Nancy Opel and Joe DiPietro to Host NAMT Annual Songwriters Showcase

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced today that Tony nominee Nancy Opel and Tony winner and NAMT alum Joe DiPietro (O. Henry's Lovers '98) will host the NAMT Songwriters Showcase as part of the 24th Annual Festival of New Musicals today, October 12 from 1:20-2:30pm at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street). This year's Showcase will highlight shows that have received development support through NAMT's member theaters.

The Showcase will feature songs from the following new musicals: 

Amazing Grace (Book by Christopher Smith & Arthur Giron; Music & Lyrics by Christopher Smith) received a full production at Goodspeed Musicals this season. 

Careless Love (by Ryan Dunkin) received a full production at The Depot Theatre (Westport, NY) this season.

First Date (Book by Austin Winsberg; Music & Lyrics by Alan Zachary & Michael Weiner, both Festival Alumni for The Mystery of the Dancing Princesses in 2001, and Weiner for LiberTy Smith in 2000) had a workshop and full production at The 5th Avenue Theatre in co-production with A Contemporary Theatre. NAMT member Junkyard Dog Productions is attached as the commercial producer.

Fly By Night (Conceived by Kim Rosenstock; Written by Will Connolly, Michael Mitnick & Kim Rosenstock), a recipient of a NAMT National Fund for New Musicals Writers ResidenCy Grant at TheatreWorks, was developed at American Musical Theatre Project at Northwestern University, received a workshop and production at TheatreWorks and has an upcoming full production at Dallas Theater Center.

Harmony, Kansas (Book & Lyrics by Bill Nelson; Music by Anna K. Jacobs), was a recipient of a NAMT National Fund for New Musicals Writers ResidenCy Grant and a Production Grant. It received a residency at Barrington Stage Company, a reading at Goodspeed Musicals as part of their Festival of New Artists and a world premiere at Diversionary Theatre this season.

The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes (Book & Lyrics by Christopher Dimond; Music by Michael Kooman, both Festival Alumni for Dani Girl, presented in 2011) received a residency at Goodspeed Musicals and The 5th Avenue Theatre, and a workshop at Trinity Repertory Company.

Who's Your Baghdaddy? (by Marshall Pailet & A.D. Penedo, both Festival Alumni for The Chocolate Tree in 2007) was presented at The DC Fringe Festival and in concert at Joe's Pub in New York by The New Musical Foundation.

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