HIGHLIGHTS

GOING ONCE … GOING TWICE … GOING ONLINE!

Daughter of Beijing: a Concert Reading

The PW CHOW AND BOW Broadway Buffet

New Course Launching in January!

Cabaret Impressario Clifford Bell Returns to the Stage

Online Auction Teasers

Online Musical Theatre Writing Course Offers Free Demo

SEARCH Deadline: December 15

15 Second Musicals

The Scott Guy Show!

Gordon Firemark: Theatre Lawyer

A Bawdy Parody for the ARC Reading Series

SEARCH Deadline: December 15

The Academy for New Musical Theatre (ANMT) and the Los Angeles-based Festival of New American Musicals are co-sponsoring ANMT’s 2009 Search for New Voices in Musical Theatre. The winner of the Search will receive a workshop with the Academy Repertory Company (ARC) during the 2009 Festival of New American Musicals, detailed feedback from the ANMT staff, and a concert reading in Los Angeles during the 2009-10 ANMT season.

The winner of the 2008 Search was The Water, a timely piece about floods in the Midwest, written by Tim Werenko, Jeff Hylton, and Georgia Stitt. The Water received a workshop and feedback session with ARC during the 2008 Festival last May, and will be featured in ANMT’s 2008-09 concert reading series at the Colony Theatre with a concert reading on Monday, April 28th. Second prize winner Rocket Boys by Homer Hickam Jr., Chris Budinich, Diana Belkowski, and Dan Tramon, received a table reading and feedback session in April. Third prize winner Unwritten Rules by Danny Abosch and Tommy Nolan received a dramaturgical evaluation. Special Merit winner Idaho! The Comedy Musical, by Buddy Sheffield and Keith Thompson, will receive a concert reading at the Colony, on December 1, 2008.

There is a $100 fee for submitting to the Search, in return for which each entry will receive a 3-5 page script evaluation from an ANMT staff dramaturg.

'I’ve never received a more cogent and useable evaluation before,' wrote 2008 applicant Elliott Baker (author of The Tooth Fairy’s Daughter). 'I’m very comfortable with the critique process but I have never finished reading a critique/evaluation with as much desire and energy to go to work on and polish a piece.'

'The evaluation was far more in-depth than I expected and seemed to cover all the key aspects of the show. Frankly, I found it more helpful than a staged reading would have been,' stated Search participant Barbara Campbell (bookwriter/lyricist of The Awakening). 'This critique offered me far more in-depth comments into the basic ‘nuts and bolts’ than I have ever received to date.'

'The Festival is delighted to join with ANMT in this national competition', says Bob Klein, Co-Executive Producer. 'Musical theatre development is a unique process. Readings and workshopping are essential parts. The Festival has a continuing commitment to nurturing this process.'

Writers can submit their shows electronically via ANMT’s website, or submit materials by mail after completing an online submission form. ANMT Staff then narrows the submissions to a short stack of finalists, and then asks finalists to submit a complete piano-vocal score before making a final decision. Festival Co-Executive Producer, Linda Shusett, will work with ANMT to select final winners.

ANMT has a development process which has been around for four decades, nurturing musicals through a number of stages, including outlines, rough drafts, table readings and concert readings.
The Festival of New American Musicals launched across southern California in May of 2008. and plans to be back in full force in May of 2009 with a whole new slate of opportunities for new musicals on the west coast.

For more information on the Festival of New American Musicals, visit www.lafestival.org.

Information on submitting to the Search is available online via ANMT’s website: www.anmt.org.

Visit the Festival of New American Musicals by CLICKING HERE!

15 Second Musicals

Check out the newest additions to the ANMT video section of ANMT.TV - the 15 Second Musicals!

This diminuitive series of musicals all share the same lyric (and basic melody line): 'Boy Meet Girl, Boy Loses Girl, Boy Gets Girl', and they are all a scant fifteen seconds long.

