chase through the New Orleans Mardi Gras, all the way to a surprise ending.  A saucy Swamp Chorus sings backup in the Zydeco-driven score to this spicy new family musical from the writer/composer of Junie B. Jones and the Miss Nelson musicals.

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

SEPTEMBER 25 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 8 PM 

THE PIPER
Book by, Music and Lyrics by Marcus Hummon

A strangler lurks in Boston's shadows.  Jordan, a courageous young innkeeper and former prostitute, tries desperately to keep her friends and daughter as far away as possible from the mysterious killer, only to find that he might just be her new boarder.  The Piper follows The Strangler and his victims through the brothels, inns, pubs and alleyways of late-19th century Scolley Square and boasts a dynamic Celtic-influenced score by Grammy Award winner Marcus Hummon.

Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street

SEPTEMBER 18 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 9 PM, SEPTEMBER 22 @ 1 PM, SEPTEMBER 23 @ 4:30 PM, SEPTEMBER 27 @ 9 PM, SEPTEMBER 29 @ 5 PM 

PLATFORMS
Book by Delaney Britt Brewer; Music by Brent Lord

Through a combination of dance, music and dialogue as diverse as the city itself, Platforms unfolds as a midwestern couple is separated on a crowded New York subway platform. Now, they'll each find new adventures, friends, and perspectives before they find each other.  [IRH: This is not the final blurb used in the program (which, incidentally, should be used to replace whatever's on the site.]

Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street

OCTOBER 2 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 9 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 1 PM

ROLLER DERBY
Book by Barry Arnold; Lyrics by Barry Arnold and John Braden; Music by John Braden and Harold Wheeler

On the road in 1972, a brash young rookie from New York City's mean streets takes on the sport's beloved but aging star in a battle royal for the title of Roller Derby Queen. Rockin' and rollin' with the ten decidedly colorful gals and guys on their team, along the way the rivals meet their match, discovering more than they ever dared to dream about life, love and how the game is played. Five-time Tony Award nominee Donald McKayle (Golden Boy, Raisin) directs and choreographs to a lively pop/rock score by award-winning composers John Braden & Harold Wheeler (Orchestrator: Dreamgirls, Hairspray), with lyrics by Braden and Barry Arnold, who also created the book.

The Ailey Citigroup Theatre at 405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue)

SEPTEMBER 20 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 8 PM;  SEPTEMBER 22 @ 2 PM & 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 27 @ 3 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 at 8 PM

SHERLOCK HOLMES (THE EARLY YEARS)
Book by Kate Ferguson with Robert Hudson; Lyrics by Susannah Pearse; Music by Jared M. Dembowski

The streets of London are dark and foggy as Sherlock Holmes broods on the rise of a new criminal mastermind. But everything changes when the Blunt Diamond is stolen and Holmes must rouse himself to investigate.  Is handsome Doctor Watson the key, or is it the mysterious Nurse Mary? Thrilling adventures abound in this mysteriously-romantic comedy complete with dancing bobbies! This musical romp will keep you laughing all the way to 221B Baker Street and back again. The game is afoot!

Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street

SEPTEMBER 24 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 9 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 5 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 9 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 5 PM  

SUCH GOOD FRIENDS
Book, Lyrics and Music by Noel Katz

The early days of television come to life in this new musical comedy chronicling the trials and tribulations of three old friends – an actress, a writer and a director – as they scramble to churn out a weekly network variety show.  But when a boldly political sketch lands them in front of the House for Un-American Activities Committee, the strength of old bonds are tested, and personal and professional relationships are endangered.

Julia Miles Theater, 424 West 55th Street

SEPTEMBER 28 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 1 PM  

SYMPATHY JONES
Book by Brooke Pierce; Music and Lyrics by Masi Asare

Meet Sympathy Jones, a receptionist at an intelligence agency with big dreams of becoming a super spy.  After being passed over for a promotion one time too many, she steals a top-secret file and sets out to stop villainess Kitty Hawk.  From gadgets to goons, our quirky heroine braves it all and discovers there's more to being a spy than donning a catsuit!

