Maltz Emerging Artist show, "Academy," chosen for New York Musical Theatre Festival
Posted by on 10:22 pm Jun 2nd, 2009(More news)
Playwright John Mercurio, left, and Andrew Kato, Maltz Jupiter Theatre artistic director, at the cocktail reception for the special "insider" reading of "Academy" by Mercurio, conceived and directed by Kato for the Emerging Artists Series at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre. The pair worked together as teens at the former Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre, now The Maltz Jupiter Theatre.
Jupiter Courier
By Carol Saunders
Article: http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/may/23/maltz-emerging-artist-show-academy-chosen-for/
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With Andrew Kato, the Maltz Jupiter Theatre’s artistic director, off on his annual month-long gig in New York City and “The Great White Way,” producing the Tony Awards for CBS television, the Maltz received word that “Academy,” the first selection of the Maltz’s first Emerging Artist Series in Musical Theater Playwriting, was selected for the 2009 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF)’s Next Link Project (the festival’s primary writer service program), running Sept. 28 through Oct. 18 in New York City.
“Academy,” seen at the Maltz in October 2008, was conceived and developed by Kato, along with book, music and lyrics by John Mercurio. This special “insider’s event” permitted audiences to witness a critical step in the writer’s process; “the reading” presented on stage.
Funding at the Maltz came from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, from the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, and a Roy A. Hunt Foundation.
It’s the story of two senior boys at St. Edward’s Academy prep-school who make a harmless bet on whether they can influence an unsuspecting, “dorky” freshman to break a few rules in order to succeed. However, when the deal goes recklessly out of control, the boys become entangled in a fight for their own academic and personal survival. Inspired by Goethe’s “Faust,” “Academy” is a coming-of-age pop chamber musical about boys learning to become men and remaining true to themselves.
Mercurio is the recipient of numerous important awards for his writing and composing. This past summer, his new musical “Myth” was developed at the 2008 O’Neill Music Theater Conference, where he won a lyricist award for his work.
“I think the fact that Academy was chosen to be a part of NYMF, is a direct result of the work we were able to do on the piece at here at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre last fall,” says Mercurio. “The opportunity for a creative team to nurture a new musical with talented actors and musicians in a safe, supportive environment is critical to its development. And the entire Maltz Theatre family provided all that and more.”
After receiving this great news, while working on the Tony Awards for his sixth year (scheduled for June 7 at 8 p.m. on local WPEC Channel 12) Kato said, “We are so honored that “Academy,” having its start as part of the Emerging Artist Series, will move on to be part of this very prestigious festival that has launched several Broadway musicals in recent years including “Next To Normal,” which is currently up for 11 Tony Nominations.”
Since its inception in 2004, NYMF premiered more than 175 new musicals, more than 40 of which have gone on to award-winning productions in New York, in regional theaters and in almost every state and in 12 countries worldwide. NYMF 2004 hit “Altar Boyz” has played well over 1,500 performances Off-Broadway and spawned two national tours.
To be eligible, entries undergo double-blind evaluations by several members of NYMF’s reading team, with finalists referred to a grand jury of celebrated industry professionals.
This year’s judges included lyricist Susan Birkenhead, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown, producer Robyn Goodman, director Kathleen Marshall, writer Robert Lopez, choreographer Sergio Trujillo and director Francesca Zambello.
