 THREE DAYS IN AUGUST – THREE NEW MUSICALS The Human Race Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals, is pleased to announce its line-up for its 2012 Festival of New Musicals – presented at The Loft Theatre, August 3-5, 2012. This marks The Human Race's fifth annual festival that showcases musicals in development, and the second year of including a new work from Encore Theater Company. Human Race Producing Artistic Director Kevin Moore has selected two musicals that he says, "are very close to his heart." The first is DANI GIRL, a beautiful, touching and unexpectedly humorous story of a 9- year old girl battling leukemia. Her incredible imagination takes her on a fantastical quest to get her hair back when she loses it to chemotherapy. With the help of a fellow patient, 10 year-old Marty, and her imaginary friend, Raph, she confronts "Cancer" and asks him "why?" Created by the award-winning team of Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, the show has been developed in a number of festivals, including the 2011 NAMT Festival of New Musicals, the Kennedy Center and the ASCAP/Disney Musical Theatre Workshop, and productions in Canada and Australia. Michael and Christopher have received the much-coveted Jonathan Larson Award, and most recently became the first recipients of the Lorenz Hart Award presented by the ASCAP Foundation. "The show is a tribute to the children and families dealing with serious medical issues," said Moore. It is neither a weepy melodrama nor a bleak tragedy – but a spiritual journey accompanied by an upbeat, contemporary score that evokes feelings of hope and joy. It is not to be missed! The second musical in the festival brings back a native Daytonian and Human Race alumnus, Todd Lawson. Together with his writing partner, Carter Anne McGowan, and the music of New Orleans rock n' roll band Cowboy Mouth, they have created RED-BLOODED, ALL-AMERICAN MAN. Tucker, our main guy, has a beautiful fiancée and a good job – but he's not happy. His mind wanders - with the help of the rock band he has in his head that comments on everything. Sometimes, getting everything you wish for is not as great as one imagines. Originally workshopped at the Penobscot Theatre Company's Northern Writes New Play Festival, "this "coming-of-age" musical is sure to connect with our new musical audience," said Moore. "And we are equally thrilled to be working with Todd again." (Todd appeared in Three Days of Rain, and most recently, The Vertical Hour – both directed by Marsha Hanna) Encore Theater Company will present 35MM: MUSICAL EXHIBITION. They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, but what about a song? Can one picture inspire a song? How about fifteen photos? In 35MM, each photo creates a different song completely disconnected from the other creating fifteen different and unique moments frozen in time; a glimmer of a life unfolding, a glimpse of something happening. This stunning new multimedia musical explores a groundbreaking new concept in musical theatre. With music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver (Composer of Disney Theatricals' upcoming stage musical Freaky Friday) and the contemporary photography of Matthew Murphy, this intricately woven collection of stories told through song re-imagines what the modern American musical can be. Casting and creative teams will be announced later. Tickets will go on sale this summer through Ticket Center Stage. The 2012 Festival of New Musicals is sponsored by The Producers' Circle and The Dramatists Guild of America. Musical Theatre Workshop 2011
Over one magical weekend, Aug 5-7, three new musicals were given life by some very talented artists. Pump Up the Volume – the new musical based on the 1990 cult film was given its very first reading by The Encore Theater Company. The writers themselves had never heard the show until that first performance. Edgy, irreverent and powerful, Pump sings with a youthful voice that is bound for greatness. With a change of musical styles – specifically the songs of legendary writer Bob Merrill, Love Makes the World Go 'Round brought our audience to a New York piano bar owned and entertained by "Henry" - played with musical genius by GLEE accompanist Brad Ellis. The sing-a-long comfort of this show had audiences doing just that, joining the three talented ladies of the cast. This musical is destined to be popular with regional theatres all across the country.
Finally, the writers of the new jazz musical Play It Cool used their two weeks of workshop to complete final touches on their show – and just in time. On Monday, Aug 8 it went into rehearsals for its Off-Broadway run beginning in September. That's what I call an "out-of-town" tryout for sure. With a story as bold as the cool jazz, we are wishing them much success. Thanks to all who attended, chatted, filled out surveys and just plain enjoyed the summer of musicals. What better way to spend a hot summer.
