Smugbug Productions presents the New York Premiere of The Eleventh Hour! a new rock musical comedy by David Seamon September 21 - November 16, 2018 at Town Stages, 221 West Broadway, NYC
Smugbug Productions presents the New York Premiere of The Eleventh Hour!, a new rock musical comedy by David Seamon from September 21 - November 16, 2018 at Town Stages, 221 West Broadway, NYC. Performances are at 8pm, with preshow bands starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are $35 and are available at https://www.eleventhhourmusical.com/performance-tickets/the-eleventh-hour.
It's the end of the world in New Jersey! A burnout basement rocker and his ex-girlfriend, a rising star astrophysicist, may have the key to surviving the black hole bearing down on earth. If they can reconcile their feelings and manage a dangerous journey on the NJ Turnpike, they just may save their music, each other, and the mole people who live beneath them.
The Eleventh Hour! features music, book, and lyrics by David Seamon, direction by Jessica Francis Fichter, and is produced by Smugbug Productions. The story for the musical was originally created by Seamon, Annie Rutherford Lutz, and Shimmy Schwartz through a commission by coLAB Arts.
Cast: Henry Fisher (Nevin Denham), Olivia London (Neil DeGrasse Tyson), Miranda Luze (Amy Leonardo), Christopher Pasi (Astor Whitewater), Joshuah D. Simpson (Shawn Ryan), Brianne Wylie (Thelma).
Performances at 8pm, with preshow bands at 7:30pm: Friday, September 21; Saturday, September 22; Thursday, September 27; Friday, September 28 - Press Opening; Thursday, October 4; Friday, October 5; Thursday, October 11; Friday, October 12; Thursday, October 18; Friday, October 19; Thursday, October 25, Friday, October 26; Thursday, November 8; Friday, November 9; Thursday, November 15; Friday, November 16.
"Town Stages is thrilled to welcome THE ELEVENTH HOUR! back to our venue in the fall," said Robin Sokoloff, executive director of Town Stages. "With opening acts by local bands, signature cocktails by our celebrated bar director, Smugbug Productions has created an amazing way to spend an evening in Tribeca."
ARTIST BIOS
David Seamon (Composer/Book/Lyrics) is a playwright, composer, and actor. He works as a teaching artist for the George Street Playhouse and McCarter Theatre and is the co-director of the company ensemble at the Wharton Institute of Performing Arts. In 2013, David won the Silver Tripod Award at Campus Movie Fest for best score to a short film, Melody. David has an extensive background as a musical director and touring children's theater performer, and has a degree in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University. His 2007 album "The Brotherhood of Teenage Haze" is available on iTunes and Spotify and his 2017 release "Minimum Rage" is available on Soundcloud. David is a frequent collaborator with coLAB Arts, having worked as an actor, composer, and playwright. The Eleventh Hour is David's first full-length musical. Thedaveseamon.com
Jessica Francis Fichter (Director)is a New York-based director, playwright, and teaching artist. Originally from Columbia, SC, she has worked regionally as an artistic director, actor, teaching artist, and director. She has worked at Flat Rock Playhouse, and Chapin Theatre Company. She is working closely on the development of several new musicals. She holds a B.A. from Winthrop University in Theatre Education and studied Shakespeare's Women at Kingston University in the UK. She is currently a directing MFA candidate at the Actors Studio Drama School. Recent directing credits include: 1MPF, Lucky (ASDS), The Hallelujah Girls (CTC). Jess would like to thank her family and friends for their support.
Henry Fisher (Nevin Denham) is thrilled to be making his The Eleventh Hour debut! New to New York, he was last seen in the premiere of Heart to Heart at the Manhattan Repertory Theater. Other recent credits include Roger Davis (Rent) at Des Moines Onstage, Bruce Niles (The Normal Heart), and Will Ogden (Mothers and Sons) at StageWest. Henry is the current Producing Director at Thousand Faced Theatre Company. He holds his BFA in Musical Theater from Drake University, and is a proud alum of the National Music Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. He is thankful to his friends and family for their support, and to Josh Simpson for bugging him to audition for this amazing show.
