Eight Shows Set for 2007 Festival of New Musicals

A roster of eight new shows will be performed for an invited audience of industry professionals at the 19th annual Festival of New Musicals, sponsored by the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. Designed to introduce writers and their work to producers who may be able to assist in the development of new musicals, this year's event will be held on October 7 and 8 at New World Stages.

From the last three festivals alone, 20 shows have secured productions at theaters around the country. The festival's biggest success story, The Drowsy Chaperone, was first performed at the festival in 2004 and is now in its second year on Broadway. The 2007 lineup as is follows:

The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical
Music and lyrics by Lori Scarlett, book by Patricia Cotter
With her family of friends by her side, recently dumped Helen Hill encounters the following: two-stepping twelve-steppers, Paxil popping lawyers, dental dams, grrrl bands, hot girl on girl action, and maybe the girl of her dreams. The Break Up Notebook: The Lesbian Musical features a book by television and screenwriter Cotter and music and lyrics by L.A. composer Scarlett. The show had its world premiere at the Hudson Theatre in Hollywood in 2005, where it won numerous awards.

Casey at the Bat
Music by Gordon Goodwin, book and lyrics by Tom Child
Based on the classic poem and the book Casey On the Loose by sportswriter Frank Deford, Casey comes to bat for Mudville, U.S.A. in a tale of humor, love, greed and the competitive spirit to learn that he can be a hero even when he strikes out. Bookwriter and lyricist Child is a freelance writer of theater, TV and film; composer Goodwin is a Grammy- and Emmy-winning musician for his work on animated series and The Incredibles and is leader of the Big Phat Band. Their show has had two staged readings on Los Angeles.

The Chocolate Tree
Music by Marshall Pailet, lyrics by A.D. Penedo, book by Pailet and Penedo
A remarkable young girl stricken with a grave illness uses her rich fantasy world and indomitable spirit to bring the impossible to life, which takes her family and the audience on a powerful, transforming journey. Pailet and Penedo are the authors of Loch Ness and Where It's At. The Chocolate Tree received an initial reading at the 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

The Gypsy King
Music and lyrics by Randy Rogel, book by Kirby Ward and Rogel
Two penniless entertainers stumble into a small town and land in the middle of a plot to assassinate the King. When it's discovered that one of them looks exactly like the doomed monarch, things get sticky. The Gypsy King, which was first presented under the working title Romancing the Throne at the New Tuners Series in Chicago in 2005, is a collaboration between film and TV writer and composer Rogel and actor, director, chorereographer and film writer Ward.

Kingdom
Music by Ian Williams, book and lyrics by Aaron Jafferis
Inspired by the true stories of current and former Latin Kings, Kingdom chronicles the journey of two kids from the barrio who join the Kings in search of power and respect. When tragedy strikes, a power struggle tears the two friends apart, with devastating results. Composer Williams is a graduate of NYU, and book writer/lyricist Jafferis is known for his hip-hop poetry and plays. Kingdom had its world premiere at New York Musical Theater Festival in 2006.

The Story of My Life
Music and lyrics by Neil Bartram, book by Brian Hill
This two-character musical is about lifelong friends Thomas, a writer, and Alvin. When suddenly faced with the task of writing Alvin's eulogy, Thomas digs through the cluttered collection of stories in his mind with Alvin as his guide to find a way to celebrate his friend's life and understand his untimely death. Composer and lyricist Bartram is a recipient of a Dramatists Guild Jonathan Larson Fellowship; book writer Hill is currently the Associate Director for the Broadway-bound The Little Mermaid. Their show has received several developmental readings and productions, including one in Toronto in 2006 that starred Brent Carver and Jeffrey Kuhn.

Tinyard Hill
Music by Mark Allen, book and lyrics by Thomas M. Newman
In South Georgia, 1964, a blacksmith and his son are desperate to keep the family's 200-year-old shop from becoming another tourist joke. Meanwile, the Vietnam conflict escalates and a summer romance blossoms. Tinyard Hill has a score by award-winning film and theater composer Allen and book and lyrics by NYU graduate program writer Newman. The show was presented by NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in April 2006 and was selected for further development by Goodspeed Musicals in 2007.

Writing Arthur
Book, music and lyrics by David Austin
Arthur Danby has finally found the perfect woman. Problem is, she's a fictional character in his novel. When a very real woman steps into his life, his worlds collide. Will Arthur fall deeper into the world he's created or allow life to write itself? Austin is a member of the BMI workshop, and has written book, music and lyrics for over 20 musicals. Writing Arthur received a workshop production at TheatreWorks in Silicon Valley, CA in April, 2007.