Two Companies - Three New Musicals - Three Days
Our new partner is the Encore Theatre Company – a local community theatre dedicated to developing and producing new musicals. As part of our Festival, they will bring a staged reading of the new musical Pump Up The Volume, music by Jeff Thomson, lyrics by Jordan Mann, and book by Jeremy Desmon. It is based on the 1990 film written and directed by Allan Moyle. The story of a teenage loner who starts an FM Pirate Radio station that broadcasts from his bedroom in the basement of his parents' house. These musical writers have transformed this story of rebellion and finding your voice into a driving new rock musical. The Human Race will change the tempo with its two musical workshops. Love Makes The World Go 'Round : The Songs of Bob Merrill is what the writers like to call "A Revusical." With the book by Duane Poole (book writer of a previous Human Race workshop A Christmas Memory) and musical arrangements by Brad Ellis (arranger and pianist for the hit TV show Glee) , this romp through the Merrill catalogue is set in a piano bar. Three ladies wander in – in search of something missing in their lives – and connect with the pianist through the music of Bob Merrill. It includes hit songs from his musicals - Funny Girl, Carnival, Henry, Sweet Henry, Take Me Along, to name just a few, and popular songs like Mambo Italiano (another Rosemary Clooney connection), How Much Is That Doggie In The Window, Honeycomb, If I Knew You We're Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake, and many more. The Human Race's second workshop is the new jazz musical Play It Cool – conceived by Larry Dean Harris, lyrics by Mark Winkler, music by Phillip Swann and book by Martin Casella & Larry Dean Harris. Play It Cool transports you back to the days of film noir and smoky hot jazz in a secret 1953 Hollywood club called Mary's Hideaway – where men couldn't dance with men and women were expected to know their place in society. It's a show about five individuals: their passions, ambitions and their courage to break the rules no matter what the price. A 45-minute version of Play It Cool appeared in the 2010 National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals in NYC. This year's Festival is sponsored, in part, by our Producers' Circle and a grant from the Dramatists Guild Fund. Encore Theatre Company will also have some additional readings and concerts throughout the weekend. Check out their website at www.encoretheatercompany.com for more details. The Festival performance schedule at The Loft Theatre is listed below and ticket's will be available at www.ticketcenterstage.com starting July 5. I'd suggest blocking the entire weekend for a musical experience like no other.
Musical Theatre Workshop 2010 By all reports, both the three musicals and the three parties exceeded expectations this weekend as The Human Race celebrated America's art form – musical theatre. Hundreds of Human Race regulars, and a number of first-time attendees, gathered at The Loft Theatre and the Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center to witness the birth of three great shows. Play It By Heart, by Brian Yorkey, David Spangler and Jerry Taylor, started off the weekend with exciting country music and an engaging story of a family in transition. With ten wonderful singer/actors – led by Leslie Jo Bissett-Hood as the country music star "Jeannine Jasper," and a six-piece band led by Jay Brunner, the Loft Theatre rocked the audience into standing ovations. Many audience members stated, "I have never been a fan of country music, but I sure liked this show". Dust In The Sunlight: A Musical In Pieces was conceived, written and performed by our Lovewell teens. A very thoughtful piece, the show paralleled a modern family in economic crisis with the story of their ancestors during the Great Depression. Moving with ease back and forth through time, using music and dance to tell their story, the young performers brought the audience both to their feet and to tears – simultaneously. Wrapping up the Festival was the musical about the amazing Rosemary Clooney, Tenderly, by Janet Yates Vogt and Mark Friedman. A tribute to both her honesty regarding her struggles and her ability to re-invent herself, the musical took us on the roller coaster ride that was her career, with all the music that made her one of the biggest stars of her generation. Cincinnati artist Beth Harris channeled Ms. Clooney, assisted by Scott Stoney, playing a dozen or more people in her life. Thanks again to our Sponsors – the Miriam Rosenthal Memorial Trust Fund, the Dayton Racquet Club and The Producers' Circle. Thanks to all who attended – and we hope to see you all next summer for another great weekend of new musicals.
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The 2011 Human Race Festival of New Musicals not only will have three new musicals, but also a new date on the calendar and a new partner. Let's start with the date – Friday August 5 – Sunday August 7, 2011 in The Loft Theatre. This year we decided to separate from the Lovewell performance in order to give both events their own time on the stage.
