Wanna see your favorite Broadway stars in a new musical? The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (a.k.a. NAMT) is adding a new roster of musical theater performers to its 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals, including Jersey Boys star Andy Karl (who is also headlining the upcoming Rocky), Wicked's Alli Mauzey and Newsies' Kara Lindsay. The festival will showcase nine new tuners on October 17 and October 18 at New World Stages. Read more about the new musicals below.
If you’re in the mood for a super-hero comedy, catch Karl, Lindsay, Douglas Sills, Aurelia Williams, Alice Lee, Carlos L. Encinias and previously announced stars Marc Kudisch, Christopher Sieber, Tyler Maynard and Todd Alan Johnson in The Astonishing Return of…The Protagonists!, an action-packed musical with a book and lyrics by Kevin Del Aguila and music by Michael Shaieb. The musical is directed by Tony winner Christopher Gattelli.
What about a quirky romantic comedy? Tony nominee Michael Berresse, Tony winner Harriet Harris (Cinderella) and Sarah Stiles will star in Analog and Vinyl, featuring a book, music and lyrics by Paul Gordon, with music direction by Jodie Moore.
Come From Away, a new musical about the thousands of people diverted to Gander, Newfoundland, on 9/11, features a book, music and lyrics by David Hein and Irene Sankoff. The production stars Ruthie Ann Miles, Klea Blackhurst, Allison Case, Tony nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Becca Ayers, Lenny Wolpe, Spencer Moses, Nick Choksi, Colin Hanlon, Jason SweetTooth Williams, Jason Michael Snow and Tony nominee Barbara Walsh. Brian Hill is on tap to direct.
Eastland offers a gripping history lesson about the S.S. Eastland boating disaster in 1915 Chicago, starring William Ryall and Andi Alhadeff, joining Will Connolly, Randy Redd, Lauren Marcus, Katrina Lenk, Emily Walton, Derek Hasenstab and Erik Heilman.
Take a trip to Africa in the new musical My Heart Is the Drum, a coming-of-age story about a young girl fleeing her village. Featuring a book by Jennie Redling, a concept and music by Phillip Palmer and lyrics by Stacey Luftig, the production is helmed by Schele Williams. The new musical stars Saycon Sengbloh, Big Fish's Krystal Joy Brown, Rebecca E. Covington, Nicole Lewis, John Eric Parker, Danielle K. Thomas, Donald Weber and Jarran Muse and star Tommar Wilson.
Step inside the wacky mind of author and caricaturist E.T.A. Hoffmann in The Sandman—a little nightmare musical, staring Heidi Blickenstaff, Sills, Joshua Colley and Mavis Simpson-Ernst, joining stars Robert Creighton, Kelly McCormick and Annie star Sadie Sink.
The Single Girls Guide, a retelling of Emma set in 1964 New York City, will star Mauzey, Annie's Clarke Thorell, Adam Heller, Soul Doctor star Amber Iman, Sydney James Harcourt and Michael McCorry Rose, joining Farah Alvin, Jenny Powers, Gwen Hollander, Steve Rosen and Susan Mosher. Directed by Kevin Moriarty, The Single Girls Guide features music and lyrics by Tommy Newman and a book by Gordon Greenberg.
An Afghanistan dancing ritual is explored in The Boy Who Danced on Air, starring Giuseppe Bausilio, Anthony Lee Medina, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Sorab Wadia and Jonathan Raviv. The musical features a book and lyrics by Charlie Sohne and music by Tim Rosser, with direction by Saheem Ali.
And for the kids, Sieber, Cinderella's Ann Harada, George Salazar, Ciara Renee (Big Fish) and David Larsen will debut The Three Little Pigs, featuring music by George Stiles and a book and lyrics by Anthony Drewe. Victoria Bussert is set to direct.