What do Rooms—The Rock Musical and The Toxic Avenger have in common? Both are up for 2008-2009 Outer Critics Circle Awards and both began life in the New York Musical Theatre Festival. And both are now playing in one of New York’s most appealing venues—New World Stages, 340 West 50th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. This Off Broadway facility may be a little off the beaten track, but those in the know know where to go to see some of the best up-and-coming musical theater talents.
On Monday, April 20, audiences had the chance to see the “Best of Fest,” the best musical numbers to come out of the NYMTF. (See our earlier story in Playing Around). Those who filled one of the theaters at New World Stages saw Celina Carvajal and Doug Kreeger, sing “Love You for All Time” from Rooms, a nominee for Outstanding New Off Broadway Musical and Outstanding New Score. Leslie Kritzer (Rooms) and Nancy Opel (The Toxic Avenger) have each been nominated for Outstanding Actress in a Musical.
New World Stages houses five separate theaters, seating anywhere from 199 to 499 people. In addition to Rooms, Altar Boyz, and The Toxic Avenger, plays now being performed there include the Gazillion Bubble Show, Naked Boys Singing, Flamingo Court, My First Time, The Castle, and For Lovers Only. The theaters share a large common lobby and gallery, two bars, a coat check, generous bathroom facilities, and a public lounge. (Before finding our seats for “Best of Fest,” we stopped in one of the two bars for a glass of wine). Also on site is the Time Out New York Lounge that features performers, karaoke nights, and evenings of jazz. Various parts of the facility have been rented out for special events, everything from movie premieres and opening night parties, to corporate seminars.
Tony-Award Winner B.D. Wong welcomed the audience to “Best of Fest.” “I can’t say enough about my passion for the festival,” he said. “The musical is a quintessentially American art form. A musical, when it is great, is the most transcendental thing you can experience.”
The cast of Altar Boyz, winner of the 2005 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical, opened Best of Fest on a high note with “We are the Altar Boyz.” In one number, these performers managed to convey all the exuberance and fun that has made this musical an audience favorite.
We must pause here to say a few words about Heidi Blickenstaff who sang “I’m Your Man,” from Meet John Doe, and joined others for “Die, Vampire, Die,” from [title of show]. She is, in a word, amazing. Her time on stage was too short and we can’t wait until she finds herself in another production or, even better, opts to perform in a cabaret show where we can truly spend some quality time listening to her fabulous voice.
Each musical number gave a taste of the show and left us regretting that we had neglected to see all these productions. We loved Tom Deckman’s performance of “I Am Just a Nerd,” from Nerds, Kate Shindle’s transformation from “Everyday/Super-Secret Agent,” from Sympathy Jones, and Diane Davis and Jason Wooten singing “I Blame You,” from Bonnie and Clyde. Debbie Gravitte, with the stage presence possessed by those who know they have the audience’s attention from that first note or line, sang “Who Is This Guy?” from The Big Time (photo above by Peter James Zielinski). One show we can see is Next to Normal, which just opened on Broadway to rave reviews. Jessica Phillips, an understudy in the show sang “I Miss the Mountains.”
Isaac Robert Hurwitz, NYMTF’s Executive Director and Producer, reminded the audience that the festival will once again be held in the fall, from September 28 through October 18. Last year, 1,000 people participated in the festival, and more than 30,000 people came to see the productions. “Everyone came together,” he told the “Best of Fest” audience. “New York is a theater town and the home of musical theater.” And NYMTF is doing its best to make sure things stay that way.
For tickets to any musical playing at New World Stages, go to www.newworldstages.com
