Recap of the Fifth Annual Festival of New Musicals

"Six New Musicals, Five Parties, Four Days!"

The Fifth Annual Festival of New Musicals was our most popular yet! For information on the 2006 Festival, visit THIS page.

If you are interested in tracking the progress of Village Originals Alums, you can check for an update here.

The Annual Festival of New Musicals has proven to be the starting point for some of our most popular new musicals. Girl of My Dreams, which is part of the 2005-2006 Mainstage Season, made its Village Theatre debut at the Third Annual Festival in August of 2003. The Wedding Banquet made its first public appearance at the Second Annual Festival in August of 2002, before going on to performances in Asia, New York, and the Village Theatre Mainstage. Ya Got Trouble!, which had a developmental production at First Stage in May and June of 2005 was the opening reading at the Third Annual Festival in 2003. Many recent Village Originals workshops and developmental productions, from Emma and Company, to Bonnie and Clyde, to Six Wives, all began at the Festival. Last summer's Festival celebrated five years of the most exciting new musicals event in the Puget Sound.

Read about the Festival on Playbill online: here!

6:00 - 7:15 PM: Opening Reception, including musical previews, in the lobby at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre. Catered by Lombardi's Neighborhood Italian, wine provided by Deakin Estate.

7:30 PM: Desperate Measures
Book and Lyrics by Peter Kellogg
Music by David Friedman

"Shakespeare in the Wild West!"

Outlaw Johnny Blood's been sentenced to death, and only his sister Isabella can save him: the Governor of the territory will spare Johnny's life — if Isabella will give up her virtue! Can a bait-and-switch save the day? Laughs and love ride the range as Shakespeare's Measure for Measure is hilariously transported to the Wild West in this rollicking musical by Broadway talents David Friedman and Peter Kellogg.

Talkback follows.

7:30 PM: Stunt Girl
Book and Lyrics by Peter Kellogg
Music by David Friedman

"Amazing Adventures of Nellie Bly"

Groundbreaking Gal Reporter Circles Globe! First Female War Reporter! Funny, Fresh New Musical on Life of Nellie Bly! Born Elizabeth Cochran, she would go on to become a groundbreaking investigative journalist, intrepid world traveler, and captain of industry — all in an age when women didn't even have the right to vote. A remarkable musical about a remarkable woman, Stunt Girl captures the adventure and romance, dreams and disappointments, thrills and sorrows of a true trailblazer.

Talkback follows.

10:30 PM: "Meet The Artists" Party at Las Margaritas, 59 Front Street North, Issaquah.

2:00 PM: Fairystories
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Paul Graham Brown

"Enchanting English Tale"

Inspired by actual events, this gentle, graceful, gorgeous musical transports us to 1920s England , and into a tale of imagination and inner lives, grief and healing. A grieving young boy imagines elves speaking to him by a stream, and his precocious friend schemes to forge photographs of the magical creatures. When the photographs are "authenticated" as real, attracting the attentions of the press and inquisitive author Arthur Conan-Doyle, the kids become a national sensation — but what will happen when their secret is found out?

Fairystories was brought to the attention of Village Originals by Mercury Musical Developments (MMD), established in 1992 to support writers and composers of musical theatre and to initiate, develop and encourage new musical theatre in Britain and worldwide. For more information about MMD, please visit their website at www.mercurymusicals.com

No talkback, due to Panel Discussion.

5:00 PM: Panel Discussion:
Where Musicals Are Made: The BMI Musical Theatre Workshop
At the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre, 303 Front Street North, Issaquah.

Tony-winning Broadway smash Avenue Q started in the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop. Village Originals favorite One Red Flower: Letters From 'Nam was born in the ASCAP Workshop. Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, whose Once On This Island opens the Mainstage Season, met in the BMI Workshop. The list goes on... many of today's most praised writers of musical theatre are products of these two musical theatre workshops.

But how do they work? What goes on in a workshop? And how are they shaping the future of musical theatre? Find out in this fascinating panel discussion-- and experience the workshop process in person as a few young composers present their own work for critique.

Panelists include:
David Spencer, moderator of the BMI Advanced Songwriter's Workshop (and composer-lyricist of The Fabulist
David Armstrong, alum of the BMI Librettist's Workshop (and Artistic Director of the Fifth Avenue Theatre)
David Austin, current member of the BMI Songwriter's Workshop (and author of Every Little Vow, 2003 Festival of New Musicals).

7:30 PM: The Fabulist
Book by Stephen Witkin
Music and Lyrics by David Spencer
Based on the novel by John Vornholt

"How Aesop Got His Fables"

How did Aesop get those fables anyway? A mute slave is given the magical gift of voice and a world is forever changed—Journey with the famous fabulist on his epic quest for freedom in this inventive, witty, wonderfully tuneful musical. Aesop matches wits with the Sphinx, disarms a tyrant king, falls for the Delphic oracle, and somehow survives it all—armed only with his gift for a great story.

Talkback follows.

10:30 PM: The Festival Fifth Anniversary Celebration, at Executive Producer Robb Hunt's house.

2:00 PM: Heaven's Balcony
Book, Music, and Lyrics by David Spangler and Jerry Taylor

"Mary Baker Eddy: An American Original"

From the creators of Play It By Heart comes a very different, but also distinctly American story: the fascinating life of Mary Baker Eddy, founder of the Christian Science church. Suffering a life of chronic illness and determined to find a faith that could sustain her, she finally made her own—and from her days as a faith healer to the remarkable rise of her church, this fascinating, moving musical chronicles one woman's search for truth and belief, and how that search forever changed the face of American Christianity.

Talkback follows.

5:00-6:30 PM: "Inside The Festival" Circle Level Members Exclusive Event. At Lombardi's Neighborhood Italian, 695 N.W. Gilman Blvd., Issaquah.

7:30 PM: Blankity-Blank
Music and Book by Scott Warrender
Lyrics by Scott Warrender and Tom Orr

"Scott Warrender's Mad-Libs Musical"

You're writing this one. Oh, relax—it's easier than you think— and incredibly fun. Mad musical genius Scott Warrender has devised the "Mad-Libs Musical." Taking audience input for story points, character details, locales and even lyrics, Scott and his intrepid troupe of actors will spin a musical tale of adventure and romance that will be truly like no other. In history. Ever. With laughs aplenty, you won't want to miss this inspired, innovative, improvisational evening. (It won't be the same without you!)

Talkback follows.

9:30 PM: Festival Closing Night Party, at FINS Bistro (at the Francis J. Gaudette Theatre)

Schedule subject to change. All events are at First Stage Theatre, 120 Front Street North, unless otherwise stated.