Recommended summer reading

At this point in the summer most people have already finished at least one of their books and started a second in their long list of summer reading. In the theater we do a different kind of summer “reading.” We're busy developing potential new musicals for upcoming seasons — just two weeks ago I did a table reading of a new musical called THE NEXT BIG THING with book and music by Tom Donoghue, and lyrics by Tom Donoghue and Jermaine Hardy. It was the first time we heard any of the show read out loud so it was very helpful. The score combines rap, hip-hop, and a contemporary pop sound and the story deals with the issues of fame, money, race, and the effect all of these things can have on a new relationship.

Next week we're doing a reading of another new musical with music and lyrics by Nick Blaemire and book by James Gardiner called ASS BACKWARDS. It’s the story of four best friends who return to their old high school football field a year after they've graduated, and try to pick up where they left off. The music is this brutally honest, heartfelt score influenced by pop, rock, folk, and soul. We've got only 29 hours to work on the show before a public presentation – that includes learning the music plus an invitation-only reading at Signature on Friday, August 11. On the 14th we’re doing a concert reading at Joe’s Pub in New York City which is open to the public. We're trying to get some exposure in NYC for our major projects so we can hopefully partner with other companies.

We also have two other readings planned in the coming months, so we’re definitely keeping our new work development in overdrive! Hopefully you’ll see some — or better yet, all — of these shows on our mainstage in the near future. We’re giving a sneak peek of some of the works, including songs from ASS BACKWARDS, at an upcoming Millennium Stage concert at the Kennedy Center... more on that later.

—ES