[TITLE OF SHOW]
Book by Hunter Bell
Music & Lyrics by Jeff Bowen
Directed & Choreographed by Michael Berresse
With Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell, Heidi Blickenstaff and Jeff Bowen
Struggling writers Hunter and Jeff race against a deadline to enter an original musical into a theatre festival. title of show depicts their journey as artists and friends as they write a musical about writing a musical.
Artists
Larry Pressgrove
Music Direction/Orchestrations/ Vocal Arrangements- NOW. HERE. THIS. Music director/arranger for the Tony-nominated [title of show] for its premiere at the Vineyard and on Broadway. He was music director/arranger for EMMET OTTERâS JUG-BAND CHRISTMAS at Goodspeed Opera House with Christopher Gatelli as director and music directed CATS (Broadway), LES MISERABLES (national tour) and conducted Colm Wilkinsonâs last staged performance of LES MIZ in Shanghai. With playwright/ lyricist Rachel Lampert, he composed the scores for THE ANGLE Of THE SUN (NYMF 2007) and ESTELLEâS KITCHEN, which premieres at the Kitchen Theater in Ithaca this spring. He is currently Music Director for La Guardia High School of Music and Performing Arts.
Neil Patel
Scenic Design- Broadway: NOW. HERE. THIS., [title of show], OLEANNA, SIDEMAN, âNIGHT MOTHER, RING OF FIRE and WONDERLAND. Off-Broadway: Second Stage, Manhattan Theater Club, Roundabout Theatre Company, BAM, New York Theater Workshop, Vineyard Theater and Playwrights Horizon, having designed productions of BY THE WAY, MEET VERA STARK, LIVING OUT, HERE LIES JENNY, DINNER WITH FRIENDS, THE LONG CHRISTMAS RIDE HOME, QUILLS and THE GREY ZONE. Television: HBOâs “In Treatment”. Dance: Shadowland for Pilobolus which is currently on tour in Europe. Awards include the Helen Hayes Award, the 2000 EDDY Award, numerous Drama Desk and Hewes nominations and the 1996 and 2001 Obie Awards for sustained excellence in set design.
Michael Berresse
Director/Choreographer-is very proud to return to this collaboration and to the Vineyard with NOW. HERE. THIS., having previously been honored with an OBIE award for his direction of the Vineyardâs production of [title of show] in 2006. Though he made his Broadway directing debut with [title of show] in 2008, Michael has been a Broadway presence as an actor for many years, receiving Tony, Olivier, Outer Criticsâ Circle and Astaire Award nominations. Broadway productions include: [title of show], A CHORUS LINE, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, KISS ME, KATE, CHICAGO, DAMN YANKEES, FASCINATING RHYTHM, GUYS & DOLLS, CAROUSEL, FIDDLER ON THE ROOf. Off-Broadway: [title of show], NO, NO, NANETTE, THE COCOANUTS, FOREVER PLAID, A WONDERFUL LIFE. Film: A.I., State of Play, and the forthcoming The Bourne Legacy. TV: âPerson of Interestâ, âLaw and Orderâ, âLaw and Order: SVUâ, âLaw & Order: Criminal Intentâ, âGreat Performances, Live from Lincoln Centerâ. As co-author of a development project for ABC, Michael recently joined his 5th union, count âem five.
Jeff Bowen
Actor/Music and Lyrics/Vocal Arrangements- Broadway: [title of show] (2009 Best Plays yearbook, Broadway.com Audience Award). Off-Broadway: NOW. HERRE. THIS, [title of show] (Vineyard Theatre, Obie Award, Drama League Nomination), SPARKLEFEST 2000 (Dixon Place). Music & Lyrics: VILLAINS TONIGHT! (Walt Disney Company), 53rd Drama Desk Awards, Actors fund 125, numerous Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS events. TV writing: âGlass Housesâ (ABC Studios). Composition recordings: [title of show] (Original Cast), âWonderlandâ for Broadway Bares Openings, and âPoppyâ for Over the Moon: Broadway Lullaby Project. Internet: the [title of show] show. Member: ASCAP, AEA, WGAE, Dramatist Guild and the National   Audubon Society.
Heidi Blickenstaff
Most recently on Broadway, Heidi played Alice Beineke in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Other Broadway credits include Ursula in THE LITTLE MERMAID, THE FULL MONTY, and her favorite Broadway role, playing herself in [title of show] with her friends and creative collaborators. Some Off-Broadway and regional credits include NOW.HERE.THIS. and [title of show] at The Vineyard Theatre, the solo piece, MOSAIC (Ruth) with Primary Stages, MEET JOHN DOE (Ann Mitchell) at Fordâs Theatre in Washington D.C. (Helen Hayes Award), and FIRST YOU DREAM: THE MUSIC Of KANDER AND EBB at The Signature Theatre. I love you, Dad, Mom and Matt.
Susan Blackwell
Actor/Writer- played âSusanâ in the Broadway musical [title of show]. She has written and performed original material for many projects, including [title of show], Funny or Dieâs Billy on the Street, and Broadway.comâs Side by Side by Susan Blackwell. As an actor, she has also appeared in [title of show] at the Vineyard, NyMf, The Eugene OâNeill Theatre Center and Ars Nova, SPEECH AND DEBATE at The Roundabout, THE kID at The New Group, ANON at The Atlantic, and Peter Patrone in THE HEIDI CHRONICLES. TV: âOnion News Networkâ, âThe Good wifeâ, âThe Sopranosâ, âLaw & Orderâ. film: Margin Call, P.S.: I Love You, Margot at the Wedding. Susan is a proud MacDowell fellow, and an avid teacher of creative writing,
performance and vampire slaying. www.susanblackwell.com.
Hunter Bell
Actor/Writer- Earned an OBIE Award, a Drama League nomination, and a Tony nomination for Best Book of a Musical all for the original Broadway musical [title of show]. Other credits include the books for SILENCE! THE MUSICAL, BELLOBRATION! (Ringling Bros. Circus), VILLAINS TONIGHT!(Disney Cruise Lines), NOW. HERE. THIS.(Vineyard Theatre) and the upcoming THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL (Goodspeed). He is a co-creator of the web series the [title of show] show and recently co-created and co-wrote the pilot âGlass Housesâ for ABC Studios/Television and Cherry-wind    Productions. Hunter has developed new works at the OâNeill Center, Ars Nova, PS 122, weston Playhouse and the Manhattan Theatre Source. As an actor, he has appeared on and off Broadway and around the country in numerous regional theatres, as well as in the films The Men Who Stare at Goats and Goodbye Baby. He is a distinguished alumnus of webster University, a proud member of WGA, the Dramatists Guild, and a MacDowell fellow.
Reviews
[TITLE OF SHOW] Review Quotes
“BRACINGLY CLEVER WRITING.
A clever meta-musical!”
– Brian Scott Lipton, TheaterMania
“COMPELLING!
Mr. Bowen’s lyrics are wise and warm…Crystalline direction.”
– Eric Grode, The New York Sun
“DELECTABLE ENTERTAINMENT.
Directed and choreographed with smarts and pizazz. A postmodern homage to the grand tradition of backstage musicals.”
– Charles Isherwood, The New York Times
“WONDERFULLY ENJOYABLE! SMART, FUNNY AND TUNEFUL.
Vibrantly directed by veteran Broadway actor and dancer Michael Berresse.”
– Joe Dziemianowicz, Daily News
“PERFECTLY ADORABLE! A GENUINE TREAT!
A witty modern-day spin on Mickey-and-Judy epics of way back when. Artfully simple.
– Michael Sommers, The Star-Ledger