Month: March 2011

In Case You Haven’t Heard…

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TAKE ME AMERICA

Lyrics by Bill Nabel
Music by Bob Christianson

“It’s not a story. It’s my life!” What happens when your life is at stake, and the only chance you have at survival lies in the hands of a complete stranger? This new musical follows the difficult process of several struggling refugees in their quest for asylum in the United States and the well-intentioned INS agents who are responsible for deciding their fates. As the dreams and fears of each refugee come to light, the INS agents struggle to find balance between their feelings for humanity, and the reality of their professional position. Inspired by true stories, Take Me America received an immediate standing ovation at the 9th Annual Festival of New Musicals—it balances heavy themes with light-hearted comedy that compliments its gripping, rock score.

ANNIE GET YOUR GUN

Music and Lyrics by Irving Berlin
Book by Herbert Fields and Dorothy Fields

Village Theatre hits the bull’s-eye this season with this Wild West show-within-a-show and the ageless love story of the sharpest sharpshooter Annie Oakley and Frank Butler, the heart-throb of Buffalo Bill’s traveling show. Written by world-famous, American composer Irving Berlin, Village Theatre’s production of this classic Broadway diamond will be directed by award-winning, artistic director, Steve Tomkins. Hum along to unforgettable tunes like “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “I Got The Sun in the Morning,” “You Can’t Get A Man With A Gun,” and “Anything You Can Do” as we celebrate one of Broadway’s most enduring triumphs on the Mainstage.

THE ODD COUPLE

By Neil Simon

Arguably the funniest comedy ever, this Neil Simon classic and four-time Tony Award-winner is one of the most famed stage plays in American history. Meet Oscar Madison, a carefree, positively unkempt, divorcé, and his new roomie, Felix Unger, an uptight, fastidious man, recently separated from his wife and practically suicidal. While it would seem that bunking together would be a last resort for these two, the decision to do so mixes slob with neat-freak, leading to total madness for them, and laugh-out-loud comedy for us!

IT SHOULDA BEEN YOU

Book and Lyrics by Brian Hargrove
Music by Barbara Anselmi

Wedding bells aren’t ringing, they’re clanging at the union of this Jewish bride and her Catholic groom! The Steinberg and Howard families couldn’t have less in common…aside from the fact that their children are about to tie the knot. When the big day comes, frenzied wedding mayhem ensues—emotions run high, schemes unfold, and a twist in the plot hysterically unveils what no one saw coming. This new musical comedy brought howls of laughter to the theatre at the 10th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Bursting with clever lyrics and melodies that’ll stick, It Shoulda Been You follows two families at odds as they make their way down the aisle, ultimately to find love and compassion where they least expected it.

THE PRODUCERS

Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan
Music by Mel Brooks
Lyrics by Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks’ record-breaking, 12-time Tony Award-winner, The Producers is a hysterically outrageous hit! When a crooked Broadway producer, and his nervous accountant hatch a plan to mount a guaranteed Broadway flop in order to turn some quick cash, their wrongful scheming goes wildly awry. With direction by award winning artistic director, Steve Tomkins, swingin’ tunes, and a vaudeville feel, this show is loaded with laughs and dazzling choreography that is sure to leave stars in your eyes.

Interview with IRON CURTAIN composer, Stephen Weiner

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Pulled from the National Alliance of Musical Theatre eNewsletter…

An interview with Stephen Weiner (composer) about his show Iron Curtain from the 2009 Festival of New Musicals (written with Peter Mills-Lyrics and Susan DiLallo-Book), as they prepare for their regional premiere at The Village Theatre later this month.

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Iron Curtain is an original story based on history. In the 1950’s at the height of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the USA, the Soviets tried to rival American Hollywood musicals with their own brand of eye popping Communist propaganda musicals that extolled the Communist way of life. And they were just horrible – I mean, laughably bad. I actually saw clips of them and realized instantly that this was perfect fodder for a musical comedy. The story of two down-on-their luck New York song writers being kidnapped by the KGB to Russia to ‘fix’ these Communist musicals, only to become wildly successful over there, and what ensues, is the basis for our musical comedy.

Tell us a bit about how the show was born and what work had been done on it leading up to the 2009 Festival.

When Pete Mills saw some of thee Communist Musical Movie clips, we both clicked with the idea and he was as eager as I was to start developing the story line. Around seven songs in, we realized that we needed to bring in a funny bookwriter, and that’s when we contacted Susan DiLallo. Around 2005, Pete and his wife, director Cara Reichel who run the Prospect Theater in NYC needed a musical for their spring 2006 season. Susan, Pete and I wrote in record time and within 5 months, the show was written, workshopped and on stage. We were blessed with some terrific reviews and word of mouth.

Since the initial Prospect Theater production, there were showcase productions at Las Positas College in California, and even at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival through the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. The show was then honored with two developmental workshops – one at the The O’ Neill in 2008, and also at the Village Theater that same year. The audience response was tremendous. Of course, we were accepted into NAMT [Festival in 2009], which was thrilling and a great experience.

Village Originals workshop presentation of Iron Curtain, 2008. Director Steve Tomkins.

What role has The Village Theatre played in helping you develop the show since the festival?

I’m glad you asked … the Village Theater has been an incredible supporter of my work, and of all writers seeking to get their works produced. They have an amazing process, not duplicated anywhere else from what I gather. From their Festival of New Works, which happens every August, their subscribers see 6 new staged readings and have a chance to evaluate the shows and give very honest feedback. From there, certain shows are selected from audience reaction and favorites to go to their Main Stage or to a workshop for future development and consideration, with audience and patron involvement every step of the way. It is really impressive. I’ve been blessed with having “…New Jersey”,” Iron Curtain” and “Rocket Science” seen in all of these formats, and the process works. I can’t think of another theater that is more dedicated to the production of not one – but TWO [new] musicals as part of each season. On top of all this, the resources and care that the theater and creative team puts into each show is simply astounding. Sets, costumes, band, are of the highest caliber and the production specs are magnificent… [and] they may be the nicest people on the planet.

You are now in rehearsals for a big production of the show at Village Theatre this month. Tell us a bit of what we can expect to see on the stage and who is working on it?

The show is going to be wonderful. We have a fantastic cast of 18 actors, an 8 piece orchestra and more than 100 costumes in the show. This is a traditional big musical comedy that celebrates the Golden Age of Broadway musicals and as such, calls for lots of set changes that can capture New York City and Moscow in this highly evocative era of the 1950’s. So it is going to look and sound amazing. There is a lot of dancing in the show, and Steve Tomkins is doing an amazing job directing the show. Our gifted MD RJ Tancioco is a veteran and savvy music director and Remy Kurs is whipping up some great orchestrations. The set design is by Bill Forrester who did an amazing job for us on “New Jersey”. I think overall, it is going to be the fullest realization of all of our fantasies for realizing our show.

What is the best joke in Iron Curtain?

Well, there are too many to choose from. You’ll just have to come and listen for yourself!

For more information on Iron Curtain, http://www.villagetheatre.org.

Learn more about NAMT.