Back Home
The War Brides Musical
Book by Ronald Sproat
Lyrics by Frank Evans
Music by Christopher Berg
Can love survive half a world away?
The heartwarming untold story of World War II British war brides and the American soldiers they loved. Back Home follows the women's two year struggle to be reunited with their husbands. The Philadelphia Inquirer called Back Home "the little musical that could " and The Norwich (CT) Bulletin honored the muiscal as "Best of the Year."
"War Brides shines. Superbly Tuneful! Its testimony to the resilence and faithfulness of these women is both compelling and entertaining. War Brides is a hit!" Peter Spencer, Bucks County Courier
"The little musical that could" Philadelphia Inquirer
"A tender, humorous musical play. Far from indulgent nostalgia, War Brides is a personalized history, spiced withy humor. An enamoring story about friendship, about leaving home, and about coming home." Jane Wilson, The Aspen Times.
Best of the Year, Norwich Bulletin
"My favorite musical! One of the best shows to come out of the BMI Workshop" Maury Yeston
"A Little Musical That Could Go Places! Berg's appealing music marries the swing and jitterbug sounds of the 1940's to the sophistication of the modern post-Sondheim musical --- and then adds a hint of English music hall for good measure. The music is perfectly matched to Evans' lyrics, which consistently illuminate character and situation while neither showing off nor stooping to sentimentality. Simply reviewing the titles -- among them the bluesy "A Good Time Now and Then," the farewell ballads "Chimneys and Steeples" and "In a Moment I Go," the ebullient "In the Middle of the Day" and the swinging "Oh No, Ho Ho, Oh Boy!" --- makes me want to hear this score all over again." Clifford Ridley, Philadelphia Inquirer
"Back Home Shines! Supremely tuneful and entertaining. A set of songs as tightly crafted and listenable as you might hear these days. Composer Christopher Berg and lyricist Frank Evans combine the complexity of Leonard Bernstein with a sophisticated humor of Noel Coward in a series of vignettes perfectly in tune with the bleak but hopeful circumstances of these women's lives. There is no more rewarding night in the theater to be had. Back Home is a hit!" --- Peter Spencer, Bucks County Courier
Show News ItemsWar Brides Sing Their Songs 'Back Home' at NYMF, 9/24-30New York Musical Theatre Festival, with Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, Pat Flicker Addiss, and Ricky Stevens to present Back Home: The War Brides Musical with a book by Ron Sproat, music by Christopher Berg, lyrics by Frank Evans and directed by Bick Goss. Performances begin Monday, September 24 through September 30 at The Sage Theatre (711 Seventh Avenue).
NYMF-Bound Back Home: The War Brides Musical Announces Cast and Creative TeamFrom Playbill.com By Adam Hetrick
|
|||
Show MediaClick each link below to hear some musical samples! Back HomeBy This Time Next Year In the Middle of the Day The Good Things |
|||
Schedule
Monday, Sep 24th at 8:00 pm
Tuesday, Sep 25th at 1:00 pm
Wednesday, Sep 26th at 4:30 pm
Friday, Sep 28th at 1:00 pm
Saturday, Sep 29th at 8:00 pm
Sunday, Sep 30th at 1:00 pm
Sunday, Sep 30th at 4:30 pm
|
Feature Articles & News StoriesWar Brides Sing Their Songs 'Back Home' at NYMF, 9/24-30 |
||
Cast & Creative Details
Ronald Sproat (Book Writer)
Ron Sproat's work was first produced during the tail end of the Golden Age of Television on The US Steel Hour, General Motors Presents, Kraft Television Theatre as well as the BBC and PBS. He was head writer of "Dark Shadows" and created the character of Barnabas Collins, the reluctant vampire whose images shortly thereafter appeared on board games, toys and action figures. Ron did his undergraduate work at Hamilton College where he won the William Duncan Saunders Award for creative writing, received his MA from the University of Michigan, where he was recipient of the Avery Hopwood Award and then an MFA from Yale where he studied with John Gassner. Ron began writing for the musical theatre after joining the BMI Musical Theatre Wrokshop, wehre, under the guidance of Lehman Engel, he wrote the books for Nobody's Perfect, produced by ELT at Lincoln Center and Ravenswood (seen at Cincinnati Festival of New Works as well as Greenwich House Theatre in New York,_ a musical a clef about the world of television and vampires. He wrote the book for Abie's Island Rose, Off-B'way at Jewish Rep and in Florida at the Hollywood Playhouse (Palm Beach Posts' Ten Best).
