By Luna Lovegood Aug 5, 2004, 5:37 GMT
The organizers of the festival describe it as the premiere international festival for contemporary musical theatre. Dedicated to discovering new works, new artists and creating new stars, the fest will do for musical theatre what Sundance does for independent film: celebrate its diversity, creativity and future. For three weeks, the Festival will be presenting performance events in venues around Midtown Manhattan ranging from productions to readings and concerts.
For anyone who’s ever cringed through Cats, felt the need for speed or wondered, “who thought THAT would be a good idea?”, comes this new satirical musical. Writer Billy Palmer’s about to crash and burn. His musical adaptation of Top Gun is going off the rails and Billy really needs a hit after the debacle of Apocalypse Wow! Instead he’s saddled with a quarrelling cast, a shady ex-Navy Seal producer and a bit of bad luck. Now if only everyone would stop singing! Singing. Satire. Subtext. All at Mach 3! If you see only one musical comedy about mounting a mega-musical, make it Top Gun! The Musical. You’ll laugh. You’ll hum. You’ll believe a jet can fly!
Top Gun! The Musical will be performed at The 47th Street Theatre, 304 West 47th Street just west of 8th Avenue. The schedule is as follows: Monday, Sept 27 at 8pm; Thursday, Sept 30 at 4:30pm; Friday, Oct 1 at 8pm; Saturday, Oct 2 at 4:30pm and 11pm; Sunday, Oct 3 at 1pm. Tickets are priced at US$15 - $20 and can be purchased at www.nymf.org or call in New York at 212-352-3101.
Top Gun! The Musical is written by Denis McGrath with music by Scott White. It is directed by Colin Viebrock and produced by Derrick Chua for the TG!TM Coop. The festival production will feature most of the original Toronto cast, including Dmitry Chepovetsky, David Collins, Steven Gallagher, Alison Lawrence and Racheal McCaig. New cast members are Sharon Heldt and Brett McCaig. Top Gun! The Musical premiered at the 2002 Toronto Fringe Festival, had its US Premiere in November, 2002 at Theater Lab Houston and was remounted in Toronto at the Factory Theatre in June, 2003, leading to its Dora nominations for Outstanding New Musical and Outstanding Performance for Chepovetsky.
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