Over 80 aspiring authors from across America applied to Florida Theatrical Association's inaugural New Musical Discovery Series, and the winning new musicals that will be presented at downtown venues the Mezz and the Abbey on Sept. 9-11 have now been announced. A panel of theater pros picked Baby Bumps (book by William Squier and Dana Hilmer, music by Jeffrey Lodin, lyrics by William Squier) and Joyce Jackson's Guide to Dating (book and lyrics by Scott Logsdon, music by Steve Marzullo) to receive staged readings, and The 30th Year (book by Meredith Friedman, music and lyrics by Ryan Langer) for a workshop. The series will also feature student and audience talkbacks with the playwrights and directors.
Meanwhile, Orlando playwright John Connon was selected as one of 30 finalists for the Samuel French 41st Annual Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival. Connon's comedy Massage à Trois won a Patrons' Pick at the 2015 Fringe, and now his reality TV-inspired play Ambush! will be performed at NYC's East 13th Street Theatre Aug. 10. (Connon cast and directed the show remotely from Florida using FaceTime and Skype.) Shortly thereafter, Connon heads to Scotland to join the cast of Christian Kelty's Joe's NYC Bar at the Edinburgh Fringe, along with Jenn Gannon, Anitra Pritchard-Bryant, Janine Klein, David Lee, Tim Williams, Trenell Mooring, Michael Marinaccio and more of Orlando's top performers.
Now Playing
The Penis Talk Show, through Aug. 13 at Parliament House ... Spamalot, through Aug. 14 at Athens Theatre ... I Love My Wife, through Aug. 21 at Winter Park Playhouse ... The Big Meal, through Aug. 28 at Mad Cow Theatre ... Godspell, through Aug. 29 at Breakthrough Theatre.
Upcoming
Man of La Mancha, Aug. 12-28 at CFCArts ... Blacklist Babes Cabaret presents Pitch Black, Aug. 12 at the Venue ... Proof, Aug. 12-27 at Art's Sake Studios ... Wizard of Oz in Fairyland, Aug. 13 at Dr. Phillips Center Pugh Theater ... Sordid Lives, Aug. 19-Sept. 3 at the Parliament House ... Jack Berios presents A Tribute to Neil Diamond, Aug. 20 at Athens Theatre ... Leslie Jordan Live, Aug. 24-25 at the Parliament House ... Sondheim, Gershwin & Porter – Oh, My!, Aug. 26-27 at CFCArts ... Chris McCabe: Acoustic Broadway, Aug. 30 at the Persian Room ... SINgularly Sordid, Aug. 31-Sept. 1 at Parliament House.