John Bonanni, Big Fish Big Pond, Ltd and the New York Musical Theater Festival present the world premiere of Under Fire, a new musical set in the late 1970's during the bloody revolution in El Mirado, and based upon the 1983 motion picture of the same title. Directed, book and lyrics by Tony Nominee and Emmy award winner Barry Harman (ROMANCE/ROMANCE, THE Carol Burnett SHOW, ALL IN THE FAMILY) and music by Broadway composer Grant Sturiale (OLYMPUS ON MY MIND). Under Fire will feature choreography by Jonathan Cerullo. This 6 performance, limited Off-Broadway run, part of the 2009 New York Musical Theater Festival will begin performances at The Theater at St. Clement's (423 West 46th Street) on Wednesday, September 30 and play through October 12. Tickets can be purchased online at www.theatermania.com or by calling 212-352-3101 or 866-811-4111.
In this new musical, the seemingly peaceful South American country of El Mirador in truth struggles under the bloody heel of a ruthless dictator Tacho; who conceals the unrest with a smoke screen of prosperity and stability. Russell Price, a young American photojournalist, is swept up in the passionate culture of a world in turmoil and is confronted with a decision that will stir his passion, challenge his personal beliefs and professional ideals as he searches for the "One Picture" that will define his career and the future of a country.
Under Fire will feature stage and screen actor Jack Noseworthy (SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS, Jerome Robbins BROADWAY) as photojournalist Russell Price other cast members include Tony nominee John Herrera (EDWIN DROOD), James DePaiva (ONE LIFE TO LIVE), Jodi Stevens, Veronica Reyes, Patrick Murney, Caesar Samayoa, Gina Naomi Baez, Enrique Cruz DeJesus, Juan Torres-Falcon, Melvin Bell, Roger DeWitt, Phil Hernandez, Ioana Alfonso & Jessica Diaz; Set and Costumes by Merope Vachliotis, Fight Choreography by Ron Peritti, Sound Design by John Petrafesa and Video Design by B. Jeffrey Madoff.
Under Fire will be performed on the following schedule at The Theater at St. Clements (423 West 46th Street): Wednesday, September 30 @ 8pm, Thursday, October 1 @1pm, Sunday, October 4 @ 8pm, Friday, October 9 @ 9pm, Saturday, October 10 @ 1pm and Monday October 12 5pm. All tickets are $20 and can be purchased at www.theatermania.com or by calling 212-352-3101 or 866-811-4111.
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Barry Harman (Director, Playwright and Lyricist) Authored and directed Broadway's ROMANCE/ROMANCE, which garnered five Tony nominations (including best Book, Lyrics and Musical), four Outer Critic Awards (Book & Lyrics) and a Drama Desk nod for Best Lyrics. He performed the same duties for the off-Broadway musical OLYMPUS ON MY MIND, receiving an Outer Critics Award (Best Lyrics) and a Drama Desk nomination for Best Direction. He began his career writing for TV, winning Emmys for THE Carol Burnett SHOW and ALL IN THE FAMILY. Other favorite TV gigs include the premiere episode of THE JEFFERSONS, SOME ENCHANTED EVENING: Celebrating Oscar Hammerstein for PBS "Great Performances," and the HBO animated family special HOW DO YOU SPELL GOD?, (prime time Emmy for Best Children's Program). He also served as head writer and lyricist for several classic educational TV shows for children. Author of two musicals for children, STARBLAST and FABLE COUNTRY, he also wrote additional lyrics for the musical CARMELINA, plus the musicals JAMMIN' WITH POPS, LONG ROAD HOME, SUSPECT and TELECAST. He directed productions at such theaters as The Old Globe, The Walnut Street Playhouse, the Loeb Drama Center and NYC'S York and WPA Theaters. His new musical revue AMAZING SEX is scheduled to debut this fall, and he is working on several new projects. A graduate of Harvard, where he was an editor of THE LAMPOON and president and author of HASTY PUDDING THEATRICALS, Barry Harman is a member of The Dramatists Guild, The Writers Guild of America, The Society of Directors and Choreographers, and ASCAP.
