If all the absurd events happening on Wall Street these days sound to you like something out of a Gilbert & Sullivan parody, well, it turns out you'd be absolutely right...and, in fact, the new musical Gilbert & Sullivan on Wall Street has won First Prize in the Academy for New Musical Theatre's 2010 Search for New Musicals and will be presented in concert at the Colony Theatre in Burbank on Monday, November 15th at 7:30 p.m.
The Academy's annual Search is becoming known for its eclectic taste, ranging from last year's Greenbrier Ghost to Georgia Stitt's emotional social drama, The Water and now this goofy, light-hearted operetta, with music literally by Mr. Sullivan himself, and brand-new lyrics and storyline by Search winner Charles Veley. Like the G&S stories, Gilbert & Sullivan on Wall Street starts with a somewhat absurd premise, involving 'toxic assets,' insider trading and office romance, propelling the characters through topsy-turvy turns of events and arriving at a logical but hilarious conclusion. Sullivan's wonderful and entrancing melodies lift the mood, to borrow phrases from both contemporary Wall Street and The Mikado, "to a height of irrational exuberance that few can scale."
The Academy has been awarded a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to present a series of three concerts featuring new musicals; Gilbert & Sullivan on Wall Street being the final installment in the series.
The concert will be directed by director & choreographer Allison Bibicoff (Xanadu) with musical direction by Ross Källing and featuring members of ANMT's Academy Repertory Company and guests: Elise Dewsberry, Ellen Dostal, Michael Downing, ElizaBeth Greene, Evelyn Halus, David Holmes, Johanna Kent, Mona King, Christopher Maikish, Andrea Press, Cody Ruegger, Jeremy Sage, David Scales, Sean Smith, Sara J. Stuckey, Tedd Szeto, Peter Welkin, Jennifer Winkler, and Paul Wong.
"This is a valuable opportunity for the author to hear his show performed by 19 strong voices, and to hear live audience feedback, which will help him make important choices as he continues to develop this new work," expresses director Allison Bibicoff.
First Prize in the Academy for New Musical Theatre's Search for New Musicals is the concert reading. Last spring, Gilbert & Sullivan on Wall Street had a workshop at the Academy, receiving detailed feedback and dramaturgy, a total package worth over $10,000 for the playwright. "We were initially drawn in by how well the contemporary language of the Wall Street lexicon marries comically to this classical score and have delighted in its further development," says Artistic Director Elise Dewsberry.
Gilbert & Sullivan on Wall Street will be performed in concert at the Colony Theatre in Burbank on Monday evening, November 15th at 7:30pm. Tickets can be purchased at the door for $10.00. For more info or to purchase tickets online, please visit www.ANMT.org.
