NYMF's HURRICANE Sold Out, Extends

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Kellner-Avery Productions announce the addition of 2 performances to the World Premiere production of HURRICANE. This epic new musical takes an all-but-forgotten moment in history and brings it to life with the largest cast in NYMF history, 30 in all. Directed by Michael Bush, HURICANE features a book by Michael Holland and Eric Bernat, and music and lyrics by Michael Holland. After selling out its initial run, two performances have been added: Fri. Oct. 9 at 5pm and Tues. Oct. 13 at 5pm. A complete schedule is below.

HURRICANE tells the stories of coastal Napatree, Rhode Island and its inhabitants before, during, and immediately following the Great Hurricane of 1938. Owing to bureaucratic incompetence, this killer storm made landfall unannounced, with a path of destruction on the east coast that left more than 600 dead, one that effectively erased Napatree from the map. As the unsuspecting citizens go about their daily lives, a lone weather forecaster tries in vain to alert his indifferent superiors to the danger at hand, and one of New England's greatest natural catastrophes unfolds. With a rich, modern score echoing New England folksong and big band jazz, "Hurricane" ultimately emerges as a testament to hope, endurance, rebirth, and survival.

The production team includes Tony Award winner Christopher Akerlind (set & lighting design), Jesse Vargas (music director), Paul Staroba (assistant music director), Kelli Barclay (choreographer), David Margolin Lawson (sound design), Karen Ann Ledger (costume design), Rebecca Goldstein-Glaze (production stage manager), Karen Mack (producer), Ryan Bogner and Iris Burnett (associate producers.)

The cast of 30, from age 7 on up, includes Stephen Booth, T.J. Mannix, Rita Gardner, Karen Elliott, John Antony, Christy Morton, Joe Mahowald, Zachary Clause, Joey Khoury, Brittney Lee Hamilton, Steve Watts, Catherine Charlebois, Natalie Charle Ellis, Mishaela Faucher, Bayla Whitten, Alec Cohen, Maya Frank, Patricia Noonan, Patty Lohr, Beth Kirkpatrick, Ron DeStefano, Ryan Murray, Dan Debenport, Kenneth Cavett, Erin Childs, Jeremy Ritz, Marisa Pierini, Athena Ripka, Brandon Rakowski, and Austin Zambito-Valente. More info can be found online at www.hurricanethemusical.com.

As a composer/lyricist, Michael Holland's (book, music, lyrics) credits include Believe in Me...a Bigfoot musical (FringeNYC - chosen by the NY Times as the top show to see of FringeNYC ‘04), Mikey Writes It! (2002 MAC Award, Best Revue), Times Square Association Centennial Celebration (for BC/EFA), Kelly Kinsella Live Under Broadway (FringeNYC), and The Girl Most Likely To. He is the recipient of The Back Stage Ira Eaker Special Achievement Award (2006 Outstanding Performer/Songwriter on the Rise). He is the performer/arranger/musical director of downtown retro-pop favorite "Gashole", winner of 5 MAC Awards and a BackStage Bistro Award for Best Vocal Duo. Holland has 4 self-produced original CDs, including Darkness Falls (2001 Blockbuster/ MP3 Award) and Beach Toys Won't Save You (2004 OutMusic Award, Songwriter of the Year).

Eric Bernat (book) studied theater at UCLA. He wrote and performed a solo show Starstruck under the direction of David Drake at Provincetown Rep, Phoenix Theater Companyand at New York's Rattlestick Theater. With choreographer Robin Carrigan, he co-wrote Jesus and Mandy, produced at FringeNYC 2004 and Theater for the New City. Eric is a regular performer at The Upright Citizen's Brigade Theatre. His most recent play, BEND, is currently being developed with Naked Angels Theater Company

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