Sitters Studio Announce HELP WANTED: PIRATES Interactive Musical for May 19 - July 8

SITTERS Studio Productions will produce the NYC premiere of "HELP WANTED: PIRATES" at the MAGNET THEATRE starting May 19th. The production, with book and lyrics by Chris WidneY and music by J. SEBASTIAN FABAL, is a new musical for children performed by adults. This interactive children’s musical is directed by MARY Catherine Burke, choreographed by JEN LITTLEFIELD with musical direction by Andrew Wheeler.

Captain Squid and his fun-loving band of pirates are being hunted by Sir Nigel, the maniacal leader of the British Navy. They need to clear out of Nigel’s waters, and fast, but there aren’t enough pirates to man the ship. In a stroke of genius, Squid recruits the audience and teaches your children the tools of the pirate trade! The audience moves from one location to the next, learning how to walk, talk and squawk like a pirate! Will Squid’s new recruits (that’s you) be ready in time to find the treasure? No two shows are the same in this delightful interactive musical.

The cast features the talents of JESSICA KAUFMAN (Dear Edwina), JAMES David Larson (Spamalot Nat’l Tour), KATIE CORTEZ (Go Diego Nat’l Tour), Eric Williams (St. Louis MUNY), AMBER GRANT, MILES SMITH, ELIZABETH TWACHTMAN, and Andrew Wheeler.

J. SEBASTIAN FABAL (composer) is most known for his work as composer/lyricist for the award winning musical THE TENTH FLOOR (book by Sara Cooper, Outstanding New Musical - Talkin' Broadway 2010 Summer Theatre Festival Citation, NYMF 2010). A reading of his new musical, YOEY AND YEYA (book/music/lyrics), occurred last winter at the Dramatists Guild's Friday Night Footlight program. His collaborations with Chris Widney (book/lyrics) include two world premieres at Millbrook Playhouse (HELP WANTED: PIRATES!, THE ELKO ALIENS), ELEVEN DAYS, and as a musical contributor to Widney's TWO PEOPLE. J. Sebastian Fabal is a graduate of the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program at the Tisch School of the Arts (NYU). Member: ASCAP and DGA. www.jsebastianfabal.com

Chris WidneY(Book & Lyrics) full length plays include BIG, FAT AND UGLY WITH A MOUSTACHE (Perry Street Theatre, NYC), FAMILY MEN (Arden Theatre, Philadelphia), THESE PEOPLE (Chernuchin Theatre, NYC), THE NORMALS (Luna Stage, NJ), along with other full-lengths, one-acts, musicals and screenplays have been presented, read, work-shopped and honored in theatres and contests around the world including Miami’s City Theatre, The Coronet Theatre in Los Angeles, The Fringe Festival in Edinburgh and Emerging Artists, NYC. His children’s musicals include HELP WANTED: PIRATES! and HELP WANTED: ALIENS! Chris is co-author of Keep Eye On Ball, Is Most Important One Thing I Tell You, a book about squash (the sport, not the vegetable) and a participant in the BMI Composer/Lyricist Workshop. MFA Tisch School Of The Arts, NYU and is a member of The Dramatists Guild.

Director MARY Catherine Burke recently finished a three year tenure as Artistic Director of Millbrook Playhouse, where she commissioned HELP WANTED: PIRATES! She has also directed LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at ReVision Theatre, AUSTENTATIOUS at the New York Music Theatre Festival, DIVING NORMAL at The Fringe Festival (Winner Best Ensemble), THE GAME BOY at Vital Theatre Company, The Celebrity 24 Hour Plays at The American Airlines Theatre, BOOCOCK’S CHURCH OF BASEBALL (NY IT Award nominated) at The Flea, SANDLOT BALL by Michael John Garcés at Vital Theatre Co., SEPTEMBER CALL-UP by Steven Dietz, BOOCOCK=VP at HERE, Ars Nova and EST. She was the Associate Producer of Vital Theatre Company (2008). She has Assistant Directed FORTUNE’S FOOL on Broadway. She has assisted Off-Broadway and Regionally. She is a proud member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab and has been a recipient of the prestigious Drama League Fall fellowship.

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