But that's where the similarities end! Check them all out, including: Chickens in Love, Earwigs in Love and Swimming Upstream (which stars a frustrated sperm) at ANMT.TV in the 'videos from the academy for new musical theatre' section on the left-hand side of the page (under the Sondheim preview).

That's also where you'll find ANMT's two Guerilla Musicals The Customer is Always Right and I Quit!. Stay tuned for more internet musicals from ANMT!

See them all by CLICKING HERE.

The Scott Guy Show!

Don't miss the fun when ANMT's Executive Director turns 50 and treats us all to an evening of his own work.

The event is a fundraiser for the Academy for New Musical Theatre designed to generate funds to hire three new freelance producers and an intern to assist with ANMT programming.

'I’ll be singing the entire song cycle Der Curmudgeonlieder (featuring 'The Curmudgeon’s Fight Song')', says Scott, 'As well as Der Strunkenwhitenlieder (featuring the crowd-pleaser 'The Death of Western Civilization As We Know It'). And I’m also planning on screening rare archival footage of me and my former wife Margaret on our weekly kids’ television series from the 80’s, Flying Whales and Peacock Tales (including an outtake which actually aired because we ran out of time). And if that ain’t enough, we’ll rally the troops for a John Philip Sousa-inspired finale from my musical, The Robber Baron of Enron.'

The event will take place on Wednesday, November 26th at 8:00pm at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. Tickets are $50. If you can't make it in person, donations will be happily accepted! For more details, and to make a reservation or a donation, please CLICK HERE.

ANMT's Executive Director in his former life as a bear on TV.

Gordon Firemark: Theatre Lawyer

Gordon P. Firemark: the Theatre Lawyer

Gordon P. Firemark, a member of the ANMT Board, will be leading the new Producers' Lab which launches in January. (See article in right column for details.)

Gordon Firemark is an attorney whose practice is devoted to the representation of artists, writers, producers and directors in the fields of theater, film, television, and music. He is also the publisher of Entertainment Law Update, a newsletter for artists and professionals in the entertainment industries. His practice also covers intellectual property, cyberspace, new media and business/corporate matters for clients in the entertainment industry.

Mr. Firemark serves on the Boards of Governors of The Los Angeles Stage Alliance, (the organization responsible for the annual Ovation Awards for Excellence in Theater) and The Academy for New Musical Theatre. In the past he has served on the Board of Governors of the Beverly Hills Bar Association, where he served as liason to the Association’s Entertainment Law Section (of which he is a former chairman).

Mr. Firemark holds a B.A. in Radio, Television and Film from the University of Oregon, and earned his law degree at Southwestern University School of Law. Before opening The Law Offices of Gordon P. Firemark, Mr. Firemark was a partner with the Business Affairs Group, a boutique entertainment law firm in Los Angeles. He has also worked in the legal and business affairs departments at Hanna Barbera Productions and the MGM/UA Worldwide Television Group, and started his legal career as an associate at Neville L. Johnson & Associates, a West L.A. firm specializing in entertainment litigation.

An accomplished producer of stage plays and musicals, Gordon also serves as CEO of Fierce Theatricals, which produces touring productions of small-cast musicals, revues and cabaret shows. He has been involved with the entertainment industry in one way or another since his youth as a sound, lighting, and special effects technician in the theatre. Prior to becoming an attorney, he worked in the television industry, producing and directing live sports telecasts, public affairs programming commercial announcements, documentaries, and industrial videos.

Mr. Firemark teaches Business Law at Loyola Marymount University, and has previously offered courses in Theater Law at Cypress College, and Entrepreneurial Studies at California Institute of the Arts. Mr. Firemark has served as a moderator and featured panelist at seminars sponsored by the Beverly Hills Bar Association, California Lawyers for the Arts, Theatre LA, and the Oregon Artist’s Rights Coalition. He has also been a guest lecturer at Southwestern University School of Law, Loyola Law School, California Western School of Law, UC Irvine, and California State University, Northridge.

