N.Y. Musical Theater Fest Previews Diverse Shows

On Wednesday at " " New World " " Methods in Manhattan, the NY Musical Theatre Festival offered a distinctive preview from the year's slate of latest musicals. The eighth annual festival which runs from Sept. 26 to March. 16showcased an eclectic quantity of tuners making their NY debuts.Amounts were completed from 10 in the festival's 30 shows, including "Greenwood," a nostalgic have a look at undertaking arts camping pals who reunite in the adult years "Outlaws: The Ballad of Billy the child,Inch which puts a rock spin round the Wild West and, for literary-minded musical fans, "Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice: A Musical.""After she'd been effective, Jane Austen came back to her non listed manuscript referred to as 'First Impressions,' " referred to Donna Lynne Champlin, who plays Austen inside the show. "She rewrote it, which makes it 'Pride and Prejudice,' which we have seen her connect with the figures within the novel." Patricia Noonan plays the novel's heroine, Elizabeth Bennet, and he or she and Champlin completed a duet, "Had I Experienced Love.""Can it be Jane Austen's story? Can it be the story of 'Pride and Prejudice'? It's both," Champlin added. "The show strikes an extremely delicate balance about the ability of making art. The majority of us inside the show appear like it's too good actually was.InchInchGreenwood" includes Broadway vets Felicia Finley and Andrea McArdle (the first Annie). Though pals for any very long time, the two had never labored together to date. They play in the adult versions of tweens who attended a undertaking arts camping they meet up to reminisce in what they did and re-examine who they may be.InchOur figures have died 40 and that we are miserable," McArdle mentioned. "So through social networking, my character, Sheila, arranges a reunion within the camping for just about any day or two, because that was an occasion when miracle happened. It absolutely was a period duration of real pleasure." "Greenwood" may also be a bit of the household affair: Finley's husband, Paul Stancato, directs. "It's like serendipity on crack," Finley mentioned about how precisely the casting elements became a member of together.Barbara Paice completed a sound lesson from "Kiki Baby," which she known to as "a 19 thirties version of 'Toddlers & Tiaras.' " Paice plays mother from the 4-year-old singing prodigy (carried out with the very adult Jenn Colella). Since the child reaches become more effective, she also reaches become more tricky and demanding. "It's a comedy that can a dark turn," Paice referred to. "When can you indulge a youthful child a lot of? When in case you stop?" Paice also stated a scene through which youthful Kiki's antics achieve crazy levels: "Watch what she decides may be the simplest approach to clean off a table carrying out a meal!""That Certain Girl's Story" is really a festival entry which hits on heavier styles, namely the 2003 hate-crime killing of Sakia Gunn, a 15-year-old African-American lesbian. The show, which was completed at GayFest New you are able to city, will be a 2011 GLAAD Media Award nominee. Dionne McClain-Freeney, who written the music activity and lyrics, stressed the show takes note of Gunn's existence rather than dwelling round the tragedy of her dying: "It's a vibrant, juicy think about the youthful woman's existence in relation to her pals." Cast people Angela Grovey and Zonya Love Manley sang the total amount "I Think About Using Any Means.InchInchProhibitsInch is certainly an ensemble work which has Corey Boardman as Billy the child and David Murgittroyd as Pat Garrett. " 'Outlaws' shows how every one of these people met," mentioned Boardman. "They're lighthearted at first, but was elevated here here real quick.In . The musical merges edgy rock and country instrumentation, it provides phone group different then the story that numerous know, mentioned Murgittroyd. "The media made these people whatever they wanted these to be.""Ghostlight" also examines some well-known historic figures, although in a really different arena: the Ziegfeld Follies, where the humor continued to be onstage as well as the drama came into being in solid existence. Rachael Fogle plays Olive Thomas, just a little-town girl who finds success but furthermore falls victim to substance abuse plus an affair with Florenz Ziegfeld themselves (carried out by Michael Hayden), much for the consternation of his wife, Billie Burke (Rachel You'll be able to).For You'll be able to, who completed the song "He Laughs within my Jokes" within the preview, playing Burkebest known to as Glinda the truly amazing Witch in "The Wizard of Oz"incorporated responsibility. "Her part of the story is emotional and melodramatic," You'll be able to referred to, "but If only to ensure that her spontaneity remains, that individuals show all the colors from the real-existence lady."The festival has opened up greater than 200 musicals since its beginning, with a lot of shows later beginning on regional or worldwide runs. Several even graduated to Broadway, including "Alongside Normal," which ongoing to win three Tony Honours together with a Pulitzer Prize for drama."I like that individuals certainly are a platform for traditional musicals and much more recent kinds of works," mentioned Isaac Robert Hurwitz, the festival's executive director and producer. "At NYMF, you'll be able to run from theater to theater and discover both kinds of showseven in within 24 hrs.InchFor tickets and extra information, visit internet.nymf.org.