New York Musical Festival Announces Final Production, Readings, and Concerts

The New York Musical Festival has announced its final invited production as well as a series of developmental readings and concerts. Now in its 15th year, the 2018 festival will take place July 9-August 5 at various locations on West 42nd Street.

Alongside the previously announced selections, the final production will be of '68: A New American Musical, featuring music by Paul Leschen and book and lyrics by Jamie Leo. "Inspired," according to a press release, "by the volatile events of the 1968 Democratic Convention and their place in history and our future," the musical "forges a narrative, a eulogy and a celebration of struggle — of research librarians, hotel housekeepers, street cops, campaigners, protesters and community organizers at the center of the storm."

In addition, the festival will feature the following readings:

Brad Knows Nothing: book and lyrics by Jacob Ben-Shmuel and Alan Blake Bachelor, and music by Ben-Shmuel.

The Civility of Albert Cashier: book by Jay Paul Deratany; music by Joe Stevens and Keaton Wooden; and lyrics by Stevens, Wooden, and Deratany.

Healing Retreat: A Life of Joy: book by Marcus Terrell Smith, music by Robbie McDonald, and lyrics by McDonald and Smith.

Held: A Musical Fantasy: book and lyrics by Kelly Maxwell, and music by Meghan Rose.

Illuminati Lizards From Outer Space: book by Paul Western Pittard, music by Yuri Worontschak, and lyrics by Pittard and Worontschak.

Legacy the Musical: book, music, and lyrics by November Christine.

Saturdays: book by Walker Caplan, and music and lyrics by Scott Etan Feiner.

Storming Heaven: The Musical: book by Katy Blake and Peter Davenport; music by Blake, Davenport, Flip Anderson, and Tracy Lawrence; and lyrics by Blake, Anderson, Lawrence, and Davenport.

Victory Train: book, music, and lyrics by David Buskin and Jake Holmes.

Wonder Boi: book, music, and lyrics by J. Jarrett.

And the festival will include the following concerts:

Defy Your Expectations: music and lyrics by Riley Thomas.

Fatty Fatty No Friends: book by Christian De Gré, Joseph Anderson, and Serrana Gay; music by De Gré; story by Gay; and lyrics by Anderson.

Girl From Nowhere: book by Victoria Rigby, and original music and lyrics by Lauren Pritchard; developed and directed by Whitney Mosery.

Living History: An Inside Look at Show Time! The First 100 Years of the American Musical: created, written, and performed by Ben West; musical continuity and arrangements by Fran Minarik.

Mythos: The Crimson Chorus: book and lyrics by Heather Jopling; music by David Velarde.