Stephen A. Weiner News

And Yo - "New Jersey!"

2012-01-19T19:11:00.000-08:00

"Once Upon A Time In New Jersey" is getting its first Jersey production at the newly refurbished Surflight Theater in Long Beach Island, New Jersey in August.

Very funny coincidence: my daugher Marla's first real "job" was being a singing Broadway waitress at Showplace down in LBI when she was a junior in high school. She auditioned for the job and was accepted to stay down at Showplace where the waiters and waitresses all were housed together and lived at the beach all summer. They worked their tails off serving ice cream, singing parodies of show tunes with ice cream titles and lyrics and getting the customers involved. It is a hugely popular place in the summer. Right next door is Surflight Theater.

Enter a wonderful producer who came to see Prospect Theater's 2010 production of "New Jersey" in the city and apparently he loved the show. In the meantime, he takes the bankrupt Surflight Theater and buys the theater, takes it out of bankruptcy and gives the theater a whole new lease on life.

So "New Jersey", this crazy show that keeps on coming back, is indeed back on track and we'll see where this production this coming summer takes us. Audiences have always taken to this sweet, simple show. We have our critical detractors for sure, but we also had some glowing reviews over the years too, most recently a handful of complimentary reviews in NYC. This is not just writers hype. It broke house records at The Village Theater, Muhlenberg Summer Music Theater, Prospect Theater in NYC and at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theater. Oh yes, it was loved at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival where the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama did the show and then at The Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts in England. The show has been around and is a pretty tight running machine at this point. It feels fitting that we are finally going Jersey - Central Jersey for that fact. As a "Jersey boy" myself (I spent my adolescence in Old Bridge, NJ, and graduated from Cedar Ridge High School in Old Bridge, right off of Route 516 - as New Jersey as it gets). I spent my summers at Asbury Park, Keansburg, island Beach State Park and had my Senior Prom overlooking Route 18 and the Jersey Turnpike in East Brunswick, New Jersey. So for me, doing "New Jersey" in New Jersey is a sweet homecoming.

Check out The Surglight Theater website at http://www.surflight.org/.

Waiting....

2012-01-19T19:08:00.000-08:00

Waiting is the toughest part.....

"The Honeymooners"

2011-12-17T05:30:00.001-08:00

Readings are over and the cast was amazing as was our band. A wonderful two days. Now....sleep.

"The Honeymooners"

2011-12-09T18:21:00.000-08:00

Ending first week of rehearsals.

Sheer heaven.

Reading next Friday.

Band rehearsal on Sunday - five pieces.

This cast is AMAZING.

"IRON CURTAIN" REVIEWS ARE POURING IN

2011-11-17T17:42:00.000-08:00

GREAT AND GLOWING reviews from The New York Times, Broadwayworld.com, Theatermania.com, nytheater.com, Backstage, Curtain Up and more.

Please...come down and see us!

"Iron Curtain" opens!

2011-11-10T17:56:00.000-08:00

Wonderful opening night and the show was tremendous!

And now.....To the Moon, Alice! (Dec. 16th)

"IRON CURTAIN" Off-Broadway previews start Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Baruch Performing Arts Center

2011-11-03T06:20:00.000-07:00

Prospect Theater Company will present by special arrangement with Fireboat Productions a new Off Broadway production of the 2006 hit musical Iron Curtain, winner of the Innovative Theatre Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical.

From the award-winning team of Susan DiLallo (Jonathan Larson Award, Kleban Award), Stephen Weiner (Richard Rodgers Award) and Peter Mills (Kleban Award, Fred Ebb Award, Larson Award), Iron Curtain begins performances November 5 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center at Baruch College.

An uproarious original comedy set during Broadway's Golden Age of the 1950s, Iron Curtain follows the misadventures of Howard Katz and Murray Finkel, hapless songwriters who finally get their big break when they are kidnapped by the KGB, taken to Russia and forced to fix the world's worst communist propaganda musical. With the help of their madcap Soviet collaborators, the team gets a taste of the fame they never had in America. Will they choose celebrity or freedom? Iron Curtain was inspired by the historic communist propaganda musicals created in the Soviet Union under the regime of Joseph Stalin, a purported fan of the musical theater genre.