Julia Miles Theater, 424 West 55th Street

SEPTEMBER 24 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 27 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 1 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 4:30 PM

TULLY (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Book by Joshua William Gelb; Lyrics and Music by Stephanie Johnstone

Tully has lost his memory.  But a past of passionate affairs, murder, and countless betrayals is not easily forgotten.  A lifetime's worth of writings will force their author to confront the terrible cost of his actions and the formidable fate which awaits him in this daring new musical drama inspired by the poems of Catullus. 

The Sage Theater, 711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd fl.

SEPTEMBER 20 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 28 @ 4:30 PM

UNLOCK'D
Book and Lyrics by Sam Carner; Music by Derek Gregor

Classical meets pop in this funny, screwball musical set in a world where beauty is everything!  In lavish Hampton Court, surrounded by mischievous spirits, feisty young Clarissa fights to win the heart of The Baron from her gorgeous step sister, Belinda. Chaos ensues and teacups shatter when The Baron's geeky brother, Edwin enters the fray. Everyone grab your scissors and prepare to become ... UNLOCK'D.

TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street

SEPTEMBER 17 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 19 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 21 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 1 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 1 PM

VIRTUOSA
Book by Diane Seymour; Featuring the music of Frederic Chopin, Robert Schumann, Clara Schumann and Johannes Brahms

Child prodigy, pianist extraordinaire, businesswoman, mother of seven, composer and muse to the great geniuses of the Romantic era, Clara Schumann was the original Superwoman.  This one woman, one pianist musical play examines the power of art to sustain us and the sacrifices we are willing to make.

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

SEPTEMBER 19 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 20 @ 12 PM; SEPTEMBER 20 @ 4 PM  

WITH GLEE
Book, Lyrics and Music by John Gregor

An old fashioned, new musical comedy about five maladjusted, eccentric, isolated, awkward, sweet, I, nerdy little boys, who are sent away to boarding school in Maine, where they ultimately find acceptance, friendship and even some normalcy.

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

SEPTEMBER 27 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 28 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 3 @ 8 PM, OCTOBER 5 @ 4:30 PM, OCTOBER 6 @ 1 PM, OCTOBER 7 @ 4:30 PM

THE YELLOW WOOD
Book by Michelle Elliott; Lyrics by Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen; Music by Danny Larsen

Not-so-normal 17-year old Adam takes a fantastic, unpredictable journey as he struggles to accept all the parts of himself: his ADD, his Korean heritage and his complex relationships with friends and family.  A vibrant musical kaleidoscope exploring the angst, joy and highly imaginative state of one teen's amazing brain.  Directed by Tony Award Winner BD Wong.

The Acorn Theater, 410 West 42nd Street

SEPTEMBER 19 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 25 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 8 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 1 @ 4:30 PM

DEVELOPMENTAL SERIES: READINGS

Presented in partnership with the Evaluation Program of the National Music Theater Network (NYMF's parent organization), NYMF's Developmental series offers audiences the chance to share in an earlier step in the creation of six new musicals.  Two of this year's selections were scripts submitted to the Evaluation Program, which for over a decade has provided writers with professional feedback from working theater directors, music directors, and choreographers.  These two projects, which were awarded NMTN's 2007 Director's Choice Awards, receive grants to underwrite their presentations at NYMF.  All Readings are $15.

THE COUSINS GRIMM
Book by Ted Sod; Lyrics by Michael Biello; Music by Dan Martin

Jackie and Leon Grimm are faced with the task of adapting their ancestors' canon…this time, with an added queer sensibility.  Watch The Cousins Grimm navigate their way through The Brothers' beloved fairytales, learning quite a bit about themselves and their relatives in the process!  A finalist for the 2006 O'Neill Music Theatre Conference and Stages 2007 in Chicago.