A Bawdy Parody for the ARC Reading Series

Next up in the ARC Concert Reading Series is IDAHO!: The Comedy Musical (by Buddy Sheffield and Keith Thompson)on Monday, December 1st at 7:30pm at the Colony Theatre.

Winner of the Best of Fest Audience Prize at the 2009 New York Musical Festival, IDAHO! is a tale of love and sex on the prairie baked to bawdy perfection and set during the 'Golden era' of Broadway. From a land where men were men, women were for sale to the highest bidder and the laws of musical comedy were meant to be broken, IDAHO! is an original high-steppin’ song and dance musical ripped from the earth like a fresh dug spud.

Tickets are $10, and can be reserved by CLICKING HERE.

Whip Masters and Yank Daley
(get it?) in 'Idaho!'

HONORARY BOARD
Paul Lazarus
Jeff Marx
Marty Panzer
Hal Prince
Stephen Schwartz
Charles Strouse

ADVISORY BOARD
Thomas E.Backer, PhD.
Susie Chodakiewitz
Susan Dietz
Jeannine Frank
Mark Halloran
David Hirshland
Herb Isaacs
Amy Levinson (Millan)
Simon Levy
Ron Parker
Elsa Ramo
Bill Royce
Michael Silversher
Thomas White

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Janet Barnet
Michael Blaha (Vice President)
Peter Burke
Steve Cuden
Noelle Donfeld (Secretary)
Gordon P. Firemark
Bill Frischman
Debra M. Gussin (Member Representative)
Neville Johnson
Kevin R. Meyer (Treasurer)
Lynn E. Miller
Howard Pearl
Frank Sheftel
John Sparks (President Protem)
Sue Warford (Emeritus Board)

GOING ONCE … GOING TWICE … GOING ONLINE!

The Academy for New Musical Theatre introduces a whole new way to shop for the holidays, and support new musical theatre, with its Holiday Online Auction, which takes place on the Internet at anmt.cmarket.com. Bidding begins at 8:00 AM/PST November 28, 2008 and runs through 5:00 PM/PST December 7, 2008.

The Academy has assembled an exciting catalog of auction items, with something for everyone. Musical Theatre fans can win a private conversation with Avenue Q writer Jeff Marx, or Broadway Producer Ken Davenport (Altar Boyz and 13), theatre trips to London and New York, as well as theatre tickets to many of Los Angeles’ popular venues, like the Ahmanson, Mark Taper Forum, The Pantages, Cabrillo Music Theatre, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and The Broad Theatre - even tickets to Bette Midler Live in Las Vegas. Or win a private performance in your home with the ever-popular husband and wife duo, Alan Chapman and Karen Benjamin.

You can also bid on services like headshot photography, voice lessons, massages, a hot air balloon ride, entertainment law consultations, a limousine ride, a personal organizer session – even a makeover with stylist to the stars, Roberto Ramos or a birthday party for twenty-four with the one and only Whirlie the Clown.

For the techies out there, how about an XBOX 360 Arcade, an Archos WiFi 605 or a Slingbox Solo? Comic book collectors will find Batman, X-Men, IronMan, and a number of autographed items by well-known comics inker Steve Mitchell and the legendary Len Wein.

'Not only can you save a bunch of money, like $70 off of $100 theatre tickets,' says the Academy’s Executive Director Scott Guy, 'you’re helping the future of new musical theatre in America, PLUS you could be saving big on this year’s holiday gift shopping. Three reasons to bid on auction items.'

'Donors have been very supportive of this auction,' says Ellen Dostal, the auction’s producer, 'We’re getting some wonderful one-of-a-kind items. It’s been a lot of fun putting together the catalog. There’s one particular Big Ticket Item I’m hoping to win myself and give to my friends for a present.'

