Penn State New Musical Theatre Festival Fall 2009 Season

September 25, 2009

The Penn State New Musical Theatre Festival launches its third fall season on Saturday, December 12, 2009, with two performances of Dani Girl, a new work to be performed by the B.F.A. Musical Theatre junior-level performance studio. The performances, free to the public, will take place at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on December 12 at the Citizens Bank Theatre in the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center.

Dani Girl is the touching story of a 9-year-old girl who has just been stricken with cancer and seeks out God to ask, “Why cancer?”. Directed by Robert Schneider, it features music by Michael Kooman and lyrics by Christopher Diamond. Dan Riddle is the musical director.

The junior performance studio was formed in fall 2007 by the New Musical Theatre Festival to workshop a new work of musical theatre for an entire semester. The purpose of the festival is to promote new works of musical theatre in a creative, educational and theatrical environment. The new work has one semester of rehearsal culminating in two performances in a fully staged format. The composer and lyricist will be in residence at Penn State University Park throughout the semester working with B.F.A. juniors and musical theatre faculty in this creative process.

Raymond Sage is artistic director of the Penn State New Musical Theatre Festival. For more information on the festival and how to submit work for the spring 2010 season, visit www.psunewmusicals.psu.edu.

Contact: Amy Milgrub Marshall, alm157@psu.edu or 814.863.2104