Across a Crowded Room: 2020 Videos
Since 2013, more or less annually, the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts has invited new musical theatre writers, composers, and actors to Across A Crowded Room–a musical theatre incubator where strangers meet and write musicals together. There is perhaps nothing more clichéd at this point than to note how unusual the past 12 months have been, but early in the pandemic it became clear there was interest in continuing the series in 2020, even in a modified way. Last year seven groups created new 20 minute musicals with the feedback from experts in the industry. The teams presented their final work, not on the stage of the Bruno Walter Auditorium as is the recent custom, but via pre-recorded videos produced for a special Zoom event. Today, we present those eight performances for the world to see. It was a difficult year in many respects, but the quality of the work created this year is among the best I have seen in the seven years of the program. Enjoy the 2020 Across A Crowded Room Playlist!
The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding
*/
Book: Gil Varod
Lyrics: A. J. Freeman
Music: Jonathan Lynch
Jimmy/Timmy: Kelly Autry
Donna/Anna: A. J. Freeman
Walt: Rick Negron
Jimmy Jr.: Kennedy Kanagawa
Stage Directions: Jennifer Blom
What's Her Line?
*/
Book and Lyrics: A. J. Freeman
Music: Derrick Byars
Dorothy Kilgallen: Bex Odorisio
John Daly: Sam Balzac
Guest #1: Bill Dyszel
Guest #2: Laura Cetti
Bennett Cerf: Eric Grunin
Arlene Francis: A. J. Freeman
The Jingle Gal: Hannah Eakin
The Announcer: Jon Hugo Ungar
Also featuring: Jennifer Blom, Anthony Castellano, Caitlin Collins, Jared Corak, Alina Gatrell, Sonya Hayden, Kate Leonard, Ron Passaro, Kathleen Payne, Aliza Rabin, Daniel Sefik, Rachel Sklar, and Ruby Sklar
Garden of Alla
*/
Books and Lyrics by Jacob Iglitzin
Music by Natan Zamansky
Alla Nazimova: Amy Maude Helfer
Charles Bryant: Daniel Kamlić
Natacha Rambova: Autumn Hitt
Rudolph Valentino: Anthony Castellano
Marjorie Gilhoolet: Juliana Tassos
Accompanist: Mary Taft
Rejected
*/
Book and Lyrics by Briana Harris
Music and Lyrics by Andi Lee Carter
Francis X. Flack: Shakira Searle
Director Krimsky: Tony Perry
Leo Eckman/Half-Bull-Half-Horse: Doug Shapiro
E.L. Fincher/Seven-Legged Goat: Joanie Drago
Lila Bryne/Three-Legged Cat: Dana Aber
Chico: Himself
Directed by Dev Bondarin
Audio Mixing by Anthony Spinnato
Editing by Andi Lee Carter
Forever and a Day
*/
Book and Lyrics by Marcus Scott
Music by Steven Silverstein
Corey: Cartreze Tucker
Dakota: Emma Claye
Dimitri: Gheremi Clay
Corey’s Mom: LaDonna Burns
News Reporter: Karen Pangantihon
Directed by Dev Bondarin
Video Editing and Sound Mixing by Micah Joel
SFX courtesy of freesound.org/people/RSilveira_88
DoubleDouble
*/
Words by Seth Christenfeld and A. J. FreemanMusic by Eric Grunin
Carla: Caitlin GalloglyCarole: A. J. Freeman Jerry: Sam BalzacTom: Brian Charles RooneyMichael: Sean Doherty
Aramaic translations by Pascale AsmarPhotographs by Larry Racioppo (1974)
Feverdreams: Part One (Abridged)
*/
Book by Justin SchwartzLyrics by Kara CutruzzulaMusic by Shoshana Shattenkirk
Alexander Anderson: Cory JeacomaAnn Van Vleck: Samantha MassellSarah Anderson: Sandy YorkJohn Anderson, Jr./Hanover: Jackson Knight PierceEmily: Lindsay Fabes
Video edited by Justin Schwartz
The Subway Enthusiast
*/
Book, music, and lyrics by Kathleen Payne
Roddy: Anthony CastellanoPassenger #1/Mom: Laura CettiFriend/Teacher/Motorman: Jennifer KoontzAnnouncer/Conductor: Kathleen Payne
Music Arranger and Pianist: Cynthia Hilts