Rhinebeck Writers Retreat Announces 2018 Writers, Including Tony, Emmy, Jonathan Larson, And Kleban Winners

Founding Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the 19 writers of 9 new musicals in this summer's Rhinebeck Writers Retreat. This year's writers include 2018 Jonathan Larson winners Andrew Farmer and Andrew R. Butler, 2018 Kleban winner Amanda Yasnowitz, Tony-winner Ken Davenport, 2018 Lucille Lortel winner for Outstanding Musical (KPOP) Max Vernon, Emmy winner Doug Katsaros, Obie winner Erin Courtney, and the writers of the podcast musical 36 questions who are developing their next musical, Chris Littler and Ellen Winter.

The 9 musicals were selected from 140 applications, which were reviewed by 23 readers in the first round and a panel of 6 new musical experts in the final round: Jason Eagan, Founding Artistic Director of Ars Nova; Rodney Hicks, original Broadway cast of COME FROM AWAY; Mara Isaacs, Creative Producer of Octopus Theatricals (HADESTOWN); Kent Nicholson, Director of Musical Theatre at Playwrights Horizons; Barbara Pasternack, Artistic Director of Theatreworks USA; and Robert Zukerman, formerly Director of Theatre at NYSCA.

For nine consecutive weeks beginning July 1, each writing team is awarded a private weeklong residency in the Hudson Valley to write their new musical. The writers are provided a home, transportation, food, and a $500 stipend. Writers pay nothing to participate and Rhinebeck Writers Retreat's donors cover all the writers' costs. Major support comes from National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund, The Frederick Loewe Foundation, and The Noël Coward Foundation.

The writers and musicals selected for this summer are:

· July 1 - July 8: Britt Bonney, MONTGOMERY, with Underwriting Support from Michael A. Jenkins

· July 8 - July 15: Scotty Arnold and Jenny Stafford, EXTENDED STAY, with Lead Support from The Noël Coward Foundation

· July 15 - July 22: Andrew R. Butler and Andrew Farmer, BLESSING, with Lead Support from Peter Risafi and Steven Wheeler

· July 22 - July 29: Max Vernon and Erin Courtney, THE TATTOOED LADY, with Lead Support from Amy and Roger Faxon

· July 29 - August 5: Chris Littler and Ellen Winter, MONSTER HIT, with Lead Support from Jacqui and Lew Rose

· August 5 - August 12: Lynne Shankel and Crystal Skillman, POSTCARD AMERICAN TOWN, with Lead Support from Liz Armstrong

· August 12 - August 19: Mindi Dickstein, Nolan Gasser, and Kirsten Guenther, BENNY & JOON, with Lead Support from The ASCAP Foundation Bart Howard Fund.

· August 19 - August 26: Rebecca Aparicio and Stephen Anthony Elkins, PEDRO PAN, with Lead Support from The Frederick Loewe Foundation

· August 26 - September 2: Ken Davenport, Doug Katsaros, and Amanda Yesnowitz, THE PECULIAR HISTORY OF DR. James Barry, with Lead Support from Rick Farrar and Jeff Zadroga

Full Bios and synopses can be found at rhinebeckwriters.org/2018writers

Created in 2011, Rhinebeck Writers Retreat provides a sanctuary for musical theatre writers to develop their musicals in the heart of the Hudson Valley. Alumni include Kirsten Childs, Adam Gwon, David Hein and Irene Sankoff, Joe Iconis, Itamar Moses, Zoe Sarnak, Duncan Sheik, Georgia Stitt, Kyle Jarrow, Sam Willmott, and Stew and Heidi Rodewald. Musicals developed in Rhinebeck have seen productions at The Public Theater, Barrington Stage, Second Stage Theatre, Playwrights Horizons, The Old Globe, and The Culture Project. All costs are covered by contributions including major individual support from: Liz Armstrong, Cathy Cabrera and Rick Ungar, Rick Farrar and Jeff Zadroga, Amy and Roger Faxon, Liz and Bill Mills, Steve Reynolds, Peter Risafi and Steven Wheeler, and Jacqui and Lew Rose. www.rhinebeckwriters.org