Money raised by the auction will go to help the Academy do what it does best, which is to develop new musicals and new writers. Academy programs include opportunities for writers, lyricists, composers, actors, singers, directors, music directors, and everyone with a love for new musical theatre.

Items are available for viewing right now, before the auction officially opens. Everyone is welcome to browse at anmt.cmarket.com. Donations are still being accepted – simply log on to the site and click on the 'Donate Now' button.

For more information about getting involved, contact auction@anmt.org.

Great deals on tickets to Bette Midler, the Tony Awards, and lots more at anmt.cmarket.com.

Daughter of Beijing: a Concert Reading

ANMT's Academy Repertory Company launched the 2008-09 Concert Reading Series with a reading of the new musical Daughter of Beijing.

With book and lyrics by Sachi Oyama and music by Richard Berent (both ANMT members), Daughter of Beijing was originally written several years ago, and received a reading at the ASCAP/Disney workshop. The writers recently revised the piece in honor of the upcoming 20th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square uprising. ‘Daughter of Beijing is a metaphor for the emerging of China,' says Los Angeles playwright Sachi Oyama, 'and China finding its new place in the global community. Although Tianamen is a background to the piece, it’s not the main focus of the piece: it’s about China’s future.’

Cast members for this reading were drawn from Los Angeles' rich and diverse pool of pan-Asian performers, including Haruye Ioka, Antoine Diel, Alex Chester, Randy Guiaya, Christopher Chen, Sandy Shimoda, Kathy Villanueva, Anne Fraser Thomas, Isabella Way, and Paul Wong.

'I think these types of readings are invaluable in assessing the artistic merit or message of a new work,' says Christopher Chen, who played Father. 'I have previously worked on shows that could have benefited from something like this BEFORE so much time, money, energy, etc. had been invested in mounting a fully staged production. I look forward to working on, as well as attending other ANMT projects in the future. I have caught the vision that ANMT has in developing new musical theatre works!'

Paul Wong, who played Old Leader, said 'The ANMT workshop process is very organized and efficient in getting a great deal of material up on its feet while always being respectful of minimizing the substantial time invested by the actors and other members of the team. I think Daughter of Beijing has a lot of promise. It has rich character development and relationships and the score is eclectic, intelligent and challenging.'

'I always treasure being a part of the creation of a new work of art. It was a real pleasure working on Daughter of Beijing because there was so much material to experience and draw from,' stated Antoine Diel who played the rebel leader Weidong. 'From the music, text, the history and the rich characters it was an honor to be involved in the reading.'

Writer Sachi Oyama describe the reading with only one word: 'Invaluable.'

The next offering in the Concert Reading Series will be on December 1st: the light-hearted parody Idaho!: The Comedy Musical by Buddy Sheffield and Keith Thompson, which was a special merit winner in ANMT's 2008 Search for New Musicals, and which also won the Best of Fest Audience Prize at the 2008 New York Musical Theatre Festival. The reading of Idaho will take place on Monday, December 1 at 7:30pm at the Colony Theatre in Burbank. For more info and to make reservations (only $10) please visit anmt.org

The cast of Daughter of Beijing

The PW CHOW AND BOW Broadway Buffet

On Wednesday, November 12, the members of all levels of the Performers' Workshop strutted their stuff in a showcase and potluck at the Academy for New Musical Theatre.

Workshop Director Joshua Finkel and Music Director Jake Anthony hosted presentations by Carol-Lynn Campbell, Megan Crockett, Rachel Cyprus, John Gaston, Sara Gonzales, Daniel Vincent Gordh, Katie Hume, Tara Hunnewell, Arianna Lanz, Kelly Lester, Jennifer Losi, Megan Lynam, Sarah Mears, Devin Mills, Annika Petrossian, and Jonathan Stav.

Here's some feedback from the evening (from participants and audience):

'Thank you so much for your help this past session. I absolutely love your class. I can't believe how different I felt while singing. Last night was a genuine learning experience. I am looking forward to the Cabaret Session! The evening was a very well run affair with such supportive and nice people. Thank you, thank you!'

