By Michael Gioia
15 Apr 2013

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the 2013 lineup of productions for its tenth annual festival, which will run July 8-28 in New York City.

This year, the Festival’s main productions will be housed at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theater, The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theater and the Studio Theater at the Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street); and the Pearl Theatre Company Performance Space (555 W. 42nd Street).

Developmental readings will take place at another theatre to be announced, and the festival hub — featuring free performances, talkbacks and other special events — will be in the Pershing Square Signature Center’s central lobby (which includes the Signature Café and Bookstore).

Click here for the 2013 selections of NYMF’s Next Link Project.

Additionally, Isaac Robert Hurwitz, NYMF’s co-founder and executive director, will step down from his position following this year’s tenth anniversary season to focus on independent producing projects and his creative consulting business. In addition to providing dramaturgical and producing support to writers and producers of new work, Hurwitz is currently consulting with Twentieth Century Fox regarding the development of stage properties based upon its film library.

“It is extremely gratifying to be capping my tenure at NYMF by celebrating our tenth Festival with such an incredible crop of shows and artists,” said Hurwitz in a statement. “I’m grateful to all of the actors, writers, musicians, and other theater professionals who have helped make NYMF far more than we ever imagined it could be when we started ten years ago — not to mention the extraordinary staff and board in whose hands I know NYMF will continue to grow in its second decade and beyond.”

An additional slate of special events, free events, staged readings and several educational panel discussions will be announced at a later date. Memberships are on sale, and members can book tickets as of May 15. Single tickets will go on sale June 17. To purchase a membership, visit NYMF.org/Member.

The 2013 lineup follows:

The Awakening of Angel DeLuna
Book by Judylynn Schmidt, music by Lee Ellis, lyrics by Judylynn Schmidt and Lee Ellis
“Ollie let the love of his life slip through his fingers and has regretted it ever since. Returning to the DeLuna family circus as a hobo clown, he learns the circus has a smarmy new owner who will stop at nothing to make a quick buck. Can one clown save the circus while keeping his identity a secret? This spectacle with live trapeze acts will remind you why the human spirit is undefeatable and love is worth every risk.”

Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue Presents The Brontës
Book, music and lyrics by Debra Buonaccorsi and Steve McWilliams
“Everyone’s favorite 19th century literary family gets the rock treatment from Washington DC’s hippest theatrical troupe. Secrets, rivalries, drugs and drama abound as conflicted siblings Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell trade Victorian repression for rock-and-roll expression in this raucous show…The Brontës upends everything you thought you knew about the authors ofJane Eyre and Wuthering Heights – in the most entertaining way possible!”

Feather
Book by Jeremy Culver, music by Charleene Closshey, original songs by Nick Everitt and Liesl Karlsson, painting by Jeffry Feeger
“After a human rights attorney learns her husband, a photojournalist, has been abducted from a child refugee camp, she faces the struggle of a lifetime. Her story comes together in a truly unique multimedia experience, cutting between past and present, stage and the screen, dialogue and song. With a sweeping, emotional score and an artist painting live on stage, this stunning fusion of art, film and music explores the power of imagination and, ultimately, what it means to be human.”

Homo The Musical!
Book by Lola Rock-N-Rolla, music and lyrics by Gina Volpe
“Posing as a suburban housewife, an alien from Planet Homo has infiltrated a religious middle-American town. Will the good people of Pleasant Valley Pines notice before their whole community erupts in chaos and depravity? Chock full of ear-splitting rock-and-roll and kick-ass dancing, Homo The Musical! is an offbeat and otherworldly probing of pure camp, cult and pop.”

Icarus
Book by Jason Slavick and the LAB Ensemble, music and lyrics by Nathan Leigh
“Greek mythology meets burlesque, puppetry, and a folk-rock score in the latest piece from acclaimed ensemble Liars and Believers, creators of last year’s gritty Festival hit, Le Cabaret Grimm. Minnie’s Menagerie, an unconventional Depression-era sideshow, is raking it in with the help of Daedalus’s innovative technology. But when Daedalus’s son falls in love with Minnie’s daughter, the star attraction, their passion threatens to bring it all crashing down.”

Legacy Falls
Book by James Burn and Ian Poitier, music and lyrics by James Burn
“Legacy Falls is the sidesplitting new musical that dishes the dirt on soap. Will there be hirings and firings? Will there be backstabbing and bitchiness? Will there be romances and hair-pulling catfights? Will there be a slightly unrealistic onscreen earthquake? Yes…Yes, there will be. Tune in to this tuneful frolic through the on- and off-screen drama of America’s favorite daytime soap opera, Legacy Falls!”

