Sunday morning at 9am -- sounds like a great time for a musical, no? Well I made it back for another back-to-back day of new musicals. On the bill at 9am was FAIRYSTORIES, a NAMT finalist with book/lyrics/music by Paul Graham Brown. From the flyer:

"Based on true events, this graceful, romantic musical transports us to England in the 1920s. Two children claim to have photographed fairies dancing by a stream. The case comes to the attention of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and the fairy photographs become a sensation. But what will happen when the truth about the fairies comes out? FAIRYSTORIES is a musical about loss and grief and the magical power of the inner life to let us grow and love."

Next up was the very informative producers forum, which featured Bridget McDonough from Light Opera Works; John LaRock from North Shore Music Theatre; Nancy Gibbs -- a prominent producer from New York; Mark Edelmen from Theatre League, Kansas City; Tom Mullen from Mercury Theatre; and Steve Traxler from Jam Theatricals -- all moderated by Jeff Rosen of Gay Chicago Magazine. Basically "it's a tough business". That and get lots of exposure any way you can, network, and keep writing! Still it was fun!

Then off to a 1pm show of SUGAR DUMPLINGS (Book and Lyrics by Cherly L. Davis and Music by C. Colby Sachs). From the flyer:

"It is Viginia, near the end of the Civil War, and the conquering Yankees are swarming over the stricken South. Lizzie Rushton, made a widow by the "Northern devils", has been forced to become a prostitute. Haunted by the momory of her late husband David, she flees the oncoming Yankees along with several other loyal Confederates. Not too far away, Jonathan Springer, a Yankee oficer who has become separated from his men, joins forces with Lewis, a runaway slave, to make their way North."

I finished off the marathon weekend with COTTON CLUB -- the hottest show in the festival -- literally: the air conditioning stopped working in that theatre and everyone was melting, onstage and off. With Book by Arnold Margolin, Music by Weslie Brown, and Lyrics Jason Kuller, the description in the flyer describes it as follows:

"Enter the world of Harlem's most famous speakeasy in 1931, a place energized by black performers but reserved for white audiences only. This new musical features a soulful love story between two strangers who seek their dreams and find each other."

Whew! What a weekend. Congrats to Theatre Building in Chicago and all the shows!

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