'Thanks again Joshua and Jake for all you've done for me and are continuing to do. Last night was such an important step for me. I learned what works and what doesn't, and what I need to take with me and what to leave behind going into the next session... which I am beyond thrilled to start! Thanks again for all you do!'

'You are amazing, Josh! I have learned so much from you and Jake in such a short time - it's incredible. Your Making the Song a Scene has helped me to take the focus off me (deadly in auditions) and put it on someone else when singing. So much better and so important when telling a story! It just makes sense. Your workshop has also given me so much more confidence by singing in front of a group every week. And not to mention last night what were there about a hundred people there?? Fantastic! Speaking of last night, I was offered a voice over job afterwards on the spot by one of the attending writer/composers. How exciting is that!'

The upcoming winter session of the Performers' Workshop (Level 1) will culminate in a Cabaret performance at the MBar in Hollywood. View a video of last year's PW Cabaret by visiting the ANMT BLOG. There are still a limited number of spaces available for the upcoming winter session. Interested performers should contact PW Director Joshua Finkel at pw@anmt.org to set up a private audition prior to the winter start dates of Wednesday, November 19 (PW Level 1) and Saturday, November 22 (PW Level 2 and PW TEEN).

Auditions for the spring session of the Performers' Workshop will take place on SUNDAY FEBRUARY 15th FROM 2:00-6:00pm at ANMT. For more info on the Performers' Workshop, and to sign up for an audition, please CLICK HERE.

PW Member Devin Mills belts out a tune

New Course Launching in January!

Thinking about producing a musical? Want to find out ALL the information you'll want to know to get through the entire process? You're in luck!

For the first time ever, entertainment attorney and producer Gordon Firemark presents a six-session course in the nuts-and-bolts of producing theatrical entertainment. The course will follow a hypothetical production through its life cycle, from idea to book/libretto through budgets, financing and production to opening night, closing, transfer and touring.

Participants will receive useful handouts, worksheets, checklists and basic contract forms for reference in producing their own projects.

The schedule for the course will be:

Tue, Jan 20 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Acquiring the rights to the Play: Original Works, Commissions, Company-created works; licensing existing material

Tue, Feb 17 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Employing the Creative Team: Director, Choreographer, Designers, Musical Director, etc. Deal Terms, working with SSDC and other unions.

Tue, Mar 17 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Budgets & Financing: Commercial vs. NonProfit productions. Joint Ventures, Securities Laws, etc.

Tue, Apr 21 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
I: The Business Team (Gen. Mgr., Company Mgr., etc.)
II: The Venue - dealing with theatres, box-office, etc.

Tue, May 19 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
The Production; Actors; Equity; Crew, etc.

Tue, Jun 16 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Pulling it all together; Marketing the show (guest); transfers, tours, etc.... wrap-up.

To read Mr. Firemark's credentials, please see the article in the left-hand column, or visit his information website by CLICKING HERE.

The fee for the course will be $395 (if reserved by December 15); $495 if reserved after the deadline.

To reserve a place in the Producers' Lab, please CLICK HERE, or send an email to academy@anmt.org.

Cabaret Impressario Clifford Bell Returns to the Stage

Clifford Bell, known affectionately as 'Lawrence of Cabarabia', one of the leading directors in the fields of Cabaret, Concerts, and One Person Shows, is himself performing on stage for the first time in twenty five years, on January 17, at 8:00 p.m. at the Colony Theatre in Burbank, in CABARABIA! An Evening With Clifford Bell and Friends, a benefit for The Academy For New Musical Theatre.

'After twenty five years of standing in the back of the room watching some of the greatest performers from the worlds of Broadway and Cabaret, I think I’m ready to sneak into the spotlight for a minute or two.' says Clifford Bell, who has produced and directed some of the most popular nightclub acts in Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.

