One of the many advantages of being a musical theater lover living in New York City is that the lively concert scene affords a multitude of opportunities to hear new work by up-and-coming songwriters, sung by some of Broadway’s best talent. The New Voices Collective frequently stages intimate concerts that do just that, showcasing songs by working composers and emerging talents. What’s more, NVC always comes up with a special theme for its events, whether it’s an evening of songs from shows that are currently in development, or an all love songs program for a Valentine’s Day concert.
New Voices latest presentation, which is being held at New York University’s Frederick Loewe Theatre (35 W. 4th Street) on Monday, April 16 at 8pm, is focusing on the work of composers and lyricists from the NYU Musical Theatre Writing Program. A host of them will have their work highlighted in the concert, including Kait Kerrigan, Brian Lowdermilk, Georgia Stitt, Chris Miller, Nathan Tysen, Jenny Giering, Peter Mills, Matt Sklar, Vadim Feichtner, Will Aronson, Brendan Milburn & Valerie Vigoda, Ben Cohn & Sean McDaniel, and several others.
Some are recent grads whose work you likely won’t have heard yet, while others have already gained some notoriety in recent years from Broadway, Off-Broadway, and high-profile regional productions. Matt Sklar, for instance, wrote the music for the Broadway shows The Wedding Singer and Elf; and Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen’s The Burnt Part Boys was recently Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons.
Charming Broadway fave Danny Burstein (Follies, South Pacific) is hosting the event, which will feature many recognizable voices at the microphone, including Burstein’s missus, Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins, The Music Man), Rory O’Malley (The Book of Mormon), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde), Sally Wilfert, Michael Winther, Elizabeth A. Davis, and Drew Gehling. Even if you just come to the concert to see these talented performers, expect to leave with a whole bunch of new favorite songwriters.
Tickets are $20, or a mere $5 if you have a student I.D. Get them online at www.nyu.edu/ticketcentral/calendar, by calling 212-352-3101, or in person at NYU Ticket Central (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South).