The cast of Iron Curtain includes Maria Couch (Lincoln Center's On The Levee), Jenn Gambatese (Broadway's Is He Dead, Tarzan, All Shook Up, Hairspray, A Year With Frog & Toad, Footloose), Bobbi Kotula (Village Theatre's critically-acclaimed 2011 regional premiere production of Iron Curtain), Marcus Neville (Broadway's The Full Monty and City of Angels), David Perlman (Broadway's Baby It's You, Prospect's Once Upon a Time in New Jersey), Aaron Ramey (Broadway's Thoroughly Modern Millie, Young Frankenstein, Curtains; Judd in Oklahoma at Arena Stage) and Gordon Stanley (Broadway's Cabaret, Ragtime, Beauty and the Beast, Meet Me in St. Louis, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). The ensemble includes Sara Brophy, Ronn Burton, Clint Carter, John Fico, Andrea McCullough, James Patterson, Robby Sharpe and Aubrey Sinn.

Iron Curtain features a book by book by Susan DiLallo, music by Stephen Weiner and lyrics by Peter Mills. The production is directed by Cara Reichel and choreographed by Christine O'Grady. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Remy Kurs. Brandon Sturiale is the musical director. Scenic design is by Brian Prather. Costume design is by Sidney Shannon. Doug Harry designs the lights and Andy Leviss designs the sound. Kat West is the production stage manager.

The initial concept reading of Iron Curtain was held by Prospect Theater Company in November 2005. In April 2006 Prospect presented a developmental showcase production at New York's West End Theatre. In August 2007 a reduced version of the script was presented at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival by the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. That year, a reading was also held as part of the "Village Originals" Festival at the Village Theatre in Issaquah, WA. Prospect presented a concert reading at The Baruch Performing Arts Center in 2008, and a further workshop was held at the Village Theatre. Subsequent development of Iron Curtain was supported by the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center during a residency at the National Music Theater Conference of 2008. In October 2009 excerpts of Iron Curtain were presented at the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's Festival of New Musicals and in March 2011 Iron Curtain made its regional premiere at the Village Theatre in Issaquah and Everett, Washington.

The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 7:30pm; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm; Sundays at 3pm. There are added performances on November 6 at 7:30pm, November 19 at 3pm, November 21 at 7:30pm and November 26 at 3pm. There is no 3pm performance on November 6 and no performances on November 23 and November 24. This limited run of Iron Curtain is scheduled to end on November 27.

The Baruch Performing Arts Center, Baruch College is located at East 25th Street between Lexington and Third Avenue. Tickets are $50, with premium seating available for $65.

To purchase tickets visit www.ProspectTheater.org or call (212) 352-3101.

Bang...Zoom!!!

2011-10-17T18:23:00.000-07:00

In the meantime, Honeymooners auditions commenced today and will continue for the week. The talent coming through those doors is astounding.

Jerry Mitchell is a smart, smart guy and a really wonderful Director.

Rocket Science at Penn State Friday Oct. 21

2011-10-17T18:16:00.000-07:00

The Penn State Musical Theater Conservatory will be presenting "Rocket Science" - reworked since the LA Music Theater Festival and we are excited to see the changes and how everything falls into place. Jason and I are driving out to see it on Friday, Oct. 21, in front of a small audience, and two formal readings will follow -one in Philadelphia on December 5th at The Walnut Street Theater and then on the 10th at the PSU Campus.

Penn State holds a special place in our family - my parents eloped and were married there at the Nittany Lion Inn. I've only been there one time before - my brother and I took our father to a PSU football game for his 80th birthday and it was a real highlight. We went to the old wing of the Nittany Lion Inn and saw where they were married. It was a very emotional and moving weekend. We also beat Temple on a rainy Saturday afternoon, but it was incredible being in that stadium.

So I'm coming back to the place where it all started - where the past collides with the present and hopefully, paves the way to the future for our show.

Coming Up..."Iron Curtain", "Rocket Science" and "The Honeymooners"

2011-10-12T06:49:00.001-07:00

"Iron Curtain" rehearsals started yesterday. The cast is fantastic and Cara has some great ideas for this incarnation of our show. I wrote a Pitchfork ballet sequence last night which will be hilarious and just hearing another cast take a go at the score makes me happy indeed. Over the course of many years of showcases, productions, developmental readings, the show is as tight as it ever has been and I think will be really enjoyable. Plus, its thrilling to have the show return to its NYC roots, this time Off-Broadway. Here's hoping....

It is a busy time, since in addition to "Iron Curtain" the Penn State students are rehearsing to put "Rocket Science" up at Walnut Street Theater in December with a final round of re-writes that we think bring the show the focus and story that we are all ultimately satisfied and happy with. Since our successful LA reading, we went back to the drawing board yet again and made some story changes and tweaked and cut some of the score and added a new song that intensifies the love story between the two main characters, which we think will help greatly.

