The full line-up of singers and songs has been confirmed for online fundraising concert REGENERATE: Lost Songs from the Musicals.
Presented by Mercury Musical Developments (MMD) with Musical Theatre Network (MTN), the showcase of new and unheard songs from some of the biggest names in musical theatre on 18 September will feature a mix of West End and Broadway performers.
Devised by producer Neil Marcus, REGENERATE will feature 16 unheard songs from established and rising stars within the field of musical theatre. The creative team also includes musical director Nick Barstow and studio producer Bartek Podkowa. The concert will be free to view with watchers invited to donate online or by text.
Hosted by composer, comedian, actress and musician, Vikki Stone, the event which will raise funds to support new writing talent to present their work at BEAM 2023, will feature:
‘How Far We’ve Come’, a new composition from Tony Award-winning writers of Six Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, sung by original Six cast member and Olivier-nominee Natalie Paris.
Adrian Lester will perform ‘Life of the Person’ from Tony Award-winning writing team Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s (Ragtime, Anastasia) upcoming Broadway show Little Dancer.
‘It’s Still Me in Here’ from multi-award-winning lyricist Don Black and Platinum Jubilee composer and musical director Debbie Wiseman’s new musical Feather Boy, sung by Anita Dobson.
Elton John and Tim Rice’s song ‘I Could Not Miss You More’ (cut from the film Gnomeo and Juliet) will be sung by Duncan James.
Emerging writers Kit Buchan and Jim Barnes’ jettisoned song ‘Midtown Christmas Eve’ from The Season will be sung by Grace Mouat (Legally Blonde, Six) and Dan Partridge (Grease).
Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s song cut from Miss Saigon, ‘Too Much for One Heart’, will be sung by Desmonda Cathabel (winner of 2022 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of The Year)
Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, Pippin) will accompany Broadway actor Michael McCorry Rose on piano for a performance of ‘Leaving Myself Behind’ from new project Marley.
Olivier Award winner Janie Dee (Follies) will sing ‘It Should Be Funny’ from composer and lyricist Andrew Lippa (The Wild Party, The Addams Family) and Daniel Goldfarb’s (The Amazing Mrs Maisel) Jerry Christmas.
Tony and Olivier Award-winning actor and writer Douglas Hodge will perform ‘Counting the Hairs’ from his musical Wigmaker written with dramatist Bryony Lavery.
Alice Fearn (Come From Away, Wicked) and Aisha Jawando (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) will sing ‘How Would You Know from Masi Asare’s (Paradise Square, recently on Broadway) new show Rishvor.
Stuart Brayson’s song ‘You And Me Buddy’ written for From Here to Eternity will be performed by Olivier Award winner George Maguire (Sunny Afternoon) and Luke Friend (X Factor finalist)
The most recent recipient of the Stiles + Drewe Mentorship Award in association with MMD, Omar Baroud (Cabaret) will be joined by Hanna Khogali (Britannicus) to sing ‘Without’ from his new musical After Elijah.
Luke McCall (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera) will sing ‘For My Father’, a new song from Maury Yeston (Nine, Titanic), from his current writing project The Great Bridge about the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.
George Stiles and Anthony Drewe’s ‘Mrs. Me’, written for a romcom movie that has not been made, will be sung by Michael Ahomka-Lindsay (Legally Blonde).
New writer Urielle Klein Mekongo will sing her own song ‘Nobody’s There’ from Black Power Desk.
Canadian husband and wife team Irene Sankoff and David Hein (Come From Away) have gifted an early song, ‘Subway Sparrow’, sung by