Olivia London (Neil DeGrasse Tyson, et al) is thrilled to be a part of The Eleventh Hour team! Born and raised in Los Angeles, Olivia is a graduate from UCLA's Ray Bolger Musical Theater program. She moved to NYC last year and hasn't looked back! Thanks mom, dad, Cash, and TPG fam for all the love and support! olivialondonactor.com
Miranda Luze (Amy Leonardo) is a NYC based theater artist from St. Louis, MO. This summer Miranda performed in the NYC premiere of Songs From A Coffee Shop (Don't Tell Mama) and joined the tribe as Leata in HAIR and Jack's Mother in Sprouted! (Black Box PAC of Teaneck). Other regional: Rock of Ages (DSM Playhouse), and "...Spelling Bee" (DSM Onstage). Miranda made her debut at 54 Below in Lindsay Mendez and Ryan Scott Oliver's Actor Therapy Showcase. She's co-founder/executive director of Thousand Faced Theatre Company. www.mirandaluze.com
Christopher Pasi makes his acting debut in New York! after being a part of the original production of The Eleventh Hour! in coLAB Arts' 48 Hour Musicals. It has been an apocalyptically wonderful experience seeing this show explode into the masterpiece it has become.
Joshuah D. Simpson makes his New York stage debut with The Eleventh Hour. Joshuah is a performer, creator, and educator who recently relocated to the city after just having graduated from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center. If you want to follow Joshuah and their New York journey they can be found on twitter and instagram @JoshuahDSimpson. Some of their previous credits include; Shrek in Shrek the Musical (Sing for America), Horton the Elephant in Seussical the Musical (Milbrook Playhouse), and the featured performer in the original solo show It Takes One (Philly Fringe). They would like to thank their friends, family, and mentors for the overwhelming support over the years, moreover, the last few months. The amount of talent pouring out of this cast is wild, and they are truly stoked to get to be part of such a gut-busting show. They would like to thank you all for supporting the arts and hope you enjoy the chaos of this show as much as they do.
Brianne Wylie makes her debut in NYC with this unique show. Brianne is a Seattle native/NYC transplant who recently graduated from Ithaca College with a BFA in Musical Theater. Favorite previous roles include Rose (Dogfight, Ithaca College) and Martha (Spring Awakening, Balagan Theater).briannewylie.com
PRODUCER BIOS
Smugbug Productions
chooses projects that are challenging, stimulating, and reinvent audience engagement. We engage with work on all levels of creation and presentation including stage direction, production management, producing, general management, and consulting. Our work includes projects in theater, dance, public art, video, and community engagement. Our experience spans from shoe-string to multi-million dollar budgets.
Dan Swern
is the founder and owner of Smugbug Productions, with professional credits as a stage director, producer, public art and creative engagement artist, teaching artist, and activist. Based out of New Brunswick, NJ, Swern is the co-founder and producing director of nonprofit arts organization coLAB Arts, engaging artists, social advocates, and communities to create transformative new work. Swern is pioneering Creative Engagement, a method of art making that produces new works through transdisciplinary collaboration, integrated education, and high quality artistic production. Swern has developed new platforms for artist/advocate/community collaboration in dance, theater, and public art and annually creates massive community-based immersive performances.
The musical was originally commissioned by New Brunswick, NJ's coLAB Arts, engaging artists, social advocates, and communities to create transformative new work. coLAB Arts facilitates creative conversation through innovative programs and artist infrastructure, connects artists with community partners and mentors, and executes productions that challenge perceptions and inspire action.
ABOUT TOWN STAGES
Town Stages (Robin Sokoloff, Executive Director) is New York's premier venue to celebrate, collaborate, and put on a show. A new female-driven cultural arts institution in the heart of downtown Tribeca, Town Stages is a state-of-the-art, flexible performance and event space that supports the entire lifecycle of New York's hallmark industries. With a stunning 10,000 square foot storefront facility, "TOWN" provides world-class cultural experiences and opportunities for all: from civic to corporate, tech to theater. Town Stages holds 299 guests, blending convention-level facilities with captivating decor throughout its Mainstage, Cabaret Bar & Lounge, Gallery, Salon, Greenrooms, and more. Town Stages offers much-needed space and production resources for businesses, arts organizations, and families celebrating their very important day. TOWN boasts ticketed performances and curated community programming in the performing arts, fine arts, and the advancement of social justice. Town Stages is available for fashion shows, film shoots, weddings, and beyond. Follow under @townstages and #itsyourtown. For more information, visit www.townstages.com.
Sokoloff Arts (501c3) is an emerging cultural institution providing inspired space, perspective, and opportunity for cutting edge events in all sectors of The Arts, Corporate, Civic, and Cultural life in New York City. Led by a team of women from diverse backgrounds and multi-hyphenate artistic disciplines, Sokoloff Arts works to provide viable and safe space to congregate, strives to promote cross-cultural community engagement, and blends the arts and business to create sustainable solutions to social and financial inequalities. The organization assists young creators with not only space, but resource generation, production, and community. To address the overwhelming demand for hi-tech, flexible, and affordable performance and event space in New York City, Sokoloff Arts has built Town Stages in Tribeca. To learn more, visit sokoloffarts.org.
