New Musicals at 54 is presented by the venue's programming director, Jennifer Ashley Tepper. The series kicks off Jan. 19, 2016, and is scheduled to run through April 12. Further programming will be announced at a later date.
"[These] new and diverse musicals by a selection of today's most talented writers have had out-of-town productions, some have had workshops," state press notes. "Now's your chance to be first to see them in NYC!"
The schedule is outlined below:
Big Red Sun
By Georgia Stitt and John Jiler
Jan. 19 at 7 PM & 9:30 PM Composer Georgia Stitt (This Ordinary Thursday) and playwright/lyricist John Jiler (Avenue X) are thrilled to present the score to their Harold Arlen Award-winning musical. Big Red Sun tells the story of a family of musicians with a dark secret and the dramatic shift from the simple melodies of Kern and Berlin to the dizzying energy of jazz and the beginnings of rock and roll. This is the story of a family that changed as much as their music did.
Fallout
by Kyle Jarrow and Nick Blaemire
Feb. 9 at 7 PM & 9:30 PM
Fallout: In Concert will showcase songs from Fallout, a new musical by Nick Blaemire (Glory Days, Soon) and Kyle Jarrow (OBIE Award, A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant). The show is the story of two neighboring families in suburban Westchester during the 13 days of 1962’s Cuban Missile Crisis. As the world teeters on the edge of nuclear war, they struggle with the fact that life as they know it might come to an end. The result is a fantastical, surrealist exploration of America at a pivotal moment in history — a lush rock-based tale about fears, hopes and heroes.
String
by Adam Gwon & Sarah Hammond
Feb. 16 at 7 PM & 9:30 PM
When Greek myths, elevator cars, and hating your day job collide, you might get a musical like String, the Richard Rodgers Award-winning show by Adam Gwon (Ordinary Days, The Boy Detective Fails) and Sarah Hammond (Barefoot Persephone). String is a modern-day twist on the story of the Three Fates, who spin, measure, and snip the string of our lives. In this new show, the three Fates find themselves stranded on Earth, stuck in an office building, and not so different from the workaholic mortals around them - except that for the Fates, juggling their jobs and an unexpected office romance might literally mean the end of the world.
Be More Chill
By Joe Iconis & Joe Tracz
Feb. 23 at 7 PM & 9:30 PM
Fresh off its acclaimed run at Two River Theater in New Jersey, Be More Chill is ready to bring its suburban science fiction spin on teen angst and mind control to the heart of the theater district. Jeremy Heere is just an average teenager. That is, until he finds out about “The Squip”-a tiny supercomputer that promises to bring him everything he desires most. Written by Joe Iconis (NBC’s "Smash," Bloodsong of Love) and Joe Tracz (Theaterworks USA’s Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief) and based on the novel by Ned Vizzini, Be More Chill looks at modern issues like depression and bullying through a wild, unique lens, taking its inspiration from 1980s horror films, 1950s science fiction and video games.
Funked Up Fairy Tales
by Kirsten Childs
April 12 at 7PM & 9:30 PM
Funked Up Fairy Tales by Kirsten Childs (The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, Miracle Brothers) is a collection of delightfully twisted urban fairy tales for sophisticated children and grown-up kids. The show welcomes you to the world of Titania, Faireetheeya and Magikwanda: teenage fairies with attitude. They wag their heads and suck their teeth as they turn things upside down to pass their Fairyland Academy exam. Will they pull through with flying colors and earn their Happy Ending Crowns?
For more information, including how to get discount tickets, visit 54below.com/new-musicals-at-54/.