Life Could Be A Dream
Book, music and lyrics by Roger Bean
“Meet the ‘Crooning Crabcakes,’ a boy group hoping for fame and fortune in the Big Whopper Radio ‘Dream-Of-A-Lifetime Talent Search.’ Trouble comes when Lois, a former Springfield High School Song Leader, arrives to put some polish on the boys. Denny and Wally fall in love, Eugene falls apart, and heartthrob Skip sends the whole situation spinning. Winner of the L.A. Drama Critics Circle and L.A. Weekly ‘Best Musical of the Year’ Awards, from the creator of The Marvelous Wonderettes.”

Marry Harry
Book by Jennifer Robbins, music and lyrics by Dan Martin and Michael Biello
“Chef Harry wants to leave his family’s failing restaurant but doesn’t want to break his dad’s heart. Sparks fly when the landlord’s daughter, Sherri, sees in Harry the potential man of her dreams — but then things start moving much too fast. Can Harry stay true to himself without disappointing those he loves? With a healthy helping of humor and just the right amount of spice, Marry Harry provides a recipe for finding your path in life.”

Mother, Wife and the Complicated Life
Book, music and lyrics by Amity Dry
“An hilarious and heartwarming look at the juggle of doing it all. Join four best friends as they discover marriage is nothing like the movies, motherhood can push you to your limits and no one makes you laugh like your girlfriends do. Set to a rousing pop score, this is the musical comedy that tells the truth about marriage and motherhood.”

That Lady from Maxim’s
Book, music and lyrics by Bryan Williams
“Paris, 1899. After beaucoup champagne at the notorious nightclub, Maxim’s, respectable Dr. Petypon wakes to discover a mysterious near-naked woman in his bed. Desperate to conceal this indiscretion from his righteous wife and rich uncle, he finds himself caught in a hilarious maze of mistaken identities, complicated lies, and catapulting chaos, gleefully orchestrated by – mais oui –That Lady From Maxim’s!”

Volleygirls
Book by Rob Ackerman, music by Eli Bolin, lyrics by Sam Forman
“Years ago, world-class volleyball player Kim Brindell choked under pressure and became an Olympic joke. Now she’s been assigned to coach the Ladyhawks, a team of wide-eyed, misfit, high-school girls who can’t seem to win a game. Can Kim overcome her past (and a hardline PTA mom) to help her girls and win it all? With humor, heart, and a contemporary pop-tinged score, Volleygirls will bump, set, and spike its way into your heart.”

*

NYMF is the flagship program of The National Music Theater Network. Now entering its tenth year, The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) exists to “revitalize musical theatre culture by discovering and promoting new musical theatre artists, producers and projects; nurturing a vibrant and innovative artistic community; and connecting one of America’s greatest art forms with a diverse, contemporary audience.”

For more information, visit NYMF.org.

Begleitet werden sie von tollen Musikern an Gitarren, Keyboards, Akkordeon, Streichinstrumenten, Mandoline, Bass und Drums.

Pete Luscombe an den Drums und die Akustikgitarre von Nick sorgen für den flotten Rhythmus bei “Most of my life”, einem Gute Laune Song von Nick mit tollem zweistimmigen Gesang. Nick singt den romantischen Popsong “Love and affection”, Liesl singt die zweite Stimme und Glen Hannah besticht mit rockigem E-Gitarren Groove. Der Titelsong stammt von Liesl und ist eine wunderschöne romantische Pianoballade mit Frederik Andersson an den Strings, ein wenig erinnert der Song an Kate Bush. Dann singt Nick seine romantische Ballade “Silent Ships”, Garry Steel lässt dazu das Akkordeon erklingen, oder den rockigen Popsong “It’s better to have loved”. Liesl überzeugt mit tollem Gesang bei ihrer Blues Ballade “Witch’s brew”, begleitet von Nicks zweiter Stimme der Akustikgitarre, dem Piano und James Ward an der Mandoline.

Nick und Liesl haben tolle Gesangsstimmen und schreiben die dazu passenden Songs. Die Arrangements sind einfach aber perfekt und die Aufnahmen lassen musikalisch nichts zu wünschen übrig.
© Adolf „gorhand“ Goriup

Evan & Mischa were playing when I arrived and instantly I was impressed by their skill. The duo performed traditional folk music on the flute and guitar and their live show was truly a unique experience.

Following Evan & Mischa were main act Nick and Liesl and with their drum kit, keyboard and acoustic guitars in place, they were ready to perform. Nick and Liesl opened with an affectionate start and played Missing You, Your Body Is A Wonderland and Feather and after hearing these songs, the afternoon melted away into bliss.

Throughout the gig Liesl moved from her keyboard to guitar with ease whilst Nick switched between drums and his guitar without missing a beat. The sound on the day was rich and seeing the duo live revealed that they are as they appear on their recordings, vocally strong and exceptional with their instrumentation.

Soft harmonious songs Skipping Seasons, Friend and Lover and Raphaël were interlaced with lively guitar strummed and floaty piano tracks like Most Of My Life and Your Heart In My Hands, and this balance between the styles really hit the spot!