And finally, "The Honeymooners" goes into rehearsal for our next industry reading on December 9th. Rehearsals start right after Thanksgiving (November 28). Jerry Mitchell is our fearless leader once again and is a fantastic Director and partner with us on the show. Auditions and casting begin in earnest next week. We are all tremendously excited and optimistic about the show and can't wait to get started.

Like I said - it is good to be busy!

For Iron Curtain tickets, just go to the Prospect Theater Company web site.

2011-10-01T06:41:00.000-07:00

Marla Mindelle on stage - "The Life I Never Led" from "Sister Act"on You Tube

2011-09-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

Okay - though totally illegal, someone recorded Marla's entire scene live where she sings "The Life I Never Led" from "Sister Act" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUjXOyPOwJA

"Deli" - the song from "newyorkers" that has taken a life of its own

2011-09-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

So when Glenn Slater and I were commissioned to write a series of songs about New York City for our revue "newyorkers" that Manhattan Theater Club produced way back in 2001, we had no clue that "Deli" one of 25 or 26 songs from that show, would take off and be the most popular song ordered off of my web site. In the original show, Jesse Tyler Ferguson sang the tune, sitting on a stool and it was the third or fourth song I believe in the show. It always got polite applause. We never thought of cutting it, but I was always puzzled since I remember when writing it how much I liked it and thought for sure it would be one of the evening stand outs. It turns out that our tunes for "Last Straight Man in Chelsea" featuring Jerry Dixon, Jesse T.F. and Stephen DeRosa, and "No Hurry at all" that mocked the slow service at Starbucks, sung by Pam Issacs were the highlights, as well as Liz Larsen's rendition of "Tall Quiet Guy". It tickles me to know that all these years later, "Deli" has emerged into its own as the stand-out song of the show, and it is a lovely story-song that seems to done at alot of auditions and showcases. Originally meant for a male soloist, plenty of women are singing it too, including my daughter Marla, whose wonderful rendition of "Deli" is on you tube. The other tune from "newyorkers" on my website is "Manhattan 4 am" sung originally by the fantastic Jerry Dixon, and it served as our 11:00 number - a paean to Manhattan that summed up all the love we have for the city and what the show was all about. It was also sung before him, in the workshop by Norm Lewis and just brought down the house. I still love that song as well and while it is ordered at times, if you're looking for a wonderful ballad for auditions or showcases, that is one to choose. A little selling here from the composer. :) Thanks for ordering "Deli" and keep 'em coming!!

Marla Mindelle - "Sister Act"

2011-09-15T14:54:00.001-07:00

The Next Big Star: Marla Mindelle

Posted by Cameron Kelsall

photo: Broadway.com

The criminally underrated musical adaptation of Sister Act (by Alan Menken and Douglas Carter Beane, at the Broadway Theatre) is notable for many reasons, including a breakout performance by newcomer Patina Miller and the always-appreciated presence of Tony winner Victoria Clark. The show's real star turn, however, belongs to Marla Mindelle, as the shy novice nun who, with the help of Deloris Van Cartier (Miller), finds her voice and proceeds to raise it to the rafters. The role of Sister Mary Robert could easily be lost among the shuffle of plot twists and group numbers, but in Mindelle's exceedingly capable hands her journey became the focal point whenever she graced the stage. Mindelle's superb second-act solo, "The Life I Never Led," stopped the show cold when I saw it and left me mentally compiling a list of roles she needs to play (Fanny Brice, anyone?). All in all, don't be surprised when this insanely talented singing actress joins the ranks of Broadway's upper echelon.

Rocket Science at LA Music Theater Festival

2011-08-08T13:50:00.000-07:00

"Rocket Science" had 2 great readings at the Festival, thanks to the sponsorship of Marcia Seligsman and Michael Kerker. Great cast, fantastic direction by Richard Israel and MD Darryl Archibald pulled off a minor miracle, even arranging some songs along with teaching the band the score, um, in an afternoon.

We've worked hard on the show since the Playwrights Horizons readings and I think our rewrites really paid off. The story is much clearer, the show zips by and there a couple of exciting new numbers which seem to really work. Semi-staging the show, having the actors miked, and the intimate and warm theater it was in all worked in our favor. The Royal Treatment really paid off, and showed the piece to maximum advantage.

The response out there was really, really positive and upbeat. Penn State is next - where the students there will have one more take on the material for eight weeks, culminating in 2 more readings, where we can hone and refine things but honestly, we're almost there.

