The making of a Broadway musical
Broadway musicals don’t just magically appear on Broadway! There are readings and workshops - all part of the development of the production.
ACT of Connecticut founders and Broadway performers, Daniel C. Levine and Katie Diamond introduce ACT's New Works Series Festival Weekend, an opportunity for you, the audience, to watch a Broadway musical in the making. “This is a wonderful chance to be the first audience to lay eyes (and ears) on two new musicals: Victory Train and Austen's Pride,” says Diamond.
We sat down with Daniel C. Levine and Katie Diamond to learn more about ACT’s summer New Works Festival which will take place Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28 at ACT of Connecticut on Old Quarry Road in Ridgefield.
How does the Festival work? Can you purchase tickets for one day? One performance (reading)?
We are making the process super easy for our audience; simply buy one “open pass" ticket and you have the ability to attend two parties (Friday the 27th 5-6pm, and Saturday the 28th9:30-11pm), two youth camp presentations (Friday the 27th at 6pm and 7:30pm), and a bonus of our two professional readings (Victory Train at 2pm and Austen’s Pride at 7:30pm on Saturday the 28th). With the open pass ticket you can come to all six events, one event, or anything in-between!
As an actor, performing readings of new musicals and plays was absolutely my favorite thing to do. Giving life to the words on a page, in a show that has never before been presented to an audience, is a truly electric experience. All productions begin their “life" with readings, labs, and workshops before they continue on to fully staged productions. Actors, playwrights, and composers absolutely love this part of the process!
Is there a cost to attend?
The “open pass” ticket is just $20. If you attend all six events, that’s just $3 per event! I think that might be less than a cup of coffee at Starbucks!
Will attendees have a chance to meet the performers?
Absolutely. Performers will mingle in the lobby after each show, and our Festival Closing Party (one of the events you are invited to attend with your “open pass” ticket) is directly following the reading of the fabulous piece Austen’s Pride (7:30pm reading). We hope the audience will stay for the party, grab a glass of wine on us, and talk theatre and life with the actors, writers, and producers of our fabulous New Works Festival shows!
Anything you wish I asked?
The two shows on Friday the 27th at 6pm and 7:30 are our youth presentations. Kids attending our ACT summer camps have been working SO hard to create some amazing theatre, and they’re excited to have the opportunity to perform on the ACT stage for their families and neighbors. It’s a truly exciting time for these youngsters and we hope you will come out and support them! #theatrematters
For more information about ACT of CT, ticket and annual subscription sales, education programs, sponsor/donor opportunities and other theater-related news and announcements, visit www.actofct.org.