New York Musical Theatre Festival

Off-Broadway Review: “Newton’s Cradle” at the New York Musical Festival at the Pearl Theatre

“Newton’s Cradle” is an earnest attempt to create a serious musical that sheds some light on the subject of Autism by revealing some significant situations experienced by Evan Newton, who is living with this disorder. It joins the ranks alongside the Broadway play “Curious Incident” in trying to bring to the forefront the consequences associated with this condition and how…

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News: New York Musical Festival (NYMF) Announces Initial Slate of Performers for the 2016 Season

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, announced the initial slate of artists participating in NYMF 2016, taking place from July 11 through August 7 in Midtown Manhattan. Tony Award winner and four-time Tony Nominee Victoria Clark (The Light in the Piazza) will direct NEWTON’S CRADLE, with book, music, and lyrics by…

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“Manuel versus the Statue of Liberty” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the Alice Griffin Theatre (Closed on Monday July 27, 2015)

“Manuel versus the Statue of Liberty” is a powerful new musical that takes considerable risks in exposing the flaws in the United States Immigration System (USCIS). Noemi de la Puente’s engaging book personalizes the “nightmare” of USCIS as a knock-down-drag-out boxing match between a young illegal Manuel (played with a powerful grace by Gil Perez-Abraham) and the Statue of Liberty…

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“Single Wide” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the PTC Theater (Closed on Saturday July 25, 2015)

“Single Wide” is a charming musical with an interesting book, a pleasing country-rock score with solid lyrics. The creative writing team of George D. Nelson and Jordan Kamalu has constructed an engaging musical with strong well-rounded characters with authentic and believable conflicts (problems), with an interesting setting, and strong rich themes. The conflicts drive a powerful plot with enough tension…

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“Songs for the Fallen” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at Theater 3 (Closed on July 27, 2015)

“Songs For The Fallen,” a new musical, tackles the fascinating life and passionate times of Marie Duplessis, the infamous courtesan of the upper echelon in 19th century Paris. It is being presented as part of NYMF at Theater 3. Although the subject has been depicted in various mediums including the popular film “Moulin Rouge,” this incarnation penned by Sheridan Harbridge,…

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“Deep Love” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the Allice Griffin Theatre (Closed Saturday July 24, 2015)

“Deep Love” began its journey as a rock concert and that is precisely where its journey should have ended. It is not musical theatre. It could be theatre dance if the dancers told the story in dance with music and text supportive of the movement (not the reverse which is the case in this current incarnation). As it stands, Garrett…

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“What do Critics Know?” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at The Alice Griffin Theatre (Closed Monday July 27, 2015)

I assume that there are times when audiences just want to go to the theater and see a good old fashioned musical comedy since there is a constant flow of revivals opening on Broadway to satisfy that urge. There is certainly room amongst the cutting edge subject matter and new music genres that keep creeping onto the scene for a…

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“Foolerie” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the PTC Performance Space (Closed Monday July 27, 2015

I have never felt like a bigger fool than when I wasted two hours and fifteen minutes enduring the new musical “Foolerie” presented as part of NYMF at the PTC Performance Space. To substantiate my point, regarding the reason to persevere, I ran across this quote by Benjamin Franklin: “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain – and most fools…

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“Held Momentarily” at the New York Musical Theatre Festival at the PTC Theater (Closed Monday July 27, 2015)

“Held Momentarily” being presented as part of NYMF at PTC is certainly on the move and getting closer, I hope, to a prolific destination. Since first viewed at the 2014 NY International Fringe Festival it has experienced welcomed modifications that are beneficial to the growth of this pleasant chamber musical. In this present incarnation the book, music and lyrics are…

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“Head Voice” at the New York Musical Theater Festival at Theater 3 (Closed Saturday July 25, 2015)

Portraying himself and explicating his understanding of the creative process in “Head Voice,” Ethan Andersen has continued to re-work his new musical (originally workshopped in New Orleans in 2010) and showcase it in this year’s New York Musical Theatre Festival. The result is mostly quite pleasant and often impressive. Mr. Andersen writes sophisticated music and his score here is quite…

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