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by Michael Portantiere


    A TASTE OF NYMF

    In the fall, a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of -- musicals! The fourth annual New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is nearly upon us, and some super-talented folks gathered on Wednesday afternoon, September 12, at the Julia Miles Theatre for a press preview of numbers from nine of the 34 tuners that will be presented under the festival's aegis. Check out the photos below, and then check out the website www.nymf.org to plan your musical theatergoing for the next three weeks.

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    Marla Schaffel, best known as the star of Broadway's Jane Eyre, appears with James Stovall (left) and Tom Deckman in Going Down Swingin' (book and lyrics by Matt Boresi, music by Peter Hillard).

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    Broadway vets Liz Larsen (Hairsrpay, The Most Happy Fella, Starmites) and Brad Oscar (The Producers) are in Such Good Friends, with book, lyrics, and music by Noel Katz.

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    Former Miss America and current Legally Blonde star Kate Shindle sizzles in a song from Sympathy Jones (book by Brooke Pierce, music and lyrics by Masi Asare).

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    Grease: You're the One That I Want finalists Austin Miller (left) and Kate Rockwell (right) are both featured in Tully (In No Particular Order), with Adam Hose (center) in the title role. The show has a book by Joshua William Gelb, music and lyrics by Stephanie Johnstone.

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    Marisa Rhodes and Eli Schneider play Carol Fugate and Charlie Starkweather in Love Kills (book, lyrics, and music by Kyle Jarrow), based on the true story that inspired the films Badlands and Natural Born Killers.

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    Jesse Bush and Amanda Watkins are in The Angle of the Sun (book and lyrics by Rachel Lampert, music by Larry Pressgrove).

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    Theater, jazz, and comedy favorite Lea DeLaria stars in Roller Derby -- book and lyrics by Barry Arnold, music by the legendary Harold Wheeler.

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    Here's the cast of Look What a Wonder Jesus Has Done in a rousing number from that gospel tuner with book, lyrics, and music by Walter Robinson.

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    Finally, here are Jason Tam and the cast of The Yellow Wood (book by Michelle Elliott, lyrics by Michelle Elliott and Danny Larsen, music by Danny Larsen).

    Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 12:10 AM | Item Link


    Michael Portantiere comes to BroadwayStars with more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for such media outlets as TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has also contributed articles and reviews to AfterElton.com, Playbill, and Stagebill, and has written notes for several major cast albums. Additionally, Michael is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several notable websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.)
    He can be reached at [email protected]


    The last five columns written by Michael Portantiere:

    07/13/2010: Presidential Material

    07/04/2010: Hardy Boy

    06/29/2010: High School Stars

    06/21/2010: Falling in Love Again

    06/17/2010: A Meeting of the 'mos (and Their Friends)

    For a listing of all features written by Michael, click here.

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