Having had a modestly successful singing career in his twenties, Clifford quit performing when he began producing and directing others. 'I took off the red shoes a long time ago, but when Scott Guy from The Academy For New Musical Theatre proposed the idea to me, it seemed like an interesting and fun thing to do. That, of course, was until I really started thinking about having to do it….How long does it take to lose eighty pounds?'

As a thirty year veteran of the Los Angeles nightclub scene, Clifford is most identified with the legendary Cinegrill at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. In venues large and small, Clifford has worked with some of the biggest names in the Broadway/Cabaret community. From Katey Sagal’s recent concerts to the touring hit Direct From Broadway starring Tony Award Winners Michael Maguire (Les Miserables) and Debbie Shapiro Gravitte (Jerome Robbins' Broadway) to the 2008 Cabaret Convention At Lincoln Center, Clifford has been a prolific visionary in the world he calls Cabarabia.(www.Cabarabia.com).

Appearing on the program will be many guest artists, all of whom are Broadway and cabaret stars. Scheduled to appear with Clifford Bell are: Michael Maguire, Tony Award Winner from Les Miserables; jazz and blues great Barbara Morrison; Todd Murray, recording artist of the hit CD Stardust And Swing; Douglas Sills, Tony Award nominee for Broadway’s Scarlet Pimpernel; Lara Teeter, Tony Award nominee for On Your Toes; Brad Ellis from Forever Plaid and Forbidden Broadway; Eydie Alyson from Little Shop Of Horrors and Les Miserables; Dana Meller from Les Miserables and The Full Monty; Kirsten Holly Smith from Stay Forever: The Life And Music Of Dusty Springfield; Arriane Alexander from Big, Blonde, And Beautiful; Spencer Day, Recording Artist of Vagabond; and Paul Jacek from Secrets Of A Beverly Hills Shampoo Boy.

Since the evening is a benefit for The Academy For New Musical Theatre, Clifford and friends will be celebrating the symbiotic relationship between the worlds of Broadway and Cabaret.

Also featured will be production numbers from the new musicals Born To Ride The Waves (book by Mimi Leahey and Harry Nangle; music and lyrics by Joseph Mulroy), The Water (book by Tim Werenko and Jeff Hylton; lyrics by Jeff Hylton, music by Georgia Stitt) and Idaho: The Comedy Musical (book and lyrics by Buddy Sheffield, music by Buddy Sheffield and Keith Thompson) and special appearances by Andrea Press, Mary Pat Bowe, and Kelley Yearout, and the members of the Academy Repertory Company.

'The people that I have invited to be in this evening are who I consider to be among the best cabaret and theatre performers in the business,' says Clifford, 'It’s going to be a very eclectic mix including a few of Broadway’s greatest leading men, some quirky and hilarious personalities, and some ‘raise the roof/go to Church’ singing.'

The evening will be presented at the Colony Theatre, 555 N. Third Ave., Burbank. 8:00 p.m. January 17, 2009. Tickets are $75 and $125. Reservations and more information: CLICK HERE.

Online Auction Teasers

View the catalogue early.

Here are some additional hot items from the Auction. Come browse to see more, before the auction opens on November 28th! anmt.cmarket.com.

Auction opens November 28th.

Online Musical Theatre Writing Course Offers Free Demo

ANMT is proud to be affiliated with WritingMusicalTheatre.com and their series of online courses on the craft of writing for the musical theatre including the Lyric Lab, the Advanced Lyric Lab, the Book Lab, the Outlining Lab, and lab modules on Metaphor, Prosody, and the Chorus, as well as the Songwriters' Lab.

Each online course features video lectures, handouts, exercises, online tests, and assignments with one-on-one feedback (via sound files) from experienced evaluators.

WritingMusicalTheatre.com is currently offering a FREE DEMO of their services. To take the demo, please CLICK HERE.