The 10th Annual New York Musical Theatre Festival opens today. The Festival, which is a showcase of new musicals as well as readings, concerts and other special events, runs through July 28.
This year, the main productions are all being presented at theaters on W. 42nd Street. They include the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theater, The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theater and the Studio Theater located at the Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street and the Pearl Theatre Company Performance Space at 555 W. 42nd Street. I haven’t had a chance to visit the Pearl Theatre space, but I have been to the Perhsing Square Signature Center and it is an outstanding space for theater. Seating in the theaters is very comfortable and the general atmosphere is bright, modern, and welcoming.
The festival hub will feature free performances, talkbacks and other special events. This year it is located in the Pershing Square Signature Center’s central lobby. A cafe and the Pershing’s bookstore are also available.
Tickets are reasonably priced at $25 for each of the main productions and are spaced out during the month to allow patrons to see a nice variety of the offerings. The shows selected as the main productions go through an application and screening process in order to become part of the Festival. Shows such as Next to Normal, title of show, and F*cking Up Everything got their starts in previous year’s showings of NYMF.
For complete information on the Festival including shows and events and purchase of tickets can be found at the New York Musical Theatre Festival’s website: www.nymf.org