Alice Griffin News

After taking its first breaths of theatrical life at the York Theatre in 20102011 and playing the Fresh Fruit Festival in 2016, Chance - A Musical Play About Love, Risk, & Getting It Right will make its Off-Broadway debut during the 2019 New York Musical Festival as a Invited Production

After taking its first breaths of theatrical life at the York Theatre in 20102011 and playing the Fresh Fruit Festival in 2016, Chance - A Musical Play About Love, Risk, & Getting It Right will make its Off-Broadway debut during the 2019 New York Musical Festival as a Invited Production.

Earlier this week, the cast and creative team of the new musical ILLUMINATI LIZARDS FROM OUTER SPACE gave a special sneak peek of the upcoming show. ILLUMINATI LIZARDS FROM OUTER SPACE features music and lyrics by Yuri Worontschak and book and lyrics by Paul Western-Pittard. When beauty-pageant contestant, Tina Lyons is cheated out of her rightful place in the finale of a Ms Beautiful World competition, she admits herself into the Savra Wellness Centre for Spiritual and Mental Wellbeing to rebalance her life. Little does she know she's accidentally checked-in to a top-secret operation run by Illuminati- lizard Overlords on a mission to colonize the planet. As it tracks the rise, fall, then rise again of Tina we're left wondering how we would react if we had the chance to get everything we ever wanted.

Earlier this week, the cast and creative team of the new musical FLYING LESSONS gave a special sneak peek of the upcoming show. FLYING LESSONS features a book by Donald Rupe, music by Donald Rupe and Cesar de la Rosa and orchestrations by Cesar de la Rosa, Josh Ceballos and Jason Bailey. In this charming musical, Isabella is a young Latina whose teacher has just assigned the final project of her eighth-grade year: research a historical figure and write a paper about what made them great. Joined by her quirky friends, Isabella has to decide who to study when she is visited in a dream by two unlikely companions: Amelia Earhart and Frederick Douglass. Over time, Isabella writes her own 'recipe for greatness' as she learns as much about herself as she does about history.

Earlier this week, the cast and creative team of the new musical LEAVING EDEN gave a special sneak peek of the upcoming show. LEAVING EDEN features a book & lyrics by Jenny Waxman; music by Ben Page and additional music by Ada Westfall. Woman and Man will never be the same.  In the beginning God created man and woman; Adam and Lilith. Lilith has some questions, Adam has some rules, and in a modern metropolis, Eve must deal with a mess of her own creation.  Leaving Eden is a punk-rock creation myth that asks: Is there wisdom in the Garden? And will we have to leave Eden to really know?

Earlier this week, the cast and creative team of the new musical FINDING BEAUTIFUL gave a special sneak peek of the upcoming show.BROTHER NAT features a book and lyrics by Liana Asim and Jabari Asim and music by Allyssa Jones and Damien Sneed. In this sung-through musical inspired by Nat Turner's historic slave insurrection, the hero toils and dreams of freedom until an Angel appears and issues a divine directive: Rise and revolt! The sign Nat has been waiting for arrives: a solar eclipse. In the darkness, he gathers his warriors and seizes the plantation. Against all odds, Nat dares to RISE above injustice, REVOLT against slavery and believe in the REDEMPTION of all humanity.

Earlier this week, the cast and creative team of the new musical FINDING BEAUTIFUL gave a special sneak peek of the upcoming show. FINDING BEAUTIFUL features a book, music, and lyrics by the inaugural NYMF Artist Fellowship recipient, Anessa Marie and Danny Bristoll. A celebration of identity, love, and life through the eyes of both a trans woman and gay man in today's society. Featuring a full jazz ensemble and music influenced by both jazz and musical theater, both unique voices combined offer a raw and unsung exploration of gender identity and the joys and sorrows of transitions, both physical and emotional, in America today. Finding Beautiful promises to speak to anyone who has juggled finding the beauty and love within themselves and the strength to be yourself unabashedly.

Earlier this week, the cast and creative team of the new musical LADYSHIP gave a special sneak peek of the upcoming show. LADYSHIP features a book, music, and lyrics by Laura and Linda Good. Is it a crime to survive? Convicted of petty crimes and sentenced to journey to a land they had never known, teenage Irish sisters Alice and Mary are forced to make the treacherous crossing from London to Australia in 1789. With a contemporary alt/pop score by Linda and Laura Good of the band the Twigs,LadyShip reminds us that whether in the 18th century or now, this story is all too familiar - when given no say in their lives or the world around them women will always find their own voice. Based on true events, this is the harrowing story of the 25,000 women who would become the "mothers of Australia," whether they wanted to be or not.

