SUPPORTING NEW MUSICALS IN PHILADELPHIA!
Next on stage
New Works Showcase - Monday November 25
Discover the original work of six local musical theater writing teams in the newest installment of MusiCoLab’s Showcase Series, to be presented at the Proscenium Theater at The Drake in Philadelphia, on Monday, November 25th, 2024 at 7 PM. The program will feature excerpts from the following works-in-progress:
- The Student Princess - Book, music and lyrics by Charlie Gilbert, MusiCoLab’s Executive Director. The Student Princess is a musical about a college production of an old-fashioned operetta from a century ago — The Student Prince, by Sigmund Romberg and Dorothy Donnelly — and how that work is transformed in the hands of a radical feminist faculty director and her intrepid students.
- Call Me Velma - Book, music and lyrics by Chad Gorn. The “true” story of the real murderess who inspired Velma Kelly, Belva Gaertner (known to audiences from Kander and Ebb’s Chicago), as told through the eyes of Chicago Tribune journalist Maurine Dallas Watkins. Belva dreams of starting her own club to follow in the footsteps of “Queen of Nightclubs,” Texas Guinan.
- Unmasked - Book and lyrics by Barbara Bellman, music by David Kurkowski. A musical based on the life of Anna Coleman Ladd, a successful sculptor who forsakes the comfortable life of a Boston socialite to travel to France in 1917 with her husband, Dr. Maynard Ladd, and make prosthetic masks for soldiers disfigured by the effects of World War II.
- The Ballad of King Henry - Concept by Benjamin Kamine, book by Sally Ollove, music and lyrics by Jeffrey Barg. A folk music adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry VI Part I, the story of the rise of Prince Hal, who will eventually become King Henry V. While King Henry IV fights a successful war against the Scots, his son Hal wastes his time at taverns and bars with his dearest friend, Falstaff.
- Cool at Camp - Lyrics and music by Dani Tapper and Peter Weidman with a book by Dani Tapper, Peter Weidman, Steven Blutig, Robin Raskin and Emily Stumer. A real and raunchy Jewish Camp musical, told through the eyes of four fourteen-year-old characters. Twin sisters Tess and Shayna and homeschool rivals Will and Alex must navigate the pubescent pressures of fitting in and being “cool” at Camp Huron Lake, a place where being “cool” may mean something much more than they think.
- 500 Miles, 2 Hearts and a Guitar - Book, music and lyrics by Giovanni Cipolla. Marcus Bell is an acclaimed guitarist dying of cancer under his daughter Randy’s care. In a desperate attempt to save him, she believes learning to play his most famous composition will save his life. When she connects online with Jordan Moore and persuades him to give her guitar lessons, what’s next for this unlikely pair?
Ten minutes of excerpts from each work will be presented by an ensemble of versatile local musical theater performers, accompanied by music director Linda Henderson.
“In the upcoming November 2025 edition of our New Works Showcase, we offer a mix of writers who are new to MusiCoLab audiences and new work by writers who have been seen in previous showcases.” observes MusiCoLab’s executive director Charlie Gilbert. “In this way, we are able to support writers whose ongoing work continues to develop while also making a place for emerging new voices.” Musicals featured in previous New Works Showcases have been seen on stages in New York and throughout the region and the nation.
Tickets for the November 25th MusiCoLab showcase are $20 and are available online.
Pictured above: Cool at Camp, in an earlier reading, with (from left to right) Kara Rantovitch, Jayson Williams. Meredith Forman and Patrick Byrnes. Photo: Dani Weinstein
MusiColab Announces Plans for 2024
Spotlight Series: "A Closer Look"
Sunday 4/14 and Monday 4/15, Louis Bluver Theater at the Drake. 30 minute excerpts from three new works by Philadelphia creators, Far From The Tree, Finding Madame Curie and Red & Black. More details. Get tickets.
New Works Showcases
Our signature event, featuring short excerpts of six to eight new musicals by local creators. Since 2018, we've presented hundreds of songs by dozens of local writers. The Proscenium Theater at The Drake. Monday 6/24 and 11/18
Developmental Workshop
A new work will get 30 hours of rehearsal and one or two public presentations sometime during the summer. Dates July-August, TBD. Make sure you're on our mailing list to get details!
Writers supporting writers
The MusiCoLaboratory meets the third Sunday of every month, starting January 21. A monthly meetup of musical theater creators in the greater Philly area. Come to share your newest work and exchange information and feedback with generous, supportive colleagues.
Zoom Office Hours - Starting February 5, executive director Charlie Gilbert will hold an online office hour at 10am on the first Monday of each month.
Curtain Up Philly! a celebration of new musicals
In March and April of 2024, MusiCoLab and other companies presented a total of more than 20 new musicals onstage. Support local musical theater creators and experience the musicals of tomorrow - TODAY! Learn more here, and be sure to sign up for our mailing list using the link at the top of the page.
Thank You to our Founding Donors!
MusiCoLab was launched with the support of these individuals, each of whom is recognized as a Founding Donor for his or her generous financial contribution:
Barbara Bellman
Louis Bluver
Daryl Morey
Michael Ogborn
Stephan C. Schifter
Gayle R. Smith
Jeff Smith
Dani Tapper
To learn more about how you can support MusiCoLab, visit our Donate page.