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

SEPTEMBER 24 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 24 @ 8 PM

CUTMAN: A BOXING MUSICAL
Book by Jared Coseglia; Music & Lyrics by Drew Brody; Story by Jared Coseglia and Cory Grant

All his life, Ari Hoffman has dreamed of being the Welter-Weight Boxing Champion of the World.  After years of being sheltered and trained by his father in the basement of their synagogue, Ari finally turns pro, taking the boxing world by storm. However, when his promoter orchestrates a title fight on the eve of Yom Kippur, Ari chooses to fight, defying his faith and his family. With an exciting Hip-Hop/R&B-influenced score, Cutman chronicles the story of a young Jewish boxer's struggle between his ambition and his religion.

TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street

OCTOBER 4 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 6 @ 1 PM 

JC2K
Book, Music & Lyrics by Brian Fountain

The U.S. Army had a simple plan: Breed a battalion of Jesus Christ clones and turn them into elite super-soldiers. But something went wrong and one of the six million dollar messiahs escaped. Now, they must do the unthinkable: bring him home or take him down.

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

OCTOBER 1 @ 4:30 PM; OCTOBER 1 @ 8 PM; OCTOBER 5 @ 11PM

NAUGHTY! THE MUSICAL WORLD OF EMMET TAYLOR FARKAS
Book, Lyrics and Music by Leo Schwartz

Helen Keller sings, Peter Rabbit curses, Beaver Cleaver comes out of the closet, and a blues singer leaves her thalidomide lover for a double amputee!  Watch four actors take on 42 roles from seven of Emmet Taylor Farkas's 46 outrageous musicals.  Never heard of Emmet Taylor Farkas?  Well, now you'll never forget him.  Winner, 2007 Director's Choice Award.

The Sage Theater, 711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd fl.

SEPTEMBER 27 @ 4:30 PM, SEPTEMBER 27 @ 8 PM 

TOP OF THE HEAP
Book and Lyrics by William Squier; Music by Jeffrey Lodin

Top of the Heap unfolds as a musical within a musical, written in the heightened style of a golden age of television drama. It's New York City, 1955.  Ronny Mauro is a down-and-out nightclub comic who will stop at nothing to appear on live television. But, he soon discovers just how high a price he'll have to pay. Starring Eddie Korbich and Marcus Neville.  Winner, 2007 Director's Choice Award.

The Sage Theater, 711 Seventh Avenue, 2nd fl

SEPTEMBER 19 @ 4:30PM; SEPTEMBER 19 @ 8 PM

WARSAW
Book and Lyrics by John Atkins; Music by William Wade

Warsaw is the story of Ana, a Polish Catholic, and her Jewish fiance, Roman, who is forced into the Warsaw Ghetto by the Nazis. With a richly harmonic and soaring score, we watch their struggle to reunite against overwhelming odds as Roman joins a small group of fighters who struggle for freedom and dignity.

Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street

OCTOBER 4 @ 1 PM; OCTOBER 4 @ 5 PM

NYMF SPECIAL EVENTS

NYMF Special Events offer limited runs to unique productions and musical theatre experiences.  This year, NYMF Special Events adapt a cult classic, look at musical theatre as an art form, and stretch their audience base to include teenagers and younger. All Special Events tickets are $20, except Suddenly Summer! Tickets, which are $15.

DIE HARD THE PUPPET MUSICAL
Book and Lyrics by John Ardolino; Music by James Walton

Armed with a dizzying array of shadow, bunraku and hand puppets, plus a veritable smorgasbord of gripping musical numbers, we bring you the epic tale of New York cop John McClane as he blows stuff up, befriends a local cop with a weakness for snack cakes and kicks some serious terrorist ass to save the puppet he loves.

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

SEPTEMBER 22 @ 4:30 PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 11 PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 1 PM 

FRESHLY TOSSED

What happens when you take physical comedy…dance…musical theatre…and mix them all together?  Find out as curators Wendy Seyb (School Daze, NYMF 2006) and Mark Lonergan bring together some of New York's most exciting artists in search of the next evolution of musical theatre comedy.

