THEATER LATTÉ DA CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO NEW MUSICAL THEATER, ANNOUNCING A SLATE OF THREE NEW WORKS AS PART OF THE 2022 NEXT FESTIVAL

A public presentation of TWELVE ANGRY MEN, part of Theater Latté Da’s NEXT Festival 2019 will have its world premiere this month in Minneapolis. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 2, 2022

THEATER LATTÉ DA CONTINUES ITS COMMITMENT TO NEW MUSICAL THEATER, ANNOUNCING A SLATE OF THREE NEW WORKS AS PART OF THE 2022 NEXT FESTIVAL

Three dynamic new works from Adam Gwon and Michael Mitnick, Natalie Nowytski and Amy Wheeler, Steven Epp and Bradley Greenwald showcasing diverse voices and stretching the boundaries of musical storytelling, will receive workshops culminating in six public presentations.

Readings begin July 12  and run through August 8 at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis.
$30 NEXT FESTIVAL passes and $15 single tickets go on sale June 1at Latteda.org or 612-339-3003. 

(Minneapolis/St. Paul) Theater Latté Da (TLD) announces the slate of artists and projects for this summer’s NEXT FESTIVAL. Three dynamic new works, SCOTLAND, PA by Adam Gwon and Michael Mitnick, presented in association with Hal Luftig, THE LAST BABUSHKA by Natalie Nowytski and Amy Wheeler, and JOHNNY SCHICCHI by Steven Epp and Bradley Greenwald will each receive workshops and public presentations beginning Tuesday, July 12. The NEXT FESTIVAL is part of NEXT, TLD’s robust new work initiative committed to commissioning and developing new musicals or plays-with-music and shepherding many of them to full production. Past NEXT FESTIVALS have offered audiences a first look at new musicals that have gone on to full production including C. (2015), LULLABY (2016), FIVE POINTS (2018) and TO LET GO AND FALL (2019) and TWELVE ANGRY MEN (2022).

The first piece in the festival is SCOTLAND, PA with book by Michael Mitnick and music and lyrics by Adam Gwon. 

In a sleepy Pennsylvania town, a burger-joint manager and his wife cook up a plan to super-size their lives. As their ambitions grow and bodies fall, the couple finds out just how far they'll go for a taste of the tempting American dream. Based on the 1990’s cult film of the same name and that Scottish play by William Shakespeare.

SCOTLAND, PA  will be directed by Lonny Price with music direction by Andrew Resnick

Public presentations of SCOTLAND, PA are Tuesday, July 12 and Monday, July 18 at 7:30 pm at the Ritz Theater.

SCOTLAND, PA is presented in association with Hal Luftig and was originally produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company in October 2019.

The second public presentation in the festival is THE LAST BABUSHKA with book and lyrics by Amy Wheeler and music and lyrics by Natalie Nowytski

A young woman at loose ends finds herself drawn deep into the world of the Babushkas, elder women living illegally in villages inside Chernobyl’s Exclusion Zone, a radioactive territory that is also a thriving green world. Inspired by Holly Morris' award-winning story and documentary film, The Babushkas of Chernobyl.

THE LAST BABUSHKA will be directed by Larissa Kokernot with music direction by Jason Hansen

Public presentations of THE LAST BABUSHKA are Saturday, July 30 and Monday, August 1 at 7:30 pm at the Ritz Theater.

The final presentation of the festival is JOHNNY SCHICCHI. 

Bradley Greenwald and Steven Epp’s English language adaptation of Giacomo Puccini’s one-act comic opera, Gianni Schicchi. A farce where greed and hypocrisy face off against first love and old friendship set on the deck of a tricked-out yacht anchored off the coast of Miami.

JOHNNY SCHICCHI will be directed by Steven Epp with music direction by Mary Jo Gothmann.

Public presentations of JOHNNY SCHICCHI are Saturday, August 6 at 2:00 pm and Monday, August 8 at 7:30 pm at the Ritz Theater.

Theater Latté Da is an award-winning Twin Cities musical theater company that combines music and story to illuminate the breadth and depth of the human experience. The company seeks to create new and impactful connections between story, music, artists, and audience by exploring and expanding the art of musical theater.  latteda.org.

NEXT FESTIVAL passes are the perfect choice to see all three new works with the choice of three of the six public presentations at a discount price. Passes offer the most flexibility and the best price to enjoy the entire festival. 

Festival Dates: July 12 - Aug 8, 2022

All public presentations will be presented at the Ritz Theater.Tickets: $15 or purchase a 3-Show NEXT FESTIVAL pass for $30

FACT SHEET
Performance Dates, Venues and Times:

SCOTLAND, PA
Presented in association with Hal Luftig
Book by Michael Mitnick
Music and Lyrics by Adam Gwon
Based on the film by Billy Morrissette
Inspired by The Tragedy of Macbeth by Bill Shakespeare

Originally produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company in October 2019

Workshop:  July 5 - 18th
Presentations: Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30pm and Monday, July 18 at 7:30pm 

THE LAST BABUSHKA
Book and  Lyrics by Amy Wheeler
Music and Lyrics by Natalie Nowytski
Based on the documentary The Babushkas of Chernobyl by Holly Morris

Workshop: June 20 - 24th and July 25 - August 1st
Presentations: Saturday, July 30 at 4:30pm and Monday, August 1 at 7:30pm

 JOHNNY SCHICCHI
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Words by Bradley Greenwald and Steven Epp

Workshop:  July 25 - August 8th
Presentations: Saturday, August 6 at 2:00pm and Monday, August 8 at 7:30pm 


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