Now, would somebody please take a chance on our show and produce it? Please? :)

2011-07-27T20:15:00.001-07:00

ROCKET SCIENCE: An ASCAP/Festival Staged Musical Reading

Barnsdall Gallery Theatre
August 3rd & 4th at 8pm

Book by Patricia Cotter
Music by Stephen Weiner
Lyrics by Jason Rhyne
Orchestrations by Remy Kurs
Produced by Marcia Seligson, Michael Kerker
Musical Direction by Darryl Archibald
Directed by Richard Isreal

In the new Richard Rogers Award–winning musical, Rocket Science, worlds are falling apart all over new jersey. Sixteen-year-old Hal Hefner, a lifelong stutterer, is bright, funny and stuck behind a wall of words he can't quite get out his mouth. When the queen of the high school debate team plucks him from obscurity, Hal begins a life-altering journey to tackle his biggest challenge: finding his true voice.

Barnsdall Gallery Theater is located at 4800 Hollywood Boulevard (within Barnsdall Art Park) Los Angeles, CA 90027. FREE PARKING

And the beat goes on....

2011-07-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

Honeymooners CD sampler done! Rocket Science in LA Music Theater Festival and in Penn State Musical Theater Development Workshop. Making lots of Rocket changes. "Iron Curtain" coming Off Broadway in November. Moving on....

"The Honeymooners" reading today

2011-06-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

Okay folks. Now I can say it - we had the first public reading of "The Honeymooners" today. Cast was fantastic, Jerry Mitchell is an amazing director and it was great to see it come together for the first time. Thank you to all involved.

Marla Mindelle - "Sister Act"

2011-04-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

Okay, I have to be a proud Papa here. My oldest daughter Marla (Mindelle) is wowing audiences every night in"Sister Act" which is currently in previews at The Broadway Theater. Aside from being a complete mess the first time she sang her wonderful solo "The Life I Never Led" , the show is simply fantastic. The audience is eating it up and on their feet as soon as the last note is sung. Glenn and Alan have outdone themselves and the score is fantastic. Patina Miller is Broadway's newest star.

As a father who remembers his little girl winning the talent contest as a six year old girl in first grade, and then seeing her all alone on stage singing to a packed Broadway house, recognizing the trajectory - a lifetime of theater, of hard work at CCM, of the showcase, of getting her first break in "Drowsy Chaperone" and then "South Pacific", the emotions are many: understanding too well the hardship, heartaches, the incredible difficult road of an actor trying to make it on Broadway, the realization of what she has done, her tenacity, raw talent and hard work, all culminating in this magnificent show with a score that is the envy of any commercial theater writer, I am hard pressed to think of a more wonderful and defining moment for Marla and the thrill of her mother and I watching her on this stage - its just indescribable. I know I shouldn't go on about this, but it is really one of those goose bump moments in a parent's life as you watch your children achieve the heights that they set out for, and accomplish.

Lest I not mention Lisa and Olivia - our other two lights of our lives. Everyone gets their spotlight, and on April 20, when we are all sitting there on opening night of "Sister Act" all of us will be rooting for Marla, proud and awed at her journey and success.

If you want to have a rip roaring good time and see a great musical, go see "Sister Act". And give an extra yell for Marla Mindelle.

By the way, when you sign on to my site, that's Marla singing "I Found You" from my show "Rocket Science"!

Proud Father

"THE HONEYMOONERS"

2011-03-29T16:44:00.001-07:00

Pete and I are finishing the first draft of the score and we are aiming for a June workshop directed by Jerry Mitchell. Very exciting. No casting news yet, but the show is a big Broadway musical and there are a ton of production numbers. Stay tuned. "To the Moon, Alice!"

RAVE REVIEWS FOR "IRON CURTAIN" AT VILLAGE THEATER

2011-03-29T16:40:00.000-07:00

"Iron Curtain" opened at Seattle's Village Theater on March 17th and I am really happy to report that our reviews have been terrific. We had one weird pan from a blog critic but the other reviews have been ecstatic. Our cast, band and creative team are all to be congratulated. Steve Tomkins did a beautiful job directing the show and the sets by Bill Forrester are terrific. Remy's orchestrations make the show sound like a big orchestra is in that pit (on 8 pieces). Very happy with the end result. Stay tuned for more "Iron Curtain" news down the road.

HOLIDAY MUSINGS

2010-11-24T19:57:00.001-08:00

Okay so the hoopla of October has died down. It was a great month with "New Jersey" and "Rocket Science" occupying most of my time. "New Jersey" turned out to be an absolutely wonderful experience and audiences really liked the show. Critics were for the most part, warm, positive and embracing of the show. Audiences have always responded to the essential sweetness of the show and the show is like clockwork now - runs like a machine. Cara and Christine did an amazing job and the show is as tight, as wonderfully staged and choreographed as it ever has been.

