A Musical Within a Musical TheatreWorks Opens the Irreverent Musical Comedy ‘[title of show]’ July 15

NEW MILFORD, CONN. (July 1, 2016) – On  Friday, July 15, TheatreWorks New Milford will debut the musical comedy [title of show] with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell. The curtain goes up at 8:00 p.m. on a three-week run.

[title of show] centers on two struggling writers who decide to enter a new musical theatre festival. The problem is they have no ideas and the submission deadline is just three weeks away. After enlisting three friends to help them, the big idea finally comes to light: they’ll write a musical about the unnerving, hectic, and joyous process of writing a musical.

“[title of show] is so unconventional. Without being pompous, it’s a play about itself,” said director Alicia Dempster of Danbury. “While it’s extremelely self-referential…very meta…it’s also filled with lots of laughs and lots of heart. It will definitely appeal to those who know their Broadway trivia, but it also connects to a larger audiennce through laughter and by tugging at the heart strings.”

“It’s a great ensemble piece that TheatreWorks has been eyeing for years,” said producer Richard Pettibone of New Milford. “Alicia [Dempster] was able to assemble a great four-person cast – five if you count musical director Steven Oliveri who occasionally interacts with the others – that really clicks on stage. It’s a very unique show that makes for even better mid-summer entertainment…when you might be looking to get out of the heat and take in a fun night of theatre.”

The production features an outstanding cast of four regional actors: Ashley McLeod (Brookfield), Rob Bassett (Danbury), Mike L’Altrella (Oxford), and Carey Van Hollen (Southbury).

Along with Dempster, Pettibone, and Oliveri, the show’s crew includes lighting designer Scott Wyshynski, sound designer Tom Libonate, and stage manager Kathy Bolster.

[title of show] was chosen for production by the New York City Musical Theatre Festival and premiered there in September 2004. The play opened off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre on February 26, 2006, and subsequently made its Broadway debut at the Lyceum Theatre on July 17, 2008. The off-Broadway production won three Obie Award Special Citations and received two nominations at the Drama League Awards. The Broadway production received a Tony Award nomination for Best Book of a Musical in 2009

[title of show] runs July 15,16  22,23,24  29,30,31. Curtain time is 8:00 p.m. Fridays & Saturdays, with 2:00 p.m. Sunday matinees on July 24 and 31. Tickets for all shows are $26 for reserved seating. Students and Military personnel with ID will be admitted for $21. Please note: These are new dates. There are no shows on July 8 or 9.

On July 14, Senior Citizens are invited to a free dress rehearsal at 8:00 p.m. Thursday, July 28 at 8:00 p.m. is TheatreWorks’ Pay-What-You-Want night. At this performance, patrons name the price for their tickets. Please note: the title of this show is, in fact, [title of show]. This show contains strong language and adult situations. It is not recommended for children.

Reservations can be made online at theatreworks.us or by calling the box office at (860) 350-6863.

TheatreWorks is an award-winning, non-Equity theatre company, named Best Community Theater in Connecticut by Connecticut Magazine. TheatreWorks is located at 5 Brookside Avenue , just off Route 202 (next to the CVS), in New Milford , CT. Parking is located behind the Catherine E. Lillis Administration Building at 50 East Street, New Milford.