NEXT Festival 2015
April 30 - May 16, 2015
Ritz Theater
NEXT: New Musicals in the Making—is Theater Latté Da’s new work series that showcases three new musicals in various stages of development. Each of the three workshops will culminate in three public performances providing audience members the unique opportunity to “get in on the ground floor” of the creative process.
LULLABY
Book by Michael Elyanow
Music & Lyrics by Jonathan Brooke & Michael Elyanow
Directed by Jeremy B. Cohen
Musical Direction by Jonathan Brooke
Featuring Jonathan Brooke, Adelin Phelps, Jefferson Slinkard and Michael Wieser
LULLABY is a play-with-music about a widowed mother who, haunted by the death of her husband, forms an unlikely friendship with the lesbian guitar tutor she hires to teach her to play lullabies for her infant son. LULLABY is an intimate story about the stories we tell ourselves before the lights go out.
Performance dates: Thursday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 2 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 p.m.
THE LAST QUEEN OF CANAAN
Book by Harrison David Rivers
Music by Jacob Yandura
Lyrics by Rebekah Greer Melocik
Directed by Peter Rothstein
Musical Direction by Sanford Moore
Featuring Nathan Barlow, Yolande Bruce, Michelle Carter, ShaVunda Horsley, Malik Johnson, Kasono Mwanza, Derek Prestly, Rachel Weber and Regina Williams
Set in 1937 on a farm in rural Virginia, THE LAST QUEEN OF CANAAN, follows the relationship between Cora Skye, an uncompromising 92-year old sharecropper, and Ginny, her restless 22-year old great granddaughter. When Kay, a Northern do-gooder, descends on the property to collect Cora’s story for the WPA, she unwittingly fans the flames of Ginny’s desire to escape the farm, precipitating a confrontation that will leave all three women forever changed. With a rich, gospel-infused score, THE LAST QUEEN OF CANAAN is a haunting tale of legacy and the life-altering power of a promise.
Performance dates: Thursday, May 7 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10 at 2:00 p.m.
STU FOR SILVERTON
Book by Peter Duchan
Music and Lyrics by Breedlove
Directed by Andrew Russell
Musical Direction by Denise Prosek
Featuring Dieter Bierbrauer, Brandon Brooks, Julia Cook, Janet Hanson, Melissa Hart, Kim Kivens, Kevin Leines, Sherwin Resurreccion, Kersten Rodau, Ken Rosen, André Shoals and Max Wojtanowicz
Based on the true story of America’s first transgender mayor and the town that elected him, STU FOR SILVERTON celebrates a new American folk hero from Silverton, Oregon. This all-American new musical blends Our Town and The Rocky Horror Show, testing the boundaries of tolerance as a small community adjusts to big changes.
Please note that STU FOR SILVERTON contains adult situations and mature language.
Performance dates: Wednesday, May 13 at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 16 at 2:00 p.m.
A very special thank you to our Producers' Table members who
generously support NEXT: New Musicals in the Making
Mary Beidler Gearen Gary Bennett and Mike Olafson Jason Bowles Dave Griffin Jay Harkness and Jean Storlie Jean and Jim Hartman Lisa and Dan Hoene Patricia Johnson and Kai Bjerkness Christopher Rence Kathy Ruhland Lorri Steffen and Paul Zenner John Sullivan Bill Underwood and Chris Everett David Wilson and Michael Peterman
