Festival of New Musicals Announces Selections for 2006
This industry-only event brings together producers from around the world hoping to discover the next big hit musical. Its most recent success story is The Drowsy Chaperone, which was presented at the festival in 2004 and went on to Broadway success and five Tony Awards in 2006. Of the eight shows presented last year, six have already booked world premieres or developmental productions.
The 2006 slate is as follows:
Dangerous Beauty, book by Jeannine Dominy; lyrics by Amanda McBroom; music by Michele Brourman: Set in Venice and inspired by the story of Renaissance courtesan and poet Veronica Franco, Dangerous Beauty is adapted from Dominy's screenplay for the 1998 film starring Catherine McCormack, Rufus Sewell, Oliver Platt and Naomi Watts.
Jerry Christmas, music and lyrics by Andrew Lippa; book by Daniel Goldfarb: Jerry Barron, a funnyman in need of a hit, contemplates putting his family on TV in the Christmas special Jerry Christmas!—even though they are Jewish. Set in 1961, this comic musical is by Drama Desk winner Lippa The Wild Party and Goldfarb Modern Orthodox; Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me.
Julian Po, book and lyrics by Andrew Barrett; music by Ira Antelis: Described as a modern-day musical myth, Julian Po begins with "The Muses," a four-piece strolling bluegrass band invoking the day a strange man mysteriously arrives in an even stranger middle-American town.
One Step Forward, music and lyrics by Leslie Arden; book by Berni Stapleton with Leslie Arden and Timothy French: A Canadian team of collaborators including Arden The House of Martin Guerre tells the story of young World War II veterans returning home to women who have had their first taste of independence.
Piece, music and lyrics by Scott Alan; book by Tara Smith: Upon returning to her childhood home following the passing of her mother, Katherine Mathews finds herself piecing together memories of her past as she engages in conversations she's had with her mother at the ages of 17, 26 and 35.
Sunfish, book and lyrics by Michael L. Cooper; book and music by Hyeyoung Kim: Based on a Korean folk tale, Sunfish tells the story of the adventures of Aheh and the fantastical lengths she will travel to restore her Blind Father's sight. The show was created by two recent graduates of NYU's musical theatre writing program.
Vanities, book by Jack Heifner; music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum: Adapted by Heifner from his long-running 1976 play, Vanities chronicles the comic journey of three Texas teens from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to housewives, liberated women and beyond. Kirshenbaum is the composer of two NAMT Festival musicals, Summer of '42 and Party Come Here.
Admission to the Festival of New Musicals is by invitation only and closed to the general public.