Listing of Past Festival Presentations

The 18th Annual Festival of New Musicals will be held in New York City at New World Stages, 340 W. 50th Street (between Eighth and Ninth Avenues) on Sunday, October 8 and Monday, October 9, 2006 for an invited audience of NAMT members and musical theatre producers.

Check back here for the Festival of New Musicals Registration Form, which will be available starting the last week of August.

If you are interested in finding out more information about these shows, please contact info@namt.org.

Following is information about the 2006 Festival presentations:

Book by Jeannine Dominy
Lyrics by Amanda McBroom
Music by Michele Brourman
Adapted from the screenplay The Honest Courtesan written by Jeannine Dominy,
released as the film Dangerous Beauty
Inspired by the scholarly book The Honest Courtesan by Margaret Rosenthal.

Dangerous Beauty tells the tumultuous tale of Veronica Franco, a notorious courtesan/poet of 16th century Venice. Forced to become a courtesan when her mother reveals that they have lost their fortune and therefore the marriage to the man she loves is impossible, Veronica ultimately embraces the courtesan life because it affords her the means to an education and an active role in the cultural and political life of her beloved city. As Venice is ravaged by war, plague, and the Inquisition, Veronica is put on trial for Witchcraft. An epic story of passion, politics and poetry. Dangerous Beauty features a book by screenwriter Jeannine Dominy, lyrics by Golden Globe winner (for the song 'The Rose') Amanda McBroom (Heartbeats: NAMT Festival 1992), and music by Johnny Mercer Songwriter award winner Michele Brourman (I Married Wyatt Earp, Heartbeats: NAMT Festival 1992).

Dangerous Beauty was performed in a staged reading at The Powerhouse Theater in July 2005 as part of New York Stage and Film's Summer Theater Season; presented in a reading at the Rubicon Theater in Ventura, California in May 2005; and selected for the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theater Workshop in February 2004.

Music, Lyrics and Book by Paul Gordon

In early 19th century England, Emma Woodhouse, endowed with wealth, beauty and prestige, attempts to arrange a wealthy marriage for her poor friend Harriet, a young girl with questionable origins. In the process she disregards her own feelings and everyone else's. A series of scheming escapades ensue as Jane Austen's characters deliver us delicious irony while the seemingly trivial events provide social observation and profound moral significance. Creator Paul Gordon was nominated for a 2000 Tony Award for composing the music and lyrics to the Broadway musical Jane Eyre.

Emma had it's first and only reading as part of The New Works Festival for Theatreworks in May of 2006.

Music and Lyrics by Andrew Lippa
Book by Daniel Goldfarb

It's 1961, and after three flops, funny man Jerry Barron is in need of a hit. His family is keeping secrets and losing patience. And he's wallowing in despair. Luckily, Maury Mintz calls and offers him the chance of a lifetime: to put his family on the air on live television in a Christmas special called JERRY CHRISTMAS! Only problem is, they're Jewish. As Jerry wrestles with his career, his family, his identity, and his faith, one major question looms - will the special put Jerry back on top? Jerry Christmas has music and lyrics by Drama Desk and Richard Rodgers Award winner Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, A Little Princess: NAMT Festival 2005) and book by Daniel Goldfarb (Modern Orthodox, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Party Come Here: NAMT Festival 2005).

Jerry Christmas was performed in a staged reading in July 2006 as part of New York Stage and Film's Summer Theater Season, and was developed at TheatreWorks in Palo Alto and by the Araca Group.

Book & Lyrics by Andrew Barrett
Music by Ira Antelis

Based on the book "La mort de monsieur Golouja" by Branimir Å cepanovic and the film "Julian Po" by Alan Wade

Set in New York City, Julian Po is a modern day musical myth. This rollicking, yet cautionary tale of Man's greatness combines the traditional musical theater form with the sounds of Americana blue-grass and mountain music. Julian Po begins with 'The Muses,' a four piece, strolling mischievous band invoking the day when a strange man mysteriously arrives in an even stranger middle-American town. His presence causes the sleepy lives of the Townspeople to awaken; from the Town Mayor to the Town Barber to the youngest Town member, no one's life is ever the same once they meet Julian Po. Book and lyrics are by television writer Andrew Barnett. Music is by pop and theatre composer Ira Antelis.

