Several Broadway favorites are set to perform excerpts from five new musicals in development at the Lucille Lortel Theatre's 121 Project Live in Concert. The one-night-only event will be held February 3 at 7 PM at the Lortel.
Performers will include Iris Beaumier, Shayna Blass, Jerry Dixon (If/Then, Once On This Island), Andrew Durand (Dead Outlaw, Shucked), Shadia Fairuz, Ben Fankhauser (Newsies), Robi Hager (Doctor Zhivago), Rodney Hicks (Come From Away, The Scottsboro Boys), Daniel Haengil Larsen, Desi Oakley (Chicago, Wicked), Marina Pires (How to Dance in Ohio), Jelani Remy (Back to the Future), Naomi Serrano, Angel Sigala (New York, New York), Kimber Elayne Sprawl (Othello, Girl From the North Country), and NaTasha Yvette Williams (Some Like It Hot).
The featured musicals will include Barnstormer, with a book and lyrics by Cheryl L. Davis and music by Douglas J. Cohen; The Break, with a book and lyrics by Christopher Dimond and music by Michael Kooman; Coal, with a book, music, and lyrics by Nicholas Connors; Hart Island, with a book by Michelle Elliot, music by Danny Haengil Larsen, and lyrics by both; and Little Duende, with a book by Georgina Escobar, music by Robi Hager, and lyrics by both. Each work has been supported by the 121 Project, a program dedicated to helping writers develop their musicals.
A six-piece band will accompany the performers, with music director Matthew Smedal on piano, Sita Chay on violin, Marc Malsegna on guitar, Josh Priest on drums and percussion, Corey Schutzer on bass, and Agustin Uriburu on cello.
“121 Project is a tailored development program designed to meet the individual needs of a specific moment,” New Musical Development Artistic Director and director of the 121 Project Michael Heitzman said in a statement. “We are filled with joy that such a talented group of performers have come together for this one-night only concert. Their contributions are essential in helping these five musicals advance to their next stage of development and hope that the support of the Lucille Lortel Theatre can be transformational.”
Visit Lortel.org for more information or to purchase tickets.