Christopher Berg (Composer)
Christopher Berg (Music) is best-known (if at all) for his "art" songs, among them a setting of Frank O'Hara's "Poem," which begins with the immortal line, "Lana Turner has collapsed!" Among his professional associates over the years he numbers Elaine Stritch, Kathleen Widdoes, and Elizabeth Ashley. BMI, ASCAP, and Dramatists Guild Workshops, NEA grants,
Frank Evans (Lyricist)
Jerry Bock Award for the musical version of the Kaufman-Ferber classic Dinner at Eight (Music: Ben Schaechter, Book: Julie Gilbert) (Drury Lane, 2003). Abie's Island Rose, written with Sproat, Doug Katsaros and Richard Engquist -- off B'way at Playhouse 91, then Hollywood (FL) Playhouse, ranked fifth in the year 2000's Ten Best by the Palm Beach Post. Lyrics for Ravenswood (Cincinnati Festival of New Works), No Speed Limit (Edward Albee Theatre Festival, Valdez, Alaska). Most recently: The Howard Hughes Project, seen at the Snapple Theatre in NYC. His Mid-Life, The User's Guide received a National Alliance for Musical Theatre producer-writer grant and was seen in readings at the 45th Street Theatre in New York. Non-musicals co-written Julie Gilbert: The Puma, which just had an industry reading in NYC with Marc Kudisch as Erich Maria Remarque and Gina Gershon as Marlene Deitrich; and George and Edna go to Omaha, a new play about the collaboration of George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, which will be seen at New York's Algonquin Hotel later this year. Frank serves on the steering committee of the BMI-Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop and is the recipient of a 2006 Anna Sosenko Trust Award.
Bick Goss (Director)
A theatre professional for 40 years, Bick Goss has worked with such director-choreographers as Bob Fosse and Harold Prince. Most recently directed Roman Nights Off-Bway at DR2. Bay Area Theatre Critic’s Circle Award: And the World Goes Round; Bay Area Drama-Louge Award for Cole Directed Gwen Verdon in Damn Yankees in NYC, Tony Randall in Damn Yankees at TUTS, Estelle Parsons in Noel and Cole Do It, US Regional premiere of Side Show. Bick is Artistic Director of Musical Mondays Theatre Lab.
Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, Inc (producer)
Founded by Bick Goss, Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, a not for profit 501 (c) corporation, enters its tenth season developing new works for the musical theatre. MMTL has been active with NYMF since their inception, producing SHORTS, which the New York Times proclaimed "witty, poignant and lusty." MMTL presented initial readings of three musicals which received the Jerry Bock Award, personally chosen by the Pulitzer and Tony Award Winning composer: SEE ROCK CITY...AND OTHER DESTINATIONS, DINNER AT EIGHT and CALVIN BERGER, winner of the 2007 Ricjard Rodgers Award. Other musicals to move forward include productions of THE TRAGICE AND HORRIBLE LIFE OF THE SINGING NUN, LIKE YOU LIKE IT, TOP OF THE HEAP at NYMF and productions and workshops of WANDA'S WORLD, CUPID AND PSYCHE, ABIE'S ISLAND ROSE, THE ARC, PATSY CLINE and the upcoming NEXT TO NORMAL (formerly FEELING ELECTRIC) at 2nd Stage.
Pat Flicker Addiss (Producer)
PAT FLICKER ADDISS: Spring Awakening (8 2007 Tony Awards including Best Musical), Little Women, Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life; Bridge & Tunnel (2006 Special Tony Award), SHOUT. Algonquin Roundtable Tea at 3, CTI Grad, National Arts Club Play Reading Series giving life to many deserving plays and musicals. Associate eBroadwayPlays.com (internet based theatre investment).