"Rocket Science" was a roller coaster ride. We tried alot of new things and some of them worked and others fell flat. Way too long, and yes, by God, it was a true reading in every sense of the word. I am so proud of the show and we know where the fixes are. By the time we were watching the 4th performance, we had to be tied down since we could have easily rushed to the stage and screamed "Stop!," we know how to make it better. But we could tell that the audience was with us. I think it was a damn good start and we are renewing the option for another 18 months to work some more on the show and hope for a full production. Friends and family were really supportive. Jason and Patricia are incredible, smart and wonderful collaborators and friends. I love working with them. A word about the cast - simply amazing. Each and every one of them.

Coming into the home stretch of "Honeymooners" and will whoop for joy when the score is done. I love our work on it and very excited to see the show on its feet when we do a reading or workshop. Pete and I are hard at work and digging into polish and rewrites of some songs.

That's it for now. Family all here for Thanksgiving. Off on Sunday to Issaqua, WA for "Iron Curtain" auditions and call backs. Rehearsals start February 15 and I can't wait to see how this show turns out. The Village Theater audiences have responded so enthusiastically to our reading and workshop of the show and The Village Theater is maybe the classiest and most welcoming theater for new writers in the country. This is not an exaggeration. I would workshop a show there in a minute and their production values, artistic integrity and quality of actors are equal to all the usual try-out theaters.

Here's hoping for a good 2011 - Iron Curtain, more Rocket Science and New Jersey, Hudsucker (God willing), and Honeymooners. Somethin's gotta stick. :)

Happy Thanksgiving! All the girls are home and the entire extended family off to see Marla in "Spelling Bee" at Philadelphia Theater Company on Friday night. Huge crowd at my Dad's tomorrow night. I love this holiday!

"ROCKET SCIENCE" DIRECTED BY KATHLEEN MARSHALL- RICHARD RODGERS AWARD READINGS AT PLAYWRGHTS HORIZONS THURSDAY OCTOBER 28 AND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29

2010-10-24T17:20:00.000-07:00

Based on the HBO film "Rocket Science" by Jeffrey Blitz

Book by Patricia Cotter

Music by Stephen Weiner

Lyrics by Jason Rhyne

Orchestrations, Vocal Arrangements, Musical Direction by Remy Kurs

Readings are at 12 noon and 3:30pm each day this coming Thursday and Friday, Oct. 28 and 29. Call for seats. We need to fill 198 seats for four performances.

Playwrights Horizons

416 W 42nd St
New York, NY 10036-6809
(212) 564-1235

Documentary film "The Soprano State" opens Monday, October 18 featuring music from "Once Upon A Time In New Jersey"

2010-10-17T19:11:00.001-07:00

A while back, Peter LeDonne asked Susan and I for permission to use snippets from "New Jersey" as the basis for the film score of his new documentary "The Soprano State" that looks at the history of political corruption in the Garden State. Earlier this summer, we went to the recording studio and laid down a number of the tunes from the show. The movie opens Monday night at the Ziegfeld Theater in Manhattan, and it will be the first time I see my name on film, which is pretty cool. Peter LeDonne is the director of the film, based on the best selling book. I read that Chris Christie is going to attend.

In the meantime, we are selling out for "New Jersey" over at The Hudson Guild Theater, and turning people away at the doors. Audiences are delighting in our tale of Vinnie LoBianco and Rocco Fabrizio, and I think word of mouth is starting to take root, as well as some really nice blogs and those two solid reviews in Theatermania and Backstage. I'm really proud that the show is getting such a great production from The Prospect Theater and here's hoping that the show does not go into hibernation at the close of the run, but rather, gets a new lease on life somewhere in the world.

So Rocket Science rehearsals during the day and a film premiere at night. With my name somehow connected to both. It can't get much better than this!

Rocket Science rehearsals start on Monday, October 18

2010-10-14T16:31:00.000-07:00

Okay so I am really psyched about Rocket Science starting on Monday. A unique opportunity to see what we have after months of rewrites and thinking about the show. We've developed the show considerably since our first reading at the Festival of New Musicals in 2009 at The Vaillage Theater is Issaquah, WA. We've done alot:

1. Expanded the show to two acts - we'll see what we have.

2. We wrote a new opening number, new number for Jenny, new number for Ben, expanded one of the songs,wrote a montage musical scene, and wrote a bunch of new scenes. Not sure if the opening is working, but our old opening is just fine. We'll continjue to explore the new opening number in rehearsal.