Theater at St. Clements, 423 West 46th Street

OCTOBER 1 @ 7 PM; OCTOBER 1 @ 9:30 PM

INTERVENTION
Book by Jill Jaysen and Matt Corriel; Music and Lyrics by Matt Corriel

A babysitting stint sparks a comedic avalanche of disinformation when an eight year old boy misinterprets his babysitter's cell phone conversation.  Assuming the worst, he calls her friends for help, uniting the jocks, thespians, and academics to stage a needless intervention.  Rumors inflate and accusation s fly as these disparate personalities ultimately learn how to put their differences aside and work together in this hilarious new musical comedy.

The Acorn Theater, 410 West 42nd Street

SEPTEMBER 23 @ 4:30 PM, SEPTEMBER 23 @ 8 PM

THE SEVEN YEAR B*TCH
Book and Lyrics by Sammy Buck, Music by Daniel S. Acquisito

Fresh off their triumphant NYMF run of Like You Like It, Dan Acquisto and Sammy Buck bring you an evening of… HOLD ON.  Fresh?  Like You Like It was three years ago.  Okay, strike that.  Dan Acquisto and Sammy Buck, everyone's favorite second choice for Broadway, off-Broadway, film and TV jobs, show you what it's like to persevere, with songs ranging from wickedly funny to bitterly heartfelt.  And if you did see Like You Like It, you can find out what really happened to it and even hear some cut songs.  Other tunes about misadventures in love and work, and never winning a certain performing arts foundation grant each year, will make you feel much better about your life.

TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street

OCTOBER 1 @ 8 PM

STEP
Book and Lyrics by Harrison Rivers; Music by Wayne Lyle

The clap of the hand.  The stomp of the foot.  For over a century, step dancers have used their bodies as musical instruments to create a new physical language. Step brings this explosive art form to the stage in an exciting new musical, where dance, music, and Afro-urban rhythms and rhymes relay the cultural and personal stories of a new generation… and their link to the past.

45th Street Theater, 354 West 45th Street

SEPTEMBER 30 @ 2 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 5 PM

SUDDENLY SUMMER!
Book, Lyrics and Music by Dan Cohen

A musical journey about summer vacation, friendship and elementary school. The music is jumping, the talent's like a water slide on a hot day.  Kids will delight in the moment and you'll remember why they invented summer vacation.  So toss the shoes, catch the wave and don't forget the sunscreen!  Suddenly Summer! Music for kids that parents can stand!

Julia Miles, 424 West 55th Street

SEPTEMBER 21 @ 2PM; SEPTEMBER 22 @ 2 PM

Ars Nova CONCERT SERIES

This year NYMF continues its partnership with NYC's emerging artist hub, Ars Nova.  Our joint series of concerts and special events is designed to showcase some of NY's top theatre talents alongside musical theatre's most promising newcomers.  All events at Ars Nova (511 W 54th Street)   All Tickets $20.

CHOPSTICKS LARRY: A TRIBUTE

Enthusiastic fans Eli Bolin & Sam Forman perform a series of outrageously funny songs by their favorite cult musical theatre composer, "Chopsticks" Larry Mendelbaum (aka Bolin & Forman).  Some Mendelbaum classics on this program include: "Blinded By Love" (from the ' 1971 musical Gay Oedipus) "Midnight Train To Moscow" (from the infamous R&B Chekhov adaptation, Tree Sistaz!) and "Naked Brunch" (the title song from what critics have called "the most offensive show of all time").

Ars Nova, SEPTEMBER 23 @ 7 PM

HEARKEN TO A PIEHOLE
Lyrics by Robert Maddock; Music by Joe Iconis

Songwriters Joe Iconis (2007 Kleban Award winner) and Robert Maddock team up with director John Simpkins and a cast of starry musical theatre punks for a night of piano-smashing music.  Full of evil M.C.'s, delightful derelicts, hedonistic hustlers and a baby in a jar, Hearken to a Piehole promises to be the most repulsively entertaining collection of songs you can imagine.