An informal reading was held at Victory Gardens in Chicago under the auspices of producer Cheryl Sloane. This was followed by a student directed workshop at The University of Iowa. Most recently, the musical was selected for the 2005 ASCAP/Disney Musical Theater Workshop in Chicag

Music and Lyrics by Leslie Arden
Book by Berni Stapleton with Leslie Arden & Timothy French
Conceived by Timothy French

It's 1945, World War II has just ended, and the battle-scarred boys are returning home to women who have had their first taste of independence. Bea and Ben are reluctant lovers, both unwilling to surrender their single status. Helen and Charlie find their love and trust tested by lies and accusations instigated by John, the boy thwarted in love and life. As Helen, Bea and their best friend Shirley keep their promise to conceal the interracial love between Maggie and Brad, all the characters learn to face the challenges that life has to offer in this new and changing world. One Step Forward was created by a Canadian team of collaborators including composer Leslie Arden (Jefferson Award winning The House of Martin Guerre), award winning author Berni Stapleton, and director/choreographer Timothy French.

One Step Forward was first commissioned by Canada's National Arts Centre. It was selected for further development by Northwestern University for its 2006 inaugural season of The American Musical Theatre Project. The workshop production (entitled The Boys Are Coming Home) was directed by Gary Griffin and ran from July 28-August 13, 2006.

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 clinging to the memories of her past; engaging in conversations she’s had with her mother at the ages of 17, 26 and 35. In a soaring musical full of unexpected recollections, Katherine pieces together the patterns of a life filled with promise and compromise, third strikes and second chances, and always, a mother’s unconditional love. Piece has a score by Scott Alan (Detour) and a book by writer Tara Smith.

In the last two years, Piece has participated in three readings and a workshop. In October 2004, the show was presented in the monthly "Artist Showcase Series" at the Makor Theatre followed by another reading in February 2005 at New 42nd Street Studios. The creative team was then invited by TheatreWorks in Palo Alto to participate in their New Works Theatre Festival in May 2005. And in November 2005, a developmental workshop of Piece graced The Duke on 42nd Street. Last Fall, a song from Piece was showcased in NAMT's Songwriters Showcase, kicking off the 2005 Festival of New Musicals.

Book and Lyrics by Michael L. Cooper Book and Music by Hyeyoung Kim

Based on a Korean folk tale, Sunfish is the magical story of Aheh and the fantastical lengths she will travel to restore her Blind Father's sight. Aheh's adventures take her to the bottom of the ocean and beyond, in a theatrical world where anything can - and does - happen. This timeless story of love and sacrifice is given a touching and hilarious spin as a modern family musical. Sunfish was created by recent NYU Musical Theatre Writing graduates Michael L. Cooper and Hyeyoung Kim.

Sunfish is the recipient of the 2005 Jonathan Larson and Daryl Roth Awards, and was originally developed at the NYU Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. In 2005, Sunfish received readings at the NYU Graduate Acting Program (WriteAct Festival), and was featured as part of the TRU New Voices Series (Daniel Marshall Multicultural Award Winner). In 2006, Sunfish was awarded a staged reading at the Alliance Theatre, where the show was a Kendeda Graduate Playwrighting Competition Finalist.

Book by Jack Heifner
Music and Lyrics by David Kirshenbaum
Based on the original play Vanities by Jack Heifner

Chronicling the comic journey of three vivacious Texas teens from cheerleaders to sorority sisters to housewives, liberated women and beyond, this tangy tale of coming-of-age in the '60s and '70s is a musical voyage racing through an era that had to be lived to be believed. With a tunefully evocative score by David Kirshenbaum (The Summer of '42: NAMT Festival 1999, Party Come Here: NAMT Festival 2005) and Jack Heifner's hilarious adaptation of his long-running off-Broadway smash, Vanities - A New Musical offers a snapshot-sharp portrait of the lives, loves, disappointments, and dreams of best friends caught up in times that are a-changin'.

After an initial one-week workshop in fall 2005, TheatreWorks (CA) committed to a full production of Vanities - A New Musical. This world premiere served as the first show of their current season, in June-July 2006.