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NEFERTITI TAKES THE HUMAN RACE THEATRE’S
MUSICAL THEATRE WORKSHOPS BACK TO ANCIENT EGYPT,
APRIL 24 – 26, 2006 2-19
(Dayton, OH) – March 6, 2006 – This spring The Human Race Theatre Company’s executive director, Kevin Moore, will be directing a staged concert reading of Nefertiti: A Musical Romance as part of the Musical Theatre Workshops program. Written by David Spangler and Rick Gore, and based on a concept by Christopher Gore, Nefertiti travels back in time to 1364 BC when one headstrong Egyptian woman – Nefertiti – sacrifices her newfound love to marry a king. Together, the three form an unlikely alliance for the good of the land. Guided by her strong sense of duty and her kindness towards the people, they work to change the old customs and build a new world until natural disasters and sinister political forces threaten to topple their kingdom and erase them from history. Performances of Nefertiti: A Musical Romance are April 24 – 26 at The Loft Theatre. All tickets are $15.
“Dreams do come true,” stated Moore. “I have loved this musical for so many years and it seemingly disappeared. I still have the very-rare LP record that I got in New York for a ridiculous amount of money in the early 1980s. When the Victoria Theatre re-opened in January 1981, the opening song ‘Someone Is Here’ came from Nefertiti. I think we were destined to be part of it.” He continues, “The writers contacted us and asked if I was familiar with the musical Nefertiti. I think my heart skipped a beat.”
A bit of a cult musical, the origin of Nefertiti goes back to when Christopher Gore (Academy Award-nominated screenwriter of Fame) was a struggling writer in New York. He began writing a play about the Pharaoh Akhenaten, which he always viewed as a musical, even writing lyrics for it. He met composer David Spangler and shared his work, and soon they began collaborating on a musical adaptation of Christopher’s play called Brothers. It had a workshop production at La Mama Theatre in New York in 1976 and got the attention of Broadway producer Sherwin Goldman and director Jack O’Brien (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hairspray and The Full Monty). After some intensive work sessions, the new musical had a new name: Nefertiti.
In September 1977, Nefertiti began a run in Chicago with the hopes of moving to Broadway. But despite some favorable reviews, it didn’t happen. An original cast album was made, helping to keep the dream alive. Gore’s life became very busy with other projects, including the film and television series of Fame, until his untimely death in May 1988. The day after his death, a representative from The York Theatre in New York called about producing a revival of the show.
Committed to keeping Christopher’s dream alive, his brother Rick Gore, a successful journalist with National Geographic Magazine, met with Spangler and the two began revamping the show. Years of working on and off in workshops and readings led to a full production in May 2005 at the Parker Playhouse in Ft. Lauderdale directed by Robert Johanson, former artistic director of New Jersey’s Papermill Playhouse.
“Our workshop will allow the writers a chance to hear some of the changes they have made on the show since then,” said Moore. “It’s the obvious step before their next full production.”
Nefertiti follows the life of a young, headstrong artist who eventually becomes the most powerful woman in the world as wife to Akhenaten and stepmother to the young Tutankhamun. “So much about her is unknown,” said Moore, “because the ideals that she and Akhenaten supported were revolutionary to ancient Egypt, and were wiped away after they died. But the art that we recognize as Egypt, the King Tut exhibit for example, was definitely her influence.”
The Human Race workshop is planning to include a number of the artists who recently performed in the Parker Playhouse’s production (Nicholas Rodriguez, Alan H. Green, Ann Crumb and Avery Sommers) as well as Dayton-area musical theatre artists (Ebony Blake, Katie Pees, Shavey Brown, Jamie Cordes, Gregory Howard, Scott Hunt, JJ Tiemeyer and Aaron Vega). A few roles are yet to be cast, including the title role. “Those familiar with our Musical Theatre Workshops productions will notice this is a very large cast,” stated Moore. “With only ten days of rehearsal, these 20 actors will have their work cut out for them. It’s definitely a labor of love.”
Local support for Nefertiti: A Musical Romance is provided by Lois and Don Bigler, Patti Giering, QBase – Bill and Janet Pardue, and the Moore Family Fund.
Established in 1999, the Musical Theatre Workshops program is designed to develop original musicals, to provide an avenue for that very important “second production” and to encourage appreciation of rarely produced musicals. Through a series of staged concerts, The Human Race not only contributes to the art form, it builds an audience for the new musical.
The Human Race Theatre Company’s production of Nefertiti: A Musical Romance will be presented at The Loft Theatre on April 24, 25 and 26. The Loft Theatre is located on the third floor of the Metropolitan Arts Center, next to the Victoria Theatre at 126 North Main Street in downtown Dayton. All performances begin at 7:00 p.m.
All tickets for Nefertiti: A Musical Romance are priced at $15. Tickets are on sale now through Ticket Center Stage, with locations at the Victoria Theatre and Schuster Center box offices in downtown Dayton. Tickets may also be purchased by phone at 937-228-3630 or toll free 888-228-3630. Ticket Center Stage hours are Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and Saturday noon – 4:00 p.m. The Loft Theatre box office opens two hours prior to each performance. Tickets may also be purchased online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.
For more information about The Human Race Theatre Company and the Musical Theatre Workshops program, visit www.humanracetheatre.org.
The Human Race Theatre Company receives organizational support from Culture Works, Montgomery County and The Shubert Foundation. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund The Human Race Theatre Company with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans.
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Founded in 1986, The Human Race Theatre Company moved to the Metropolitan Arts Center in 1991, taking up residence at The Loft, a 219-seat theatre. In addition to the Humana Loft Series 1, produced in collaboration with the Victoria Theatre Association, The Human Race produces the Humana Loft Series 2, the Musical Theatre Workshop series and special event programming. The Human Race, under the direction of Artistic Director Marsha Hanna and Executive Director Kevin Moore, also maintains educational outreach programs for children six to eighteen, guest artists and artist residencies in area schools, The Muse Machine In-School Tour, Youth Summer Stock and The Human Race Conservatory. The new Caryl D. Philips Creativity Center of The Human Race opens in 2006 to provide a space for extensive theatre education classes and workshops.
CALENDAR EDITORS, PLEASE NOTE:
The Human Race Theatre Company presents
Nefertiti: A Musical Romance
Book by David Spangler & Rick Gore
Lyrics by Christopher Gore, Rick Gore & David Spangler
Music by David Spangler
Concept by Christopher Gore
Directed by Kevin Moore
April 24 – 26, 2006
Produced by The Human Race Theatre Company
Performed at The Loft Theatre
126 N. Main Street
Dayton, Ohio 45402
For tickets, call: Ticket Center Stage at (937) 228-3630 or toll free (888) 228-3630
Ticket prices: $15 for all seats
In ancient Egypt, one headstrong woman – Nefertiti – sacrifices her newfound love to marry a king. Together, the three form an unlikely alliance for the good of the land. Guided by her strong sense of duty and her kindness towards the people, they work to change the old customs and build a new world until natural disasters and sinister political forces threaten to topple their kingdom and erase them from history.
Performance dates:
Monday, April 24 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 26 7:00 p.m.