American Music Theatre Project Readies New Work

EVANSTON, Ill. --- The American Music Theatre Project (AMTP) at Northwestern University has announced the production of the new musical, "Not Wanted on the Voyage," by Drama Desk-nominated Broadway writers Neil Bartram and Brian Hill ("The Story of My Life").

In development with AMTP since 2008, "Not Wanted on the Voyage" will be staged on the University's Evanston campus this summer. The show will be directed by Amanda Dehnert ("Peter Pan," Lookingglass Theatre) with choreography by Maija Garcia ("Fela!"), music direction by David Holcenberg ("Bye Bye Birdie," "Mamma Mia" and "Showboat") and scenic design by Eugene Lee ("Wicked," "Sweeney Todd," Goodman Theatre's "The Long Red Road"). The production will feature costumes by Melissa Torchia, sound design by Josh Horvath and lighting design by Lee Fiskness.

Performances of "Not Wanted on the Voyage" will take place at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays (with the exception of a Saturday, Aug. 7 performance that will be held at 2 p.m.) and at 2 p.m. Sundays, from July 15 through Aug. 8, in Northwestern's Ethel M. Barber Theater, 30 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston campus.

"Not Wanted on the Voyage" is a provocative new musical about an ordinary family faced with extraordinary circumstances. Secrets lie just beneath the surface of this darkly funny, modern reimagining of the Great Flood. The new musical is adapted from a novel of the same name by Timothy Findley.

Dominic Missimi, executive director of AMTP, called "'Not Wanted on the Voyage" the perfect project for AMTP. "Neil Bartram and Brian Hill's work blends unconventional storytelling with a thrilling, eclectic score," he said. "Amanda's innovative and highly visual theatricality brings their work to life onstage. It has been a true joy for the AMTP community to collaborate with these artists."

Dehnert brought the project to AMTP with a reading in 2008. Since then, the show has gone through additional readings, writing residencies and been turned into a demo recording with Tony Award-winning actress Faith Prince. It received a 10-week workshop with the writers at Northwestern in early 2010. Bartram, Hill and the musical's creative team will participate in an 11-week residency on the Evanston campus beginning in May when the show is in rehearsals.

AMTP is committed to developing and producing new musicals by leading professional artists. It provides a rich, safe and multidisciplinary environment in which new works can thrive, and affords unparalleled opportunities for Northwestern students and faculty to be involved with professional artists in the creation of a new work.

This commitment was part of the original vision of AMTP's founders, Stuart Oken and Dominic Missimi, who conceived the program as both a haven for professional creative teams looking for space, time and resources to develop adventurous new work, and a vibrant arena for education and academic engagement. To learn more about AMTP, visit www.amtp.northwestern.edu.

"Not Wanted on the Voyage" receives marketing support from a partnership with Broadway in Chicago (BIC). BIC Vice President Eileen LaCario and Marketing Director Andrew Damer taught a marketing practicum for Northwestern students, and they continue to mentor a student team through the implementation of a marketing plan for the project.

Single tickets for AMTP's summer 2010 musical are $30 for the general public. Senior, group and Northwestern student, staff and faculty discounts are available.

Single tickets go on sale May 25. Subscriptions and tickets for groups of 15 or more are available now by phone at (847) 491-7282. Additional information on the show and the creative team is available online at www.notwantedonthevoyage.com.