Ferguson Center for the Arts Gears Up for Fifth Season of the New Musicals Lab
The New Musicals Lab invites creatives to develop new projects, collaborate with students, and utilize facilities in an effort to advance the development of the musical theater world.
What would cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to carry out in the hustle and bustle of New York City, the Ferguson Center for the Arts in Newport News, Virginia lets exquisite artists do for free! Throughout the month of July, writers, directors, producers, and creatives alike are filing into the Ferguson Center for the 2023 session of the New Musicals Lab. With a vision to create a world where new musical theater is experienced more often, the NML team looks forward to building upon the program’s success to continue to create unique and impressive opportunities for young students and artists.
Beginning in 2018, the New Musicals Lab has been a gateway for gathering creatives to learn and grow together in the development process of new projects. With the mindset that “new musicals need a place to play,” The Ferguson Center invites artists to develop new musicals in its world-class, multi-million dollar facilities while offering creative funding and student talent. At NML, college-age actors are given the opportunity to connect and work alongside established creators and receive five professional credits on their resumes. These opportunities monumentally aid young performers as they enter the professional theater world. Colin Ruffer, NML Artistic Director, commented, “I am very excited every year to see the students meet the guest creative teams and start building relationships. A large purpose of NML is to open the door for students to meet people in the industry, so they can walk into auditions and already know someone on the other side of the table. The students, whether they know it now or not, will remember this for the rest of their lives. This will be one of their greatest assets.” Bruce Bronstein, the Executive Director of the Ferguson Center and founder and creator of NML, commented, “I most look forward to watching the growth of our performers over the course of the month of NML and further over the course of their entire college careers. NML is much less about the shows and much more about the students.”
The NML program is motivated by four key values: education, experimentation, exploration, and emotion. Bronstein stated the New Musicals Lab, by design, is a place to fail. “I’m a strong believer in working to failure. You don’t know if you’ve lifted your most until you can’t lift anymore. By way of NML, we are doing the stuff we’re too afraid to fail doing in public. We’re doing the things we always wanted to try, but weren’t confident enough to attempt without a net.”
2023 Season
For the 2023 season of NML, the Ferguson Center is elated to welcome five new shows. This year’s lineup will include Shitzprobe’s The Improvised Broadway Musical, created by Ali Reed, Kiki Mikkelsen, and Adrien Pellerin; Private Jones: A New Musical, written and directed by Marshall Pailet, choreographed by Misha Shields; Rise, The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, with music and lyrics by Scott Wilkinson, book by Eric C. Webb; a new musical entitled Rose with music by Elspeth Collard, book and lyrics by Sam Rosenblatt; as well as an Untitled WWII Rock Opera Project with book and lyrics by Anna Jastrzemsbki, music and lyrics by Landon Braverman.
Shitzprobe’s The Improvised Broadway Musical is accompanied by a live band and made up on the spot, right before your eyes. They will be performing at the Yoder Barn on weekends throughout the month of July. The show is recommended for ages 15 and up and tickets are only $15 dollars. Private Jones: A New Musical follows the life of a young soldier paving the way for the inclusivity of individuals with hearing disabilities in the army. It has been described as innovative and focuses on service, friendship, and the cost of war. Rise, The Story of Dietrich Bonhoeffer is a true story about a German Lutheran minister and theologian who refused to remain silent against Nazi Germany. Rose, a new queercentric musical, is set in 1960s San Francisco when the feminist movement was at the forefront. It focuses on the fractured relationship between two doll-makers, Ellie and Jo, after a porcelain doll comes to life. The Untitled WWII rock opera project, set in 1942, is an emo-rock opera recounting the true story of The White Rose, an anti-Nazi resistance group formed by a band of German university students.
The New Musicals Lab company is comprised of 19 college-aged actors including Diego Bly, John Byrd, Hannah Cecil, Collin Cowling, Tavis Cunningham, Sarah Delaney, Melaina Furgeson, Jimmy Grimes, Renee Kauffman, Lizzy Maisel, Chad McKnight, Alexandra Lagos, Katie O’Shields, Kimberlie Pagán, CJ Pettus, Emily Phelps, Ethan Poisson, Joey Urgino, Kasen Walker. As well as Makenna Mitchell serving as the Stage Manager and Regan Craze as the Company Manager.
Makenna Mitchell, the NML stage director, noted her gratitude to the program. “Regan Craze, the NML Company Manager, and I have been preparing for NML since May with Colin Ruffer. It is exhilarating to finally have the company and writers here and see everything come together. I’m so thankful to get experience working with different writers from New York City. It’s been fast-paced, but incredibly rewarding. This is my first time professionally stage managing and I’m exceedingly thankful for the opportunity!”
Melaina Furgeson is a recent CNU graduate and is returning to the NML company for the second year. She shared that NML always keeps her on her toes. “You never know what you might get out of each day; a new perspective, a new professional connection, or a new friendship.” Melaina is a young performer with plans to move to New York City at the end of the summer.
Ferguson Center for the Arts
The Ferguson Center for the Arts on Christopher Newport University’s Campus in Newport News, Virginia is a multi-million dollar, world-class facility. Designed by I.M. Pei and Henry Cobb, the Ferguson Center has been a renowned contributor to the fine arts in Hampton Roads since 2008. Since its opening, there have been over 700 varying eclectic performances with patrons visiting from all 50 states and 15 countries. The NML program has access to the entirety of the center, including the 1,700-seat Diamonstein Concert Hall, 500-seat Peebles Theatre and 250-seat Studio Theatre.
Driven by a core mission to be the most welcoming, supportive, and collaborative space for new musical theater in America, the New Musicals Lab at the Ferguson Center for the Arts is actively making an effort to advance the arts. Support for NML is made possible by the Ferguson Center's annual donors. For more information and to see what's happening, visit www.newmusicalslab.com
Written by Abbey Ballance