3. We're thrilled to have Kathleen Marshall for two weeks. Wow. Having a seasoned and fantastic Broadway Director at the helm is really exciting. She is really into the show as well.

Above all I cannot wait to see what the cast does with the material. As far as readings go, I think this is the most prepared I've felt for any reaing I've had. Remy has done a fantastic job prepping the piano vocal score and arrangements.

Onward!!

Once Upon A Time In New Jersey at The Hudson Guild Theater

2010-10-09T22:58:00.000-07:00

Delighted with some very nice reviews on the show. Cast is fantastic and Cara Reichel has done a great job directing the show. Check out Backstage and Theatermania reviews. We're there till October 31 so please come! Audiences are really seeming to enjoy it.

Rocket Science Casting - Playwrights Horizons Richard Rodgers Award Readings

2010-09-30T19:59:00.001-07:00

So here is our cast so far - still waiting on one more cast member

Hal………....Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Heston…..…F. Michael Haynie

Ben………...Jesse Swenson

Jenny…….…Nikki M. James

Ankur……….Miguel Jarquin-Moreland

Lumbly…..…Ann Harada

Doyle……….Don Stephenson

Judge……….Troy Britton Johnson

Juliet………..Nancy Anderson

Honoria.........Andrea Green

Lewinsky…...Jacob Ming-Trent

Ensemble….Julia Bray

Ensemble…..Mykal Kilgore

Fabulous cast and we are really excited!

2010-09-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

The Richard Rodgers Award gives a grant to a sponsoring theater to host a development process and readings of the award winning shows. We've been blessed with the good fortune of having our reading done at Playwrights Horizons. "Rocket Science" will be directed there by Kathleen Marshall, with music and vocal arrangements by Remy Kurs. We are really excited and gearing up for it as we speak. Cast will be announced shortly. Performances will be on October 28 and 29. Details to come.

2010-09-10T18:49:00.000-07:00

Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director / Melissa Huber, Managing Director), producers of this summer's critically-acclaimed With Glee, will present the New York premiere of Susan DiLallo and Stephen Weiner's multiple award-winning musical comedy Once Upon a Time in New Jersey at The Hudson Guild Theatre beginning October 2, 2010.

Winner of the coveted Kleban Prize and Richard Rodgers Award, Once Upon a Time in New Jersey is an Italian-American fairy tale set in 1956 Hoboken. Vinnie LoBianco (David Perlman), an unassuming sandwich-maker, is in love with counter girl Angie Moscato (Briga Heelan). But Angie's got it bad for Rocco (Jeremy Cohen), the local hunk, whose sights are set on sexy dance teacher Celeste (Catherine LeFrere). When Rocco runs afoul of Celeste's husband Billy (Jonathan Gregg), the result is a series of hilarious misunderstandings and madcap misadventure.

The Chicago Sun-Times praises Once Upon a Time in New Jersey's "delicious songs" and "huge audience appeal". BBC Liverpool calls it "An engaging, light-hearted musical in the tradition of Little Shop of Horrors". And The Daily Herald describes it as a "Tuneful, good-hearted, humorous and-most importantly-original show".

Brought to you by the co-authors and creative team behind Prospect's 2006 hit production of Iron Curtain, and presented as a partner event of The New York Musical Theatre Festival, Once Upon a Time in New Jersey is directed by Cara Reichel with choreography by Christine O'Grady (associate choreographer, Broadway's Hair). The musical director is Remy Kurs. Scenic design is by Jen Price Fick. Lighting design is by Isabella F. Byrd. Sound design is by Asa F. Wember. Costume design is by Sidney Shannon. Orchestrations and vocal arrangements are by Dimitri Nakhamkin.

The cast is as follows: Jeremy Cohen*, Jason Collins*, Denise DeMirjian*, Mishaela Faucher*, Jonathan Gregg*, Briga Heelan, Jason Kappus*, Theresa Kloos, Alex Krasser, Catherine LeFrere, John Mervini, Samia Mounts*, David Perlman*, Darcy Yellin* and Noah Zachary.

Once Upon a Time in New Jersey was initially developed at The Muhlenberg Summer Music Theater Festival in Allentown, PA. Following a series of readings at The Director's Company, it played to sold-out houses at the Marriott Lincolnshire Theater in Chicago, the Village Theater in Seattle and the Liverpool Institute for the Performing Arts. Once Upon a Time in New Jersey was one of six musicals selected from across the globe for the Global Search for New Musicals Competition in Cardiff Wales. It received rave reviews at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival where it was performed by the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama.

