NEW HAVEN, CONN.: Yale Institute for Music Theatre has announced the three musical theatre works that will be developed in its two-week summer lab at Yale School of Drama. The writing teams are Bob Kelly and Sam Chanse, Ben Wexler and Mark Sonnenblick, and Shaina Taub and Jen Silverman. The lab (June 13–28) culminates with open rehearsal readings of each project, presented as part of the International Festival of Arts & Ideas (June 26–27).
The Yale Institute for Music Theatre, under the artistic directorship of Mark Brokaw, is a program of Yale School of Drama and Yale Repertory Theatre’s Binger Center for New Theatre. The institute aims to bridges the gap between training and the professional world for emerging composers, book writers and lyricists. Authors are matched up with a creative crew and cast that include professionals and Yale Drama students.
The projects to be developed include gilgamesh & the mosquito, with music by Bob Kelly and book and lyrics by Sam Chanse, about a special mosquito and his bioengineer creator. The cast will include Erika Anklade, Cindy Cheung, Julian Decker, Jesse Manocherian, Wade McCollum, Addi McDaniel, Aubie Merrylees, Ramiz Monsef, and Christina Sajous. Lee Sunday Evans will direct and Matt Castle will provide music direction.
Next is Horizons, with music by Ben Wexler and book and lyrics by Mark Sonnenblick, about a failing marriage that sinks to a new level on a luxury liner. The cast includes Katie Rose Clarke, Bryan Fenkart, Crystal Joy, Sara Kapner, Erin Krebs, Julie Prosser, Paul Schoeffler, Orville Mendoza, Christian Probst and Pearl Sun. Brokaw will direct and Brent Frederick will provide musical direction.
In addition, this year includes the inaugural alumni residency, which offers writing teams that have previously been part of the institute a space to develop new work. This year’s selection is Robin, with music and lyrics by Shaina Taub and a book by Jen Silverman.