Ricky Stevens (Producer, General Manager)
Mark Janas (Musical Director)
Conducting: two international tours for Leonard Bernstein, Les Miserables, 1st & 3rd National Tours, Texas Opera Theatre, Houston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic Institute, Assistant to Leonard Bernstein - New York Philharmonic and Boston Symphony. Musical Direction / Arrangements: The York Theater (with Thommie Walsh), Irish Repetory Theater, Yale Rep New Dramatists, Century Center for the Performing Arts, Chautauqua Institute, Arkansas Rep. and the Hippodrome State Theater, War Brides at SBT Theatre. Original Works: PoeSCrypt, The Lone Star<span style >(with Jack Dabdoub and Ann VanCleave.) Cabaret: a legendary collaboration with Mac and Bistro winner Julie Reyburn, 2002 BACK STAGE Bistro Award for Outstanding Achievement in Musical Direction. Accompanied: Betty Buckley, Karen Mason, Byron Nease, Sylvia McNair, Liza Minnelli. Talk Of The Town at the Algonquin Oak Room. nbsp;Member of the BMI Musical Theatre Workshop where he is writing "Pinocchio of Chelsea."
Brett Singer and Associates (Press Representation)
Brett Singer & Associates, LLC specializes in publicity for theater, music, dance, special events and individual artists. Past and current credits include The Classical Theater of Harlem, Urban Stages, ELLE starring Alan Cumming, Criss Angel: MINDFREAK, PIRATES OF PENZANCE at the South Street Seaport, The Peccadillo Theater Company, The Dirty Sock Funtime Band, and legendary film director Melvin Van Peebles.
Maruti Evans (Set and Lighting Designer)
Maruti Evans (Set and Lighting Designer)-has worked Off-Broadway and regionally in Opera, Theatre,and Dance over the last 7 years. His career includes productions and Set Design @ Lincoln Center, Dodger Stages, The New Duke Theatre,59 East 59 Theatres, The Row Theatres, The C Venues (Scott.) Assembly Room Venues (Scott.), The Guided Balloon (Scott.),Ensemble Studio Theatre, Manhattan Ensemble Theatre, Symphony Space, Stony Brook Opera, Viscaya Opera, and Manhattan Theatre Source. He has been nominated for Lighting Design by the Drama Desk Awards for "Blindness" @ 59e59 Theatres 2007, Nominee Best Lighting and Set Design AUDELCO nominee "Relativity" @ EST 2006, as well as Set Design for the "Traveling Lady" nominee Best Rivival of a Play Obie Awards 2005.
Raissa Katona Bennett (Vera)
RAISSA KATONA BENNETT- recently debuted at the Metropolitan Room, NYC with her cabaret show "It's Possible," directed by Eric Michael Gilett with Musical Director, David Caldwell.
Jeff Scot Carey (Jerry)
Jeff Scot Carey (Jerry) is proud to be a part of this spirited and charming piece. Recent New York Credits include TAILS (45th St Theatre), THE FENG SHUI ASSASSIN (Ars Nova), THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (Abridged) (Stella Adler Studio-City Attic Theatre), THE ORDER OF THINGS (UNDER St. Marks), and the title role in the Rock Musical DORIAN GRAY (NYMF.) National Tours include RENT, GREASE, CINDERELLA, and SOUTH PACIFIC, as well as the Tenth Anniversary World Tour of RENT. TV/Film credits include ONE LIFE TO LIVE and ALL MY CHILDREN as well as the Independent Shorts ETHAN AND JANE, SUPER BRENDEN, and R13-09. Thanks to the Cast, Creatives, and the inspiring people at NYMF. www.jeffscotcarey.com.
Adam J MacDonald (Tom)
Adam is happy to be back in the city after a great summer in the mountains at the Flat Rock Playhouse doing CINDERELLA (Prince) and NUPTIALS (Jerry Parker). Off-Broadway: The MAC nomination production of TALK OF THE TOWN (Sherwood); GOOD NEWS (Tommy); LOVE FROM JUDY (Gordon). Favorite Regional: MY FAIR LADY (Freddie)-Nat'l Tour); 1776 (Jefferson); PUTTING IT TOGETHER (Man 2); BYE, BYE BIRDIE (Birdie). It's fall and the means football -- Go Bills.
Kristin Maloney (Mo)
Kristin Maloney just completed a run of the Off-Broadway show Sessions (Sunshine/Mary u.s. - performed). Other NYC performing credits include: The Streets of New York (Irish Repertory Theatre), The Glass Blowers (New York City Opera) and Talk of the Town (Peccadillo Theatre/Algonquin Hotel). Regional favorites include: Meet Me in St. Louis (Esther - Westchester Broadway Theatre), Thoroughly Modern Millie (Millie - Gateway Playhouse), Chicago (Roxie - Forestburgh Playhouse) and Musical of Musicals-the Musical! (Woman 1 - Repertory Theatre of St. Louis). Kristin is a member of the BMI Musical Theatre Songwriting Workshop (Lyricist) and Actors Equity Association. www.kristinmaloney.com
Vanessa June Marshall (Doris)
Vanessa June Marshall is thrilled to be returning to NYC theatre after taking a hiatus to beocme a mother! She starred most recently as Pertelote (the hen) in the Prospect Theatre Company's "The Book of the Dun Cow." Favorite regional roles include Cinderella in "Into the Woods," Marsinah in "Kismet," Irene in "Hello Dolly," Jenny in "Threepenny Opera," and -- of course-- Doris, et. al.