Once Upon a Time in New Jersey will be performed October 2-31 with performances Thursdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 3pm (except on Sunday, October 3 when the performance will be at 7pm). There are added 8pm performances on Monday, October 4 and Wednesday, October 27. Tickets ($25) can be purchased by calling (212) 352-3101 or by visiting www.ProspectTheater.org. Specially-priced student tickets ($22) are also available. The October 9 performance features a pre-show patron dinner with the composers at Pepegiallo Restaurant. Tickets for the patron dinner and performance are $65.

The Hudson Guild Theatre is located at 441 West 26th Street (between Ninth and Tenth Avenues).
(*Member, Actors' Equity Association.)

"Iron Curtain" to play The Village Theater in Seattle, WA March 16 - May 22, 2011

2010-03-03T19:26:00.000-08:00

Thrilled that "Iron Curtain" after many years of development, workshops, productions here and there, is finally going to get the "Red Carpet" treatment at the glorious Village Theater. They did the show at their Festival of New Musicals, then a great workshop, and now a full production. They do such incredible productions. Here's hoping for a commercial option of the piece.

Four years ago, we wrote the show in around 3 weeks while I nursed a broken ankle. Pete would come down and we literally wrote like the wind since we had a production pending at The Prospect Theater Company and had to get it done. It did really well, won the New York Innovative Theater Award for Best New Off-Off Broadway Musical and got a very nice nod from the New York Times and lots of critics.

After some further development up at The O'Neill Theater Conference with the amazing Paulette Haupt & company, we really tightened the show up there and got it as trim as we could and even funnier. Audiences up there ate it up by our last staged reading of it.

I cannot wait to see what Robb Hunt and Steve Tompkins do with the show!

Rocket Science wins the 2010 Richard Rodgers Award (and other production news!)

2010-02-11T16:28:00.000-08:00

"Rocket Science" has won the 2010 Richard Rodgers Award! The award comes with the opportunity to do seven staged readings in New York City later this year. Details to follow.

"Iron Curtain" will be produced at The Village Theater in Seattle next spring.

"Once Upon A Time In New Jersey" will get a fall 2010 production at The Hudson Guild Theater from Oct. 2 - 30 and be produced by The Prospect Theater Company in New York City.

THE HUDSUCKER PROXY

2009-11-11T20:27:00.000-08:00

The Hudsucker Proxy will have a staged reading at The Manhattan Theater Club on December 17, 2009. Details to come.

Good news on Rocket Science and Iron Curtain!

2009-07-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

"Rocket Science" has been accepted into The Village Theater Festival of New Musicals in Seattle and we lead off the Festival as the first musical to be presented on August 13th. Very excited to see the whole show on its feet! Brandon Ivie will be directing and my friend Tim Symonds will be the MD. Everyone out there seems really excited about the show. The Village Theater has been incredible to me over the years: many of my shows have been in the Festival, and "New Jersey" received a magnificent production there. "Iron Curtain" as workshopped last summer as well and really well received.

A week later, we're off to Edinburgh, Scotland where the show will be done in a student production by the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama! Andrew Panton is directing - he directed "Iron Curtain" there in 2008 and they've also done "New Jersey" as well, so I am really thrilled about Rocket Science receiving a full production there. Andrew has some great ideas for the show and is a fabulous director, so we are in good hands. Really excited to see how that turns out. Now the hard part starts - seeing the show on its feet will inevitably bring changes and re-writes, but Jason, Patricia and I are really happy and honored that the show is being done so early in its development. Of course, we are curious to see what happens after this, but writing the show has been incredibly fast and a real joy. You never know what twists and turns a show's journey takes, but so far the ride has been a total joy.

"Iron Curtain" also got into NAMT (National Alliance) and Pete, Susan and I are thrilled about that! It is a wonderful opportunity to have so many see the show and I am really hopeful that someone takes a shine to it. We've pretty much developed it to death, and after the O'Neill last year (and Village), the show was tightened and it really flies along. It is funnier and our second act lyric to our ballad "Half a World Away" was re-written in a way that sharpens the love story between Howard and Shirley. Susan added a fabulously funny scene that replaced our "Interrogation" number and works much better than the number ever did. This all transpired at the O'Neill which may have been one of the best times I have ever had as a writer. I really feel like the show is ready to go. Now lets hope everyone at NAMT agrees. Fingers crossed.

2009-01-26T21:55:00.000-08:00

Rocket Science News

2008-12-20T09:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Holidays to everyone. Hope they are great for you.