Ars Nova, SEPTEMBER 24 @ 8 PM

MEL & EL: THIS SHOW RHYMES

If Bette Midler, Carol Burnett and Roz Russell all got drunk and did it – Mel & El would be the result. – With memorable songs like "Nice Jewish Boys" and "Fagnet," Mel & El: This Show Rhymes has been described as a musical "Kathy & Mo" meets "Sex and the City."  Created and performed by funny femmes Melanie Adelman and Ellie Dvorkin, with music by Patrick Spencer Bodd, Evan Toth, Kimberly Stern, Noah Diamond, and Amanda Sisk.

Ars Nova, SEPTEMBER 28 @ 8 PM

CLEAR BLUE TUESDAY

Director Elizabeth Lucas (NYMF: The View From Here, Captain Gravy's Wavy Navy, The Last Starfighter) presents an evening of songs from the rock movie musical Clear Blue Tuesday, featuring the film's extraordinary cast of actor-singer-songwriters.  Weaving together the stories of eleven New Yorkers whose lives change course after 9/11, Clear Blue Tuesday explores how we examine our own lives against the backdrop of catastrophic world events.

Ars Nova, SEPTEMBER 29 @ 8 PM

Jeremy Schonfeld

A true piano man and storyteller through song, Jeremy Schonfeld (Drift, NYMF '06) chronicles New York through his richly layered blend of rock-theater fusion.  Joined by an invited cast of all-star Broadway talent, Schonfeld will demonstrate why he is quickly becoming a sensation on New York's art-rock scene.

Ars Nova, OCTOBER 1 @ 8 PM

Todd Almond LOVES YOU

Singer-songwriter Todd Almond (People Like Us at NYMF '05) has quickly emerged as someone to watch on the theatre scene.  Having performed choice roles such as Charlotte in I Am My Own Wife and the title role in Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Almond, joined by surprise guests, takes an evening to present his own material from favorite upcoming projects.  With downtown rockers and theatre stars alike flocking to see Mr. Almond—this is a concert you won't want to miss!

Ars Nova, OCTOBER 4 @ 8 PM

Daniel Reichard: KEGGER '07

A celebration of music and beer and the stupid things that happen when you put the two together.  Fill up at the keg and join Jersey Boy Daniel Reichard and his special guests who will perform classic rock songs all night long.  Be prepared to chug beer and dance!  (This party is standing room only).

Ars Nova, OCTOBER 5 @ 12:00 AM

SONGS & STORIES: Paul Scott Goodman & FRIENDS

Since his splash onto the New York scene with his 1999 musical Bright Lights Big City, Paul Scott Goodman's work has developed a cult following.  Join the singer/songwriter and his special guests, who will perform some of his greatest hits from Bright Lights Big City, Rooms (NYMF '05) and his forthcoming musical, Alive In the World (NYMF '06 Developmental Series).  Music Direction by Jesse Vargas.  Directed by Scott Schwartz.

Ars Nova, OCTOBER 6 @ 8 PM

JUNK IN THE TRUNK

As Lin-Manuel Miranda prepares to take In the Heights to Broadway in March 2008, he dives into his trunk and serves up songs from his past, present, future.  Junk in the Trunk  will be performed by Miranda and cast members of In the Heights, with internationally renowned beatboxer Shockwave providing tasty beats and a bevy of special guests to be announced.

Ars Nova, OCTOBER 7 @ 7 PM

PARTNER PRODUCTIONS

Since its inception NYMF has joined forces with other organizations celebrating musical theatre during the month of September. Enjoy the full spectrum of NYC's musical theatre activity, and check out these partner productions held at numerous different venues around the city.

ANTONIN
A Site-Specific Installation of Musical Dynamic Tableaux by Roi "Bubi" Escudero

Bubi's distinctive dream-like dynamic tableaux fuse the gory characters of the Grand Guignol, the shocking awareness of the Theatre of Cruelty, with the unpredictability of the Absurd, Café Concert's chansons, Dance, Opera and Tango. Structures are broken down, reality & fantasy are intermingled, and the audience is invited to join in the process.