Christina Morrell (Alice)
Christina Morrell-Off Broadway: WHEN THE LIGHTS GO ON AGAIN (Nancy). Regional: STEEL PIER (Rita)at the Cape Rep Theatre. 1st National Tours: OKLAHOMA (Helen/Ado Annie cover) and OLIVER! (Charlotte, original tour cast) ---
Danielle Erin Rhodes (Ivy)
Dan-i-elle feels blessed to be a part of NYMF and to have this opportunity to work with some amazing individuals. A proud member of Actor's Equity, she is a singer/songwriter and musician: (www.myspace.com/DaniRhodesRocks) and a music director for the Presbyterian Church of Astoria. She enjoys teaching voice and music to kids, cooking, baking, football season, and playing Mad Libs. Ms. Rhodes toured Western Europe as 'Rizzo' in the musical, Grease! Her national tours include Cameron Mackintosh's Oliver! (Rose Seller, Nancy cover) and The Three Irish Tenors (onstage keyboards). Regional: RAGS(Bella), Footloose(Ariel), 42nd St.(Lorraine), They're Playing Our Song ( Sonia), La Cage Aux Folles(Cagelle), Damn Yankees. Thanks to family and friends for undying support, Mark Janas rocks.
Steve Sterner (Ivy's Dad)
STEVE STERNER was most recently seen in A NOVEL ROMANCE at the Folksbiene Theatre. He's appeared on Broadway in OH, BROTHER! and YIDDLE WITH A FIDDLE, and off-Broadway in THAT'S LIFE, KUNI-LEML, YENTL and many others. Steve is the house pianist at the Film Forum in New York where he has has composed music for and accompanied over 300 silent films. He has just joined the Museum of Modern Art in the same capacity. His crossword puzzles have appeared in THE NEW YORK TIMES.
Jenn Zarine Habeck (Jean)
Jenn Zarine Habeck is thrilled to be a part of the NYMF! Recent NYC credits: SHOW CHOIR! THE MUSICAL (Melissa Sparing) at the NY Fringe
Joe Danbusky (Cyril)
Joe Danbusky --- is pleased to be returning to the NYMF, where he last performed in THE FLUTE PLAYER'S SONG in 2004. Recent New York Credits: HOWARD HUGHES PROJECT at the Snapple Theatre and ROSS at the Storm Theatre, ORANGE at Center Stage.
Karen Evanouskas (Stage Manager)
Karen Evanouskas: Off Broadway:Stephen Sondheim's SATURDAY NIGHT,
David Gillam (Costume Designer)
Starting as a wardrobe assistant for the "Disco Dance Fever Television Show" in the 1970s while studying theater and music at Buffalo State College, David has perfected his costuming skills with many years practical hands on experience. His vast array of credits include designing and building for dinner theater, summer stock, ballet & modern dance companies, educational facilities, children's theater, private & public high schools, New York cabaret, opera, independant film, showcase, and television.
Jack Dyville (Assistant Director)
JACK DYVILLE (Assistant Director) hails from Texas, & worked in NYC 14 yrs. as a dancer-actor-choreographer before going off to teach dance/theatre for 20 yrs. in North Dakota! He returned 5 yrs ago and is now pursuing his love of Directing & Playwrighting. He is thrilled that 39 yrs. ago, it was Bick Goss who convinced him to give NYC a try, while dancing for him at Lyric Theatre. After all these years, he is honored to work for him once again with "BACK HOME". A proud member of AEA and SSD&C, Jack has performed/directed/choreographed for Casa Manana, Surflight, Totem Pole, Allenberry, Mountain Playhouse, Granbury Opera House, Waterville Summer Musicals, Lyric Theatre, Kenley Star, Ephrata, Cecilwood Theatre and others as well as On Broadway, off-Broadway, National tours and the famed Radio City Music Hall. |
|||



