| AMT Theater to Debut New Musical Comedy Upside Down in March 2025 | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 07:05 pm EDT 10/09/24 | |
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| AMT Theater to Debut New Musical Comedy Upside Down in March 2025 The Award-Winning Off-Broadway Theater's Upcoming Production is the Latest Collaboration between Peabody Award Winner, Composer and Playwright Al Tapper and Artistic Director Tony Sportiello New York, NY – October 9, 2024 – AMT Theater, the 99-seat award-winning Off-Broadway theater located at 354 West 45th Street, will debut Upside Down, a new musical comedy where nothing is as you know it. The play, which will premiere March 7, 2025, will feature music and lyrics by award-winning industry veteran Al Tapper and book by Tony Sportiello. Actor, director and Elliot Norton Award nominated choreographer Taavon Gamble will be Upside Down's Director. Previous director credits for Gamble include Boulevard of Bold Dreams, The Little Mermaid, Chicago, La Cage Aux Folles and more across various northeast U.S. cities. According to a recent Gallup poll, 92.4 percent of the U.S population identifies as straight while the rest considers themselves as part of the LGBTIQA+ community. Turn that number around, and you have the world of Upside Down. It's a world where straights are in the minority, women rule the military, and the Jets constantly win the Super Bowl. Jack and Robert are two mainstream gay songwriters whose dream is to have a Broadway musical. They realize that audiences are tired of the traditional "boy meets boy, boy loses boy, boy gets boy back" love plot and their goal is to shake things up on stage. The duo decides to do something that's never before been tried: the world's first ever straight musical. Men and women on stage….together! Will they be accepted, or will they be met with pushback and criticism for daring to tell a story in which people simply want to express their love without judgment? "When I first read the script for Upside Down, I was so intrigued with the story and jumped at the opportunity to be a part of the team," said Director Taavon Gamble. "Since its opening just a few years ago, AMT Theater has made quite a name for itself in New York and I'm sure this upcoming musical comedy will be another well-written and quality AMT show that packs the house." "Social commentary aside, Al and I are storytellers first and foremost," said Tony Sportiello, Artistic Director of AMT Theater. "Living in New York City and working in the theater community, we found the results of the Gallup poll to be shocking. But we have to remember there's a whole country out there who doesn't think the way we do. So yes, this is about what it feels like to be on the outside looking in, but it also has to be funny." AMT Theater is no stranger to productions that tell a story. Last year, Tapper's Bettinger's Luggage told a heartwarming play based on a true story of a Jewish family and their friends struggling to find success, love, and happiness. "In all of the productions I've worked on, we've touched on a handful of topics through art and song," said Al Tapper, Producer of AMT Theater. "Now, we have the chance to continue that, with a strong storyline that we can all relate to in some way. We're excited to share Upside Down on stage with a dynamic team who believes in our mission to bring great theater to life." Tapper is a Peabody Award winner, who has produced three documentaries including Broadway: The Golden Age, Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy, and Ted Williams: The Greatest Hitter Who Ever Lived. Tapper's resume also includes composer and lyricist credits, having brought several Off-Broadway musicals to fruition including Sessions, ImPerfect Chemistry, An Evening at the Carlyle, National Pastime, On the Right Track, An Unbalanced Mind, and David. In 2021, he envisioned AMT Theater, transforming an abandoned tango venue into one of the most attractive Off-Broadway houses in New York. It has since become an award-winning theater, taking home W42ST's Best Newcomer Award in 2022 and Best Venue Award in 2024, ahead of other notable venues in the space. Also in 2025, Tapper will debut a new documentary detailing the historic accounts of gentiles who helped Jewish individuals and families to safety by escaping the Nazis during World War II. The film features an ensemble of 25 Hollywood icons, including Helen Mirren, Jeremy Irons, and David Hyde Pierce. The cast of Upside Down at AMT Theater will be announced in early 2025. AMT Theater is home to musicals, plays, cabarets, festivals, readings, classes, youth theater and much more. Previous shows at AMT Theater include The Addams Family, On the Right Track, The Money Tree, Beauty & the Beast, and others. AMT Theater is also available for rentals/buyouts. For more information, visit www.amttheater.org and follow on Instagram and Facebook. |
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