| The Fields of Ambrosia to receive industry readings in NYC October 17 & 18 | |
| Last Edit: Official_Press_Release 09:05 pm EDT 10/15/24 | |
| Posted by: Official_Press_Release 09:04 pm EDT 10/15/24 | |
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| A NEW VERSION OF THE LEGENDARY MUSICAL THE FIELDS OF AMBROSIA TO RECEIVE INDUSTRY READINGS WITH EYE TOWARD FUTURE PRODUCTION BOOK AND LYRICS BY JOEL HIGGINS MUSIC BY MARTIN SILVESTRI CHOREOGRAPHED BY MATTHEW JOHNSON HARRIS DIRECTED BY GABRIEL BARRE INVITATION ONLY PRESENTATIONS OCTOBER 17 & 18 IN NEW YORK CITY Mike McGowan and Sierra Boggess will star in industry readings of The Fields of Ambrosia on October 17 & 18 in New York City. (New York, NY – October 15, 2024) – Producers 6 Feet 8 Paws Productions and ShowTown Productions are pleased to announce industry readings for a new version of the legendary musical, The Fields of Ambrosia, which features book and lyrics by Joel Higgins, music by Martin Silvestri, choreography by Matthew Johnson Harris (Broadway: Associate Director, Parade) and direction by Gabriel Barre (Off-Broadway: The Wild Party). The presentations, by invitation only, will be held in New York City on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18, with an eye toward a future production. The Southern Gothic musical based on the 1970 film The Traveling Executioner received its world premiere in 1993 at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, NJ, where it received strong reviews and sold out its run. In an example of two nations divided by a common language, a production in 1996 in London's West End did not fare as well, receiving vicious reviews and closing in three weeks. But post-closing, the show developed a sizable cult fan base in large part to the thrilling album left behind by the London cast (available for streaming on First Night Records). The virtue of the show's through-composed folk, rock, and blues score shines through. Reviewing the cast album, Show Music Magazine cheered, "The score is a joy, from the melodic and powerful title track through quality production numbers like ‘Nuthin'' and ‘Step Right Up' and that is without mentioning two of the most glorious duets you are likely to encounter in the form of ‘Too Bad' and ‘Continental Sunday.'" Original authors Higgins and Silvestri, working with director Gabriel Barre, have taken a fresh look at the show, and incorporated revised material, in the hope that theatregoers will finally get a chance to experience this audacious and captivating American musical. Set in 1918 in the Deep South, The Fields Of Ambrosia is a musical love story about Jonas Candide, an ex-con man turned traveling executioner and Gretchen Herzallerliebst, a beautiful Austrian immigrant prisoner, who sings her way into his heart. Soon there is nothing he won't do to save her from her fate. This uniquely American musical brings together unlikely lovers from two different worlds who share a funny, poignant, and surprising journey you won't forget. Cast will also feature: Jordan Dobson, Manoel Felciano (top row); J. Robert Spencer, Robert Cuccioli (bottom row). The cast for the presentations will feature Mike McGowan (Broadway: The Book of Mormon, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Ragtime) as Jonas Candide, Sierra Boggess (Broadway: Harmony, School of Rock, The Little Mermaid) as Gretchen Herzallerliebst, Jordan Dobson (Broadway: Hadestown, Bad Cinderella, A Beautiful Noise) as Jimmy, Manoel Felciano (Broadway: Parade, To Kill a Mockingbird, Dear Evan Hansen) as Doc, J. Robert Spencer (Broadway: Next to Normal, Jersey Boys) as Warden Brodsky, and Robert Cuccioli (Broadway: Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Jekyll & Hyde, Les Misérables) as Malcolm Piquant. The Company also features Ryan Andes, Melessie Clark, David Corlew, Daniella Dalli, Benjamin Eakley, Deven Kolluri, Nathan Salstone, Ann Sanders, Byron St. Cyr, Nathaniel Stampley, Anne Fraser Thomas, and Katie Thompson. Orchestrations are by David Siegel. Musical Direction is by Lawrence Yurman. Production Stage Manager is Tia Harewood-Millington. General Management is by ShowTown Theatricals. BIOGRAPHIES JOEL HIGGINS (Book, Lyrics) is best known as a TV ("Silver Spoons," "Best Of The West," etc.) and Broadway (Shenandoah, Oklahoma!, City of Angels, etc.) actor, he has also written numerous musicals and over 100 commercial jingles and theme songs with longtime collaborator, Martin Silvestri. He wrote the