Now in its sixteenth year, the The New York Musical Festival will take place July 8th through August 4th with Mainstage productions at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, Readings at The Stavros Niarchos Foundation Rehearsal Studio, and Concerts at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, all on West 42nd Street in New York City. Scott Pyne serves as NYMF Executive Director and West Hyler serves as Producing Artistic Director.

BURIED, a razor-sharp new musical featuring music and lyrics by Cordelia O'Driscoll, book and lyrics by Tom Williams and orchestrations and musical direction by Olivia Doust will be making its U.S. premiere at the New York Musical Festival this Summer. The dark comedy about two serial killers who discover each other's life's passion while out on a blind date has been lauded in the U.K. for its biting wit and soaring, soulful score and will run July 9-14 at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street. The production is the only British musical that will be featured at the festival and is an official selection of the 2019 New York Musical Festival's Next Link Project. https:buriedthemusical.co.uk

After playing an acclaimed run as part of the Planet Connections Festival in 2015 and taking home awards for Outstanding Music & Lyrics and Outstanding Leading Actress, as well as nominations for Outstanding Book of a Musical, Direction and Production, Black Hole Wedding will make its off Broadway debut as part of the 2019 New York Musical Festival's Next Link Project.

NEW YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL and LADYSHIP, LLC announce the dates and casting for the world premiere production of Linda and Laura Good's (from the acclaimed indie rock duo, The Twigs) musical LADYSHIP, musical directed by Simone Allen, directed by Samantha Saltzman (Matilda the Musical) as an Official Selection of the 2019 New York Musical Festival's Next Link Project.

Casting has been announced for the new Sci-FiRock n' Roll Comedy ILLUMINATI LIZARDS FROM OUTER SPACE which will be running at New York Musical Festival, July 8 - 13th at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre.

NEW YORK MUSICAL FESTIVAL and OSCEOLA ARTS are pleased to announce the world premiere production of FLYING LESSONS, written and directed by Donald Rupe, with music and orchestrations by Cesar De La Rosa, music direction and orchestrations by Josh Ceballos, and additional orchestrations by Jason M. Bailey, as an Official Selection of the 2019 New York Musical Festival's Next Link Project.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) and Flying Elephant Productions present TILL, the emotional and moving true story of Emmett and Mamie Till, with music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Leo Schwartz and DC Cathro. NJ Agwuna directs a cast of six, including Taylor A. Blackman (Regional: Fun Home, Mamma Mia, Hello Dolly, Ragtime), Tyla Collier (Off-Broadway: Sistas the Musical), Dwelvan David (1st national tours: Finding Neverland; The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess), Judith Franklin (Broadway: Summer: The Donna Summer Musical), Denielle Marie Gray (NationalIntl. Touring: background singer for Patti Labelle & others) and Devin L. Roberts (Broadway: The Lion King, Cabin In The Sky). Five performances will be staged at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center in New York City from July 23-28, 2019.

Sci-Fi fans and conspiracy theorists are getting their very own musical comedy this Summer, as ILLUMINATI LIZARDS FROM OUTER SPACE descends upon Manhattan - as part of the New York Musical Festival, July 8 - 13th at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre. The production features Music & Lyrics by Yuri Worontschak and Book & Lyrics by Paul Western-Pittard. Joey Murray directs. Casting is soon to be announced.

Kaleidoscope Creative Partners presents the Off-Broadway premiere of L.O.V.E.R., written and performed by Lois Robbins (TV Land's "Younger"; Cactus Flower) and directed by Karen Carpenter (Love, Loss, and What I Wore).

 The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) and Sharp Women, LLC present Overture the Musical, a new story celebrating the extraordinary grass-roots efforts to save the Kansas City Philharmonic, with music and lyrics by Krista Eyler, book by Krista Eyler and Barbara Nichols. 

Susanna Wolk (Choir Boy, Waitress, Finding Neverland) will be joining the team of  the world premiere production of LEAVING EDEN as the director.  Previously announced director James Monaghan will be departing the production to Asolo Repertory Theatre as their new Dramaturg/Literary Manager. 

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF) has announced the first ever NYMF Artist Fellowship, a two-year program that will be awarded annually to an exceptional artist of note who is changing the landscape of musical theater. The fellowship involves the presentation of a reading or concert in the first year of the fellowship and a full production in the second year.