Working towards a January table reading of my new show, "Rocket Science". Working with two great partners - Jason Rhyne on lyrics and Patricia Cotter on book. We are getting into the piece more and more and falling in love with these characters. I also love the fact that we are using the source material from the movie, but really making it ours as we flesh it out. Andrew Panton, my good friend, and a great director (he is the artistic director of the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama) would like to see us get the show on its feet for a production at the Fringe this summer, which is entirely doable. I would love that, since two of my other shows have been showcased there beautifully, and Edinburgh is such an incredibly beautiful city. The Fringe is unlike anything I've ever witnessed as well.

The writing part of the musical - getting that finished first draft - is always the fun part. Writers are uninhibited and the essence of the piece - of what it will become and be, is done at this stage. Its the marketing, re-writes and production problems that ensue - that gets in the way! But nonetheless, we are keeping our fingers crossed and hoping that "Rocket Science" sees the light of day. It really is a marvelous story - with a great "anti-hero" who has a compelling need to join the speech and debate team in high school even though he is a terrible stutterer. After reading about the premise and communicating with the writer, Jeff Blitz, I fell in love with the script - it is so smart - and just knew that it had the makings of a musical. Our book writer Patricia is staying faithful to the tone but is so adept, funny and wry in her writing and is doing a beautiful job with the book. Jason is just top notch and is writing smart and fresh lyrics all the way. The three of us get along so well and just love the process of writing this show.

The other thing I am loving is that it gives me a chance to write in a more contemporary vein, after having been stuck in the '50's with "Hudsucker Proxy", "Iron Curtain" and "New Jersey". The score is still mainstream, nothing too weird or anything, but its just nice to try new harmonies and sounds. You never know what you have until you throw it up there, and I'm not counting any chickens before they are hatched: but what is important is to love what you are writing and believe in it. Developmental readings, audiences (and if you get this far), critics, will take care of the rest.

That's it for now - my first official "blog". Happy Holidays to all.

2008-12-12T13:06:00.001-08:00

Hi - my first post!!

Welcome

2008-11-04T13:48:00.000-08:00

Here's what's new and happening with the work of Stephen Weiner, composer.

Stephen A. Weiner News

And Yo - "New Jersey!"

Waiting....

"The Honeymooners"

"The Honeymooners"

"IRON CURTAIN" REVIEWS ARE POURING IN

"Iron Curtain" opens!

"IRON CURTAIN" Off-Broadway previews start Saturday, November 5, 2011 at Baruch Performing Arts Center

Bang...Zoom!!!

Rocket Science at Penn State Friday Oct. 21

Coming Up..."Iron Curtain", "Rocket Science" and "The Honeymooners"

Marla Mindelle on stage - "The Life I Never Led" from "Sister Act"on You Tube

"Deli" - the song from "newyorkers" that has taken a life of its own

Marla Mindelle - "Sister Act"

The Next Big Star: Marla Mindelle

Rocket Science at LA Music Theater Festival

ROCKET SCIENCE: An ASCAP/Festival Staged Musical Reading

Barnsdall Gallery TheatreAugust 3rd & 4th at 8pm

Book by Patricia CotterMusic by Stephen WeinerLyrics by Jason RhyneOrchestrations by Remy KursProduced by Marcia Seligson, Michael KerkerMusical Direction by Darryl ArchibaldDirected by Richard Isreal

And the beat goes on....

"The Honeymooners" reading today

Marla Mindelle - "Sister Act"

"THE HONEYMOONERS"

RAVE REVIEWS FOR "IRON CURTAIN" AT VILLAGE THEATER

HOLIDAY MUSINGS

"ROCKET SCIENCE" DIRECTED BY KATHLEEN MARSHALL- RICHARD RODGERS AWARD READINGS AT PLAYWRGHTS HORIZONS THURSDAY OCTOBER 28 AND FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29

Documentary film "The Soprano State" opens Monday, October 18 featuring music from "Once Upon A Time In New Jersey"

Rocket Science rehearsals start on Monday, October 18

Once Upon A Time In New Jersey at The Hudson Guild Theater

Rocket Science Casting - Playwrights Horizons Richard Rodgers Award Readings

"Iron Curtain" to play The Village Theater in Seattle, WA March 16 - May 22, 2011

Rocket Science wins the 2010 Richard Rodgers Award (and other production news!)

THE HUDSUCKER PROXY

Good news on Rocket Science and Iron Curtain!

Rocket Science News

Welcome

Barnsdall Gallery Theatre
August 3rd & 4th at 8pm

Book by Patricia Cotter
Music by Stephen Weiner
Lyrics by Jason Rhyne
Orchestrations by Remy Kurs
Produced by Marcia Seligson, Michael Kerker
Musical Direction by Darryl Archibald
Directed by Richard Isreal