book and lyrics and starred in The Fields Of Ambrosia which premiered at the George Street Playhouse in 1993. He reprised the role at the Aldwych Theatre on London's West End in 1996. He subsequently co-wrote and directed Johnny Guitar, The Musical, which opened at the Century Center for the Performing Arts in New York where it garnered numerous Drama Desk, Drama League and Lucille Lortel Award nominations and won the Outer Critics' Circle Award as Best Off-Broadway Musical in 2004 and has gone on to tally over 30 productions around the country. MARTIN SILVESTRI (Music) is a Grammy-nominated producer, composer and arranger. He and lyricist Joel Higgins have enjoyed almost forty years of friendship and musical collaboration. Their first major musical The Fields of Ambrosia was given a critically acclaimed American debut at the George Street Playhouse in 1992. The overwhelming response to this "rhapsodic and reckless adventure" led to the controversial 1996 production at the Aldwych Theatre in London's West End. The Original London Cast Recording was released on First Night Records. The team composed eight original songs for the full-length feature animation entitled Whistle and was represented in New York City with their Off-Broadway hit, Johnny Guitar. The musical, which is based on the cult Western film of the same name, had its premiere Off-Broadway in 2006 at the Century Center Theater and was honored with four Drama Desk nominations and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical. A new work, The Countess of Storyville, was recently given a full-scale production at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa while Mr. Silvestri was Artist in Residence. Silvestri and Higgins are currently in preparation for a Work Session of a new musical based on the life of the 18th century adventurer entitled Casanova. GABRIEL BARRE (Director). Broadway: Amazing Grace. Off-Broadway: The Wild Party, Summer of '42, john & jen, Almost, Maine and A Sign of the Times. National Tours: Amazing Grace, Pippin, and Cinderella. Regional: Memphis (original production), Billy Elliot (Goodspeed), Sweeney Todd (Goodspeed), Finian's Rainbow (Goodspeed), and Here You Come Again (Goodspeed), which he also co-wrote. The production will be touring the UK and the West End this year. International credits: Sound of the Silk Road (China); Billy Elliot (Mexico); The Scarlet Pimpernel (Japan); and Beetlejuice, Holmes , The Legend, and Carmen (Czech Republic). Barre was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. MATTHEW JOHNSON HARRIS (Choreographer) is a director, choreographer, writer, and developer. He most recently choreographed the world premiere production of The Preacher's Wife at the Alliance Theatre . He also choreographed Take Me To The World: A Tribute to Stephen Sondheim at Carnegie Hall. He served on the directing teams for the Tony-nominated Hangmen and Tony-winning revival of Parade . He is currently the Associate Director for Hippest Trip: The Soul Train Musical. He has staged, choreographed, and creative directed a variety of live performances and music videos. He aspires to tell stories that celebrate individual identity while simultaneously creating more intersectionality. 6 FEET 8 PAWS PRODUCTIONS (Producer) is a husband-and-wife team – a software business owner and a trained singer. We are theatre enthusiasts based south of Boston who live with our daughter and three dogs (now 12 paws). We help produce theater and music that speaks to us and that we are compelled to share with others. SHOWTOWN THEATRICALS (General Manager). Broadway/Tour: Oh, Mary!, Job, How To Dance In Ohio, Parade, Just For Us, Into the Woods (Broadway/Tour), A Christmas Carol (Broadway/Tour), In Residence on Broadway, The Jimmy Awards, Notre Dame de Paris (Lincoln Center). Off-Broadway: Mind Mangler, A Sherlock Carol. Upcoming: Galileo, Anne of Green Gables, Romy & Michele, and When Playwrights Kill. showtown.nyc. SHOWTOWN PRODUCTIONS (Executive Producer). Nathan Gehan and Jamison Scott are lead producers of the Tony Award-winning Broadway/tour productions of A Christmas Carol. Other credits include Oh, Mary!, Job, Into the Woods (Broadway/Tour) and How to Dance in Ohio (Broadway). Upcoming: Parade (Tour), Beat Street, The Bad News Bears, When Playwrights Kill, Romy & Michele. Nathan is the CEO of ShowTown Theatricals where Jamison is a partner and serves as creative producer. |
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