4@15: Four New Fifteen-Minute Musicals, performed in conjunction with NYU Steinhardt, will commence performances this weekend, January 28 and 29, for five performances only.
Composers of the new works include: Donald Garverick and Mark McDaniels (Show Choir - The Musical!); Katya Stanislavskya (Rubik's Cube); Brian Feinstein (Mimi Le Duck) and Charlie Sohne (Tina Girlstar); and 2011 Drama Desk, Lortel, Drama League and Outer Critics nominees Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth (In Transit). Jesse Kissel serves as Music Director; Brian Blythe directs.
Performances: Saturday, January 28, at 4 and 7 PM and Sunday, January 29, at 1, 4 and 7 PM. Tickets: $10 (general admission); $5 with valid student ID; available online at www.4at15nyu.eventbrite.com. Performances at Roy Arias Theatre Center at the Times Square Art Center, 300 W 43rd St, 5th Floor.
The four new musicals include:
CASUAL BOB
Book, Music & Lyrics by Don Garverick & Mark McDaniels
The internet connects a group of misfits all on the quest to find Casual Bob—a world traveler who spent his life leaving behind a part of himself everywhere he went.
With Marisa del Campo, Daniel Coombs, Meghan Dixon, Rosharra Francis, Erica Frighetto, Eric Loehr, Dana Lubeck, Hannah Marks
NATURAL ELECTION
Book, Music & Lyrics by Katya Stanislavskya
Who came up with the idea of "survival of the fittest"? Was it Darwin? Was it God? Or was it the world's first puppet master? Set on the day before the Great Flood, "Natural Election" explores the politics of getting on the Ark.
With Steph Bacon, Shavanna Calder, Joe Conceison, Keaton Covillo, Danielle Gimbal, Elena Glass, Emilia Horn, Tim Russell, Carrie Salmon
A WORLD WITHOUT HARMONY
Book & Lyrics by Charlie Sohne, Music by Brian Feinstein
In a world where song has been outlawed, a boy begins to hear his inner music and must choose between fitting in and finding his true self.
With Tricia Giordano, Alexandra Katselianos, Jake Kinney, Van Bich Nguyen, Elizabeth Sauter, Nick Savarese, Alexandra Tate, Cassi Torres
WASTELAND! THE MUSICAL
Book, Music & Lyrics by Russ Kaplan & Sara Wordsworth
Eight college students with Broadway dreams are being forced to perform the worst, most pretentious piece of musical theatre crap ever written. Until, that is, they take matters into their own hands...
With Alexandra Blair, Micah Caldwell, Stephanie Marantz, Nicole Padula, Jenna Pastuszek, Melissa Rapelje, Amanda Serra, Autumn Tilson
More on the writers:
Brian Feinstein (Music) is an award-winning composer in NYC. Off-Broadway credits include: Mimi Le Duck, starring Eartha Kitt and The Top Job. Regional productions include: The world-premiere play Ever So Humble, Dial M for Murder, Brecht’s Caucasian Chalk Circle and The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. In development with producers Olympus Theatricals, the original musical, Tina Girlstar. Brian is the recipient of 6 ASCAP Plus Awards and a Jonathan Larson Memorial Fellowship. He is a member of the New Dramatists Composer/Librettist Studio, and is on the advisory board of the New York Theatre Barn. From 1999-2004 he was the Creative Director of Atlantic Theatre: the cast-recording theatrical division of Atlantic Records. He earned his MFA from the NYU Tisch School of Musical Theatre Writing after a BA from the USC School of Cinema and is a proud member of The Dramatists Guild, ASCAP, and the Tri-State Basset Hound Rescue League. (www.BrianFeinsteinMusic.com)
DONALD GARVERICK (Book, Music & Lyrics) Since 1996, Donald has led the life of the musical theatre gypsy, performing in over 30 regional theatre, summer stock, national tour, and Off-Broadway productions. Early in his performing career he was asked by director Gary Slavin to join the other side of the creative team by becoming an assistant choreographer. After assisting Mr. Slavin on numerous shows, including Off-Broadway's Area 51 - The Musical, he began to choreograph and teach dance on his own. He currently teaches "Broadway Theatre Dance (American Dance Machine Technique)" in NYC and recently completed work on Before God Was Invented: A Prehistoric Pagan Parable and Siren’s Heart at Theatre for a New City. Now, with Show Choir! - The Musical (and other upcoming projects with cowriter Mark McDaniels) Donald has ventured into the world of musical theatre writing and was recently recognized at the York Theater NEO concert, which celebrates New, Emerging, Outstanding musical theatre writers in NYC.
