The New York Musical Theater Festival

[Megger]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 5:18pm

Does anyone have any information about any of the musicals premiering at the festival? I want to go see a few, but I have no idea about any of them. I would appreciate any information any of you might have. Thanks!

[Rob]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 5:23pm

Everything you need to know, and more is in the downloadable program:

http://www.nymf.org/program.htm

[Megger]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 5:30pm

I mean, has anyone heard any buzz about any of the shows. I have been over the website already. Thanks.

[BJC899]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 6:49pm

I'm auditioning for the new Stephen Schwartz musical "Captain Louie" on Tuesday.

I'm so excited!

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 8:56pm

I am bringing my own musical to NYMF -- The Big Voice: God or Merman?. We've been touring it for two years getting ready for the NY debut. You can read more about "the buzz" -- meaning all the great reviews we've gotten from all over the country -- on our press page. Link below:
Press page for The Big Voice: God or Merman?

[MusicMan]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:04pm

The rabbi who must praise himself has a congregation of one.

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:08pm

The rabbi who must praise himself has a congregation of one.

Or he can't afford a press agent and shills.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:17pm

Then he needs to learn better public relations. As it stands, the immodesty is off-putting and loses him an audience member.

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:21pm

Message received. It wasn't my intention to be obnoxious. Someone asked a question about the Festival and I provided a link to some press quotes. Still, I know I've posted a lot about my show so thanks for the word. I'll cool it. I still, however, insist on talking about 'bare.' Damon is one of my adopted sons.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:24pm

Oh, Gian Carlo! Hilarious! Updated On: 9/9/04 at 09:24 PM

[etoile]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:36pm

I respect those that come forward and announce their connection to a show. So much better the "hidden" shills.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:38pm

Easy musicman. I appreciate Steveshack's honesty. Would you prefer 15 idiots who want to pretend they're "crazy about" some show (BRKLN, etc...) ad nauseum? One thing though Steve, it won't make any difference to shill here or on any ohter board. I'm sure the festival has some sort of press, make them do it to a broad based audience. Don't bother yourself, here. Just my humble opinion.

[MusicMan]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:46pm

Nothing hidden about SteveShack, for sure. I've encountered his incessant self-promotion on other sites besides Broadwayworld.com. It's a total bore.

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/9/04 at 9:55pm

>>One thing though Steve, it won't make any difference to shill here or on any ohter board. I'm sure the festival has some sort of press, make them do it to a broad based audience. Don't bother yourself, here. Just my humble opinion.

I don't know if it helps or not. I haven't been to NY in a long time and so I haven't had much to say on these boards. Then suddenly we found ourselves part of NYMF and I have been talking about it. MusicMan is right. From the very beginning of my time on the Internet eight years ago I have used it as a tool to promote my work. At times I probably went overboard and made myself look foolish.

In the end, though, what matters is what's on the stage. If I've harmed my work by being so forthright in forums like these, then I guess I'll pay that price.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 8:12am

That's just it Steve,I don't know you or anything about the festival (and frankly, don't care, as it's not my cup of tea) but,you needn't worry yourself about *ramifications*, this or any other, board is simply not a big enough tool to hurt OR help.

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 12:46pm

Al Dente, the irony of all this is the fact it was BECAUSE I've used the Internet to post the reviews of The Big Voice while it was in development around the country that we made it into NYMF. They actually approached us because I had been faithfully posting the reviews from each city. Sure, it might have irritated some, but for the most part, the only forums I actually posted all this on was a YahooGroup set up specifically to help new and emerging writers. Occasionally I'll post to a list about cast recordings.

[TheGaIsSilent]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 1:17pm

How is steveshack's postings any different from Marc Shaiman or Todd Graff posting? They talk about their own work, too!

[Dawg]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 1:35pm

Steve, don't mind Al...there's not much that's is cup of tea (next to bitching on this board about all that is terrible and evil about this board, and shilling for broadway.com).

I applaud you for keeping word of mouth going on your musical and I look forward to seeing it in the festival-when and where is it playing and what was the process for getting your show into the festival in the first place? I know a piece that could benefit from something like this I think.

[Bubbles2]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 1:51pm

Hmm...Interesting. I didn't even know about this Festival thing. Ah well, thanks for tellin' me! ^_^

[Avenue QT]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 1:52pm

No one shoul dbe ashamed of promoting themselves. If you put hard work and effort into something, you should be proud of it, and loud about it. I don't think steve was being obnoxious, just excited. And I don't thinkn there's anything wrong with that.

[Al Dente]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 2:11pm

Oh yes and Steve, don't mind good old doggie do, he only ever switches personalities to post as Dawg in order to bash me as he's convinced I "work for" their main nemesis. It always makes me laugh, yet aggrandizes me ever so!

[steveshack]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 2:23pm

Dawg, in response to your question, The New York Musical Theatre Festival is new this year. I'm not quite sure how to submit but if you go to their website, I'm sure you can find out information for next year (www.nymf.org). Most of the shows will take place around the 42nd street area. Our show (THE BIG VOICE: GOD OR MERMAN?) is playing on 37th Street at The Belt, a very strange little theatre next to The Zipper where BeBe Neuwirth has been doing her show. We start performances on Sept. 24th and we do six shows through Oct. 3rd. I'll provide a link at the bottom of this post. What's great is the tickets are only $15. And BTW, we've already got an off-Broadway run planned thanks to the producers of BatBoy.

But I believe the process was the same as for most festivals. You submit the work and someone chooses. In our case, we were actually approached by the Festival's organizers based on our two year track record. We've played to sold out houses in L.A., Chicago, Houston, Dallas, Omaha and Rochester NY. It's nice that a musical about a gay marriage has done so well in such diverse markets, but our goal was always to eventually get to NY. We just thought it'd best to tour first and hone the piece.

Al was actually coming to my defense. It was MusicMan who lambasted me for posting a link to my show in response to a direct question about the festival. But Al, I'd be curious to know what it is about the festival that isn't your cup of tea. Is it because it's a festival or because you don't like musicals?

Bubbles, I'm glad you're learning about the Festival. I've looked over a lot of the other offerings and they look really good. The goal is this festival is to bring newer, more commercial works that otherwise would never get seen. Of course, "commercial" is in the eyes of the beholder. No one thought our show would be commercial until they saw it in front of an audience.

Avenue QT, one of the things I've been looking forward to is seeing Avenue Q. I've become friends with the conductor Mark Hartman and he has promised to bring a lot of friends. One of the things that most people don't realize is that when you're starting out with a new show, everyone is "suspicious" until they actually see it. So, I knew going in that I would be attacked. That's the nature of internet forums.


NYMF presents The Big Voice: God or Merman?

[Avenue QT]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 2:40pm

I hope you get to see it. I remember I saw it when it first opened on Broadway, and thought, "hmm...if this didn't have puppets in it, it could win best musical." I'm glad it did, despite the puppets, which by the way, I love and adore, myself puppet hobbyist. I'm just glad the committee didn't overlook the sdhow, although was upset that neither actors won tony's. Most people don't understand how hard it is to act through a piece of felt.

[alterego]

Posted: 9/10/04 at 11:07pm

This festival has had extensive coverage even as far as here (Melbourne). The Artistic Director (?) is from here as is one of the shows Joe Starts Again. Could be worth a look too.

[FalmouthJ]

Posted: 9/11/04 at 9:27am

Megger, I've finally made my list after listening to everyone on this and other boards: 100 Years Into the Heart, Lulu, Caligula, Meet John Doe and The Eyes are the First Thing To Go. I hope to see the movie musicals too. Good luck choosing, there seems to be some great stuff coming and the price is right!