Foreverman: Part of the New York Musical Theater Festival Wrap Up

One of the real pleasures at the New York Music Festival this past July was a new musical call Foreverman, based on an original idea.   It is an “old school” type musical, with a sweeping score and intense songs focusing on love across the ages.

It is the story of two friends, a 17^th century upper class scientist and his lower class assistant, who discover an elixir for immortality.  They both sample the result, but then divide the recipe so that neither person can use it by alone.  The friendship is strained, and ultimately pulled apart by a woman, who is dying and self-apprenticed to the men.  Will, the scientist, falls deeply in love with the young lady and is heartsick when she passes away.

The story continues 170 years later as the two men’s paths cross again, this time both trying to save women they love.  Their hostility turns to understanding and then back to friendship as they watch their loved ones die.

Adam Monley

Omar Lopes-Cepero

Foreverman is the work of a fresh voice Brett M. Boles, who wrote the Book, Music and Lyrics.  It is young Mr. Boles second full work, and it is quite impressive.  There are some overwrought moments, but the New York Musical Theater Festival is built for working out kinks.  And this show had fewer bugs to work out than most other shows.

Director Stephen Nachamie was lucky enough to get some amazing voiced actors to sing this musical. Omar Lopes-Cepero and Adam Monley handled the leading roles with vocal mastery., but all the cast was top notch.

Foreverman, as part of the New York Musical Theater Festival, had a short, trial run – but it proved to deserve a longer stint so that more people can enjoy it.

Re-Animator The Musical @ New York Musical Theater Festival

There is no excuse for not knowing what you are getting into when watching Re-Animator The Musical.  It’s based on the Horror Comedy movie Re-Animator, a cult classic.  If the title doesn’t tip the audience off as to what is in store, the “splatter zone” and the ponchos should warn you long before the show begins.

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With the ground rules firmly in place, Re-Animator The Musical provides great goofy fun along with faux gore aplenty.  Re-Animator is the story of good guy Dan Cain and his roommate, the slightly unhinged and defiantly obsessed Herbert West.  Dan is a med student coming to grips with the reality that he can’t save all lives.  West is a med student working to upend that reality with a green goo that re-animates dead tissue – and brings the dead to life.

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Graham Skipper mid Re-Animation

For this formula to work, the cast needs to walk a fine line.  Graham Skipper as Herbert West is frenetically fantastic as the manic student mad-scientist.  He is out to revolutionize the world and, by happy coincidence, humiliate Dr. Carl Hill.  Dr. Hill (played by Jesse Merlin) plagiarized the young West’s Swiss mentor, and has plans to do the same thing to Herbert.  Mr. Skipper hams up the proceedings with wild abandon - bringing audience along with him.

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But for good camp to work, there must be the innocents.  In Re-Animator The Musical, those innocents are Dan and Megan.  They are love struck sweethearts in Medical school, alternate repelled and seduced by Herbert West’s breakthrough.  Rachel Avery plays the role of Megan sweetly, with just enough backbone poking through her doe-eyed wonder to be believable.  It helps that Ms. Aveyr has a lovely voice and a fresh presence.  But it is Chris L. McKenna as Dan Cain that steals much of the show.  Mr. McKenna plays him as a cross between Dudley Do-Right and Florence Nightingale, with a dumb jock body. 

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Misters McKenna and Skipper combine to make Dan and Herbert a great team.

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George Wendt plays Dean Halsey, Megan’s Father, bringing a little sit-com star power to the proceedings – he nails it in the opening scene as an excitable Swiss Nurse.  I know a big guy in bad drag was stale back when William Frawley did it in I Love Lucy, but it sets the tone perfectly.

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Chris L McKenna and Rachel Avery

Re-Animator is part of the New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF.ORG), on the way to play at the Edinburgh Fringe.  Mark Nutter brings a giddy playfulness to the music and lyrics, and Stuart Gordon does a fine job of direction.

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Playwrights: Dennis Paoli, Stuart Gordon & William J. Norris

Music & Lyrics: Mark Nutter

Director: Stuart Gordon

Cast: George Wendt, Marlon Grace, Jesse Merlin, Brian Gillespie, Mark Beltzman, Graham Skipper, Cynthia Carle, Liesel Hanson, Tyler Milliron, Chris. L. McKenna, Rachel Avery

New York Musical Festival Alumni News in LA

"They're taking the hobbits to Isengard!"...Well, more like LA.  Fellowship! The Musical Parody of the Fellowship of the Ring (NYMF '10) begins an eleven-week run on April 13th, performing two shows (8pm & 11pm) every Friday night at the Trepany House at the Steve Allen Theatre in Los Angeles, CA.  You won't want to miss the winner of NYMF Award for Excellence: Best Ensemble.  Tickets are now on sale for shows through May 18th.
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This show was hilarious.  If you are in Los Angeles you might really like it.