The Philip Coltoff/Greenwich Village Center, 219 Sullivan Street

OCTOBER 6 @ 8 PM
Free; Reservations required.

APAC: A NEW GENERATION OF SONG '07
THE FUTURE OF MUSICAL THEATRE

The second offering of our successful musical showcase featuring the songs of up-and-coming composers in the musical theatre world with a few surprises from established Broadway composers.  In a time when an original musical is a rare occurrence, A New Generation of Song: The Future of Musical Theatre gives new musicals a chance to be heard and appreciated in a cabaret-like atmosphere.

Waltz-Astoria, 23-14 Ditmars Blvd. (between 23rd & 24th Street)

SEPTEMBER 28 @ 7 PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 7 PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 7 PM
General admission $15 

GIRL GANG!

Didi, an otherwise '50s "clean-teen" looking to escape her oppressive home life, stumbles down a path of infamy and eventual redemption in a reform school with other girls-gone-wild!    Adult women portray all teenagers, and men portray all adults, regardless of gender. The acting style is specific to the film era in which the musical is set; a 1950s pulp juvie fantasy mixed with gritty underclass reality; the contrast with our current era creates much of the show's humor.

Atlantic Theater Stage II, 330 West 16th Street

SEPTEMBER 22 @ 8:30PM; SEPTEMBER 23 @ 3PM, SEPTEMBER 23 @ 8PM, SEPTEMBER 24 @ 6:30PM; SEPTEMBER 26 @ 3PM & 8PM; SEPTEMBER 27 @ 8PM; SEPTEMBER 28 @ 7PM & 10PM; SEPTEMBER 29 @ 8PM; SEPTEMBER 30 @ 3PM

JUNGLE QUEEN DEBUTANTE
Book by Sean O'Donnell; Lyrics and Music by Thomas Tierney

Take one Ingénue following her heart, mix in an archeologist who can't quite remember who he is, an elocution mistress with a secret, and a suave ambassador.  Add a lovelorn jungle chanteuse, a mobster with nefarious plans and the wickedest woman in the Lost City for this cocktail of an adventure musical with a big Broadway sound.

Times Square Arts Center, 300 West 43rd Street (Room 411)

SEPTEMBER 26 at 8pm; SEPTEMBER 27 at 8pm; SEPTEMBER 28 at 3pm and 8pm; SEPTEMBER 29 at 8pm; OCTOBER 3 at 8pm; OCTOBER 4 at 8pm; OCTOBER 5 at 3pm and 8pm; and OCTOBER 6 at 8pm.  

LIVE WIRE

A new music series that mixes New York's hottest acts in music and comedy into one jamming showcase.  Comix will present musicians trying out anything old or new, comedians – not known for singing – performing songs and a blend of the two. As the lyrics state, "Anything goes!"

Comix, 353 West 14th Street (just East of Ninth Avenue)

SEPTEMBER 17 at 8 PM
General Admission $12

MAGIC TO DO: AN EVENING WITH Stephen Schwartz

Perhaps more than any other composer, Stephen Schwartz is known forintroducing a pop/rock vocabulary to Broadway. From his early hits Godspell and Pippin, which ran on Broadway when he was in his early twenties, through his Oscar-winning work in the movies (Pocahontas,Hunchback of Notre Dame, Prince of Egypt) he has created a remarkably varied and colorful repertoire of shows that bubble with humor and compassion. His latest mega-hit Wicked proves that he is undeniably in his prime, and he has a wealth of new projects ready to follow on that success. Join host Sean Hartley for an evening with this fascinating andarticulate artist, featuring performances by such exceptional Broadway singers as Debbie Gravitte, Liz Callaway, Marni Nixon and more.

The Times Center, 242 West 41st Street

OCTOBER 1 @ 8 PM
General admission $35

MUSICALS ON TELEVISION

A sampler of famed musicals adapted for television, with salutes to Ethel Merman – whose centenary will be celebrated in 2008 – and West Side Story on the fiftieth anniversary of its Broadway premiere.

