Summer is behind us but this weekend The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), an organization that has filled New York City’s hunger for new, emerging and eclectic musical offerings during the slow summer months, will celebrate their 2014 season with a gala event on Sunday, November 9 at the Edison Ballroom.
The cornerstone of the evening’s events will be the bestowing of honors upon choreographer Christopher Gattelli and producers Beth Williams and Allan Williams for their “artistic triumphs” and “contributions to the continued vitality of musical theatre”. “We are thrilled to honor Chris, Beth, and Allan for their contributions to musical theatre,” said Executive Director and Producer of The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Dan Markley. “Each of these talented individuals has made their mark on the musical theatre landscape, and continues to be a great champion of new work. We feel honored to have their support.”
NYMF began its journey in 2004 with the purpose of “ensuring the future vitality of America’s greatest art form by providing an affordable way for artists to mount professional productions that reach their peers, industry leaders, and musical theatre audiences, and by serving as the preeminent launching pad for stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals.” With over 350 shows premiering under the NYMF umbrella since it began, many of them entirely new, non-derivative works, it appears that NYMF has succeeded.
The New York Musical Theatre Festival has grown from an industry insider event to a destination for fans eager to witness the birth of new musicals and creative artists at the beginning of their careers. In several cases, shows that have started their journey at the festival have gone on to commercial and critical success. Shows such as Altar Boyz, [title of show], Yank!, Bedbugs!!!, Fat Camp, The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Meet John Doe, and The Blue Flower all got their start at the NYMF.
This year’s honoree, Christopher Gattelli, won a Lucille Lortel Award and Drama Desk Award for his choreography of one of NYMF’s most commercially successful offerings, Altar Boyz (NYMF 2004). Altar Boyz was part of the inaugural NYMF season that saw the emergence of [title of show], The Great American Trailer Park Musical, Meet John Doe and The Blue Flower. Mr. Gattelli’s Broadway credits include High Fidelity, South Pacific, 13, and Newsies (Tony).
Beth Williams (How to Succeed in Business, Million Dollar Quartet, Harry Connick, Jr. in Concert on Broadway) and Allan Williams (On The Town, Les Misérables, Kinky Boots), are being feted for their commitment to developing new work, a mission that is shared by NYMF. Their respective production companies, Grove Entertainment and Foresight Theatrical, develop and produce new work for Broadway and beyond.
For more information on purchasing gala table seats or show tickets, please visit nymf.org/gala
