Music Theatre International (MTI) has announced further details for its upcoming weekend-long event, All Together Now! A Global Event Celebrating Local Theatre.
Developed by the theatrical licensing agency with the support of authors, their estates and rights holders, the musical revue-style event aimed at schools and theatres across the world will celebrate the return of live performances over the weekend of 12 November.
Featuring some of musical theatre’s best-loved songs the high-powered creative team assembled for the project includes: librettist Timothy Allen McDonald (James and the Giant Peach); director, choreographer and associate artistic director of The York Theatre Company, Gerry McIntyre (Berkshire Theatre Group’s Godspell); director and choreographer Racky Plews (American Idiot West End, UK and international tour); director Jeff Calhoun (9 to 5, Savoy Theatre, UK tour); and Music Theatre International’s chief operating officer and director of education and development, John Prignano.
Commenting on the initial response to the project Prignano said: “I’ve been blown away by the response from theatres so far. Many theatrical organisations across the globe have already expressed their enthusiasm for the event and committed to performing the revue in their communities.
“Unlike some of our shows that may have geographical licensing restrictions, we hope that if there are multiple theatres in a certain area that they get together, pool their resources and potentially perform the revue as a fundraiser for all the groups involved. That’s one of the reasons the show is only available for performance from 12 to 15 November – we want everyone to experience the magic of musical theatre together as a community.”
MTI Europe’s managing director Seán Gray added: “We really want to help everyone who makes theatre and everyone who loves theatre to celebrate theatre’s return together.
“We want to remind the world of the communal happiness we generate through sharing the fruits of our passion on a stage and in an auditorium. We hope that this will be a wonderful way for us all to sing to the world as we have never sung before: we are back!”
The revue will include songs from the musicals of such luminaries as Stephen Schwartz; Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty; Cameron Mackintosh; Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Herbert Kretzmer; Disney Theatrical Group; Frank Loesser; Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe; Tim Minchin; Jonathan Larson; Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman; Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley; Frank Wildhorn; Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin; and Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich, with many more to be announced.
Paying tribute the writers whose work will feature in the revue, MTI’s president and CEO, Drew Cohen said: “None of this would be possible without the support of the authors we represent. We are fortunate that so many of these composers, lyricists and rightsholders are embracing the idea of All Together Now!
“I know that theatres around the world are eager to see the full list of songs featured in this new revue and we are working hard behind-the-scenes to create a memorable and inspiring show. We will be making more announcements in the very near future, but we encourage everyone to visit the event website as authors and their songs are added.”
As previously announced the work featured in the revue will be made available free of charge with none of the usual rental or royalty fees attached. Participating organisations will be able to license MTI’s All Together Now! as a fundraiser for their own theatre and will be able to perform it live, streamed or as a combination of both.
Further details on licensing and instructions on how groups can participate in the event will be announced at a later date.
Groups can sign up to the event mailing list at www.alltogethernowmti.co.uk.
Angela Thomas
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