The Paley Center for Media (formerly The Museum of Television & Radio), 25 West 52nd Street (between Fifth and Sixth Avenues).
Suggested donation: $10, $8 seniors and students, $5 children under 14 Call 212-621-6600; www.paleycenter.org

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29
West Side Story at 50 – 12:30 PM

Includes the "balcony scene" with original cast stars Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert, on the Ed Sullivan Show (1958); a 1958 episode of Look Up and Live, with director/choreographer Jerome Robbings and cast members and a 1961 episode of the WCBS program American Musical Theater with Stephen Sondheim.  (90 minutes.)

The Best of Broadway: Panama Hattie – 2 PM

Music and lyrics by Cole Porter, book by Herbert Fields and B.G. DeSylva (television adaptation by HerBert Baker and supervised by Jule Styne).  With Ethel Merman, Art Carney, Ray Middleton, Jack E. Leonard, Janis Carter, Neil Hamilton, and Karin Wolfe. (1954; 60 minutes)

Applause – 3 PM

Music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams, book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green.  With Lauren Bacall, Larry Hagman, Penny Fuller, Sarah Marshall, Robert Mandan, Harvey Evans, and Rod McLennan. (1973; 10 minutes)

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30
HallMark Hall of Fame: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown – 3 PM.

Music, lyrics, and book by Clark Gesner, based on the Charles Schulz comic strip.  With Barry Livingston, Wendell Burton, Ruby Persson, Mark Montegomery, Noelle Matlovsky, and Bill Hinnant. (1973; 80 minutes)

HallMark Hall of Fame: The Fantasticks – 4:45 PM

Book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt.   With Ricardo Montalban, Stanley Holloway, Bert Lahr, Susan Watson, and John Davidson (1964; 50 minutes) 

THE ROCKAE
Lyrics and Music by Peter Mills, adapted from Euripides' THE BACCHAE by Peter Mills and Cara Reichel

Pent-up King Pentheus takes on Dionysus and his frenzied female fans when the god of wine and theater returns to Thebes. Get ready for moshing Maenads and thrashing catharsis in this rock musical adaptation of Euripides' classic, The Bacchae. Drama Desk-nominated writer Peter Mills fuses the intensity of heavy metal with the violence of ancient Greek tragedy.

Hudson Guild Theater, 441 West 26th Street 

SEPTEMBER 15 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 16 @ 7 PM, SEPTEMBER 17 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 20 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 21 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 22 @ 8 PM,  SEPTEMBER 23 @ 3:00 PM, SEPTEMBER 27 @ 8:00 PM, SEPTEMBER 28   @ 8:00 PM, SEPT EMBER 29 @ 8 PM, SEPTEMBER 30 @ 3 PM, OCTOBER 3 @ 8 PM, OCTOBER 4 @ 8 PM OCTOBER 5 @ 8 PM OCTOBER 6 @ 8 PM, OCTOBER 7 @ 3 PM, OCTOBER 10 @ 8 PM, OCTOBER 11 @ 8 PM, OCTOBER 12 @  8 PM, OCTOBER 13 @ 3 PM, OCTOBER 13 @ 8 PM, OCTOBER 14 @ 3 PM 

NYMF @ NITE

NYMF FOREPLAY: THE OPENING NIGHT PARTY

Whet your appetite at NYMF Foreplay as you gear up for three weeks of musical theatre mayhem.  On SEPTEMBER 17, NYMF celebrates the start of its 2007 fall festival with an enormous party for its friends and supporters.  You're invited to join us and enjoy but a mere taste of what's to come!

Touch, 240 West 52nd Street

BROADWAY IDOL

After playing to standing room only crowds, BROADWAY IDOL, NYMF's scintillating showtune flavored answer to American Idol, returns this summer for round 2! Joins us for 3 nail biting rounds as our dueling divas, sassy sopranos, and bragging baritones battle for your votes and the coveted crown. Last year's judges included such theater stars as

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