The stories Nick & Liesl told throughout the gig connected with the audience and their songs were very relatable. Nick & Liesl celebrate music and this has a positive effect on the listener and after hearing some of the after show chatter amongst the crowd, I think it’s safe to say that all who attended thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

by Scott Gollan, Little Boom Music. Feb 26 2013.

FRIEND AND LOVER

RED SHED RECORDS

It has been a while since Nick and Liesl last released any new music, and I was starting to wonder when I would hear something new from them again. Lo and behold here it is. Descried as an “in-betweener”, the sweet sounding duo has released a 5-track EP to satiate the appetites of fans between albums, and they have done it well.

After reviewing their 2011 album Feather, I must admit that I had some expectations when listening to Friend and Lover. Occasionally, expectations with music are dangerous, but luckily they were met. Nick and Liesl have delivered, again.

The title track is very reminiscent of Feather. Nick’s bright insightful lyrics, Liesl’s harmonies and the steady toe-tapping pace pull you in, and take you back. Everything works.

The second track on the EP, “Raphaël”, takes you by surprise but a pleasant one at that. A French revelation, Liesl’s voice is crisp and sharp, yet effortless. Even if you don’t understand French, the beauty of the language and her voice combined is wonderfully captivating. Another enjoyable surprise was the choice to cover John Mayer’s ‘Your Body is A Wonderland’. To be completely honest, I never would have expected Nick and Liesl to do this, but it left a smile on my face. Again, their harmonies just work! Bright, bubbly, and it fit right into their style.

Throughout the EP, again Liesl’s voice is graceful and wonderfully natural, while Nick’s is just as effortless. Together, they create something superb. As an acoustic album, it does everything right. Covers, originals, old and new songs. If only it was longer. For now, my appetite for Nick and Liesl’s music has been satisfied, but I look forward to hearing more of them in the future.

What do you do when you get knocked back on a grant to record a new album? If you’re Nick Everitt and Liesl Karlsson, you put your home recording skills to good use and produce an acoustic EP so good, you’d think they’d recorded it in some swanky studio in Santorini with Quincy Jones on production duties. I’m just saying the quality is excellent on Nick and Liesl’s Friend and Lover EP, which is sure to leave fans of the duo very happy while hopefully winning over some new ones too. More fans means less need to apply for grants which means a new album for our listening pleasure. My logic is sound. Opening with the title track, ‘Friend and Lover’ almost works as a bridge between debut album Feather and the next stage of their journey. It wouldn’t have been out of place on their debut; a lovely song about love, Nick and Liesl being all cute and vocally talented, Everitt’s open and honest writing style on display. Standard Nick and Liesl music goodness. Then ‘Raphaël’ happened and with one brazen, out of left field Carla Bruni cover I’m left blown away by their ability to find new ways to impress (and show off a little!). A complete departure from the sound I’ve come to expect in the most stunning way, Liesl gets her French on with the lustful ‘Raphaël.’ It’s deserving of an immediate second play.

Nick and Liesl bring the EP to a close with new track ‘Skipping Seasons.’ It’s a soulful, Karlsson written piano ballad that exists in a space that can be both sweet and tinged with sadness and longing. “Most of all I miss the spring flowers and the autumn mist.” This is a really beautiful track; Liesl’s vocal performance is exceptional, the harmonies with Nick are the best they’ve ever sounded (which is saying something – these two have voices that naturally come together to make magic happen) and the piano melody will make you melt. ‘Skipping Seasons’ is a song that will make people stop and pay very close attention. If this is a sign of what we can expect from their next album… uh, just thinking about it has me really excited for what’s to come next. The last time I mentioned that whole “albums that end with a stellar, memorable ballad are the best” theory was in our review for Feather. Nick and Liesl know how to wrap things up; leaving you both satisfied and wanting more. Feather left me excited for what has become the Friend and Lover EP. The Friend and Lover EP has left me excited for their second LP. I hope we get to hear it soon.

- MATTHEW BOND

A modern play combining live painting, music, and drama, Catharsis incorporates a unique storyteller from a local charity into the narrative of the show, with him/her becoming the subject of that night’s painting.

Description

As a documentary filmmaker struggles to grasp the meaning of her subject’s life while awaiting her photographer husband’s return from overseas, a mysterious painter observes her plight and captures the true nature of the life and love she longs to experience.

Since the subject of the painting always changes, no two shows are ever the same.

Reception afterwards, view the painting, meet the performers. Live concert by singer/songwriter duo Nick and Liesl.

Written and Directed by: Jeremy Culver
Painting by: Jeffry Feeger
Composed by: Charleene Closshey
Lyrics and Original Songs by: Nick and Liesl

Starring: Charleene Closshey and Jeffry Feeger

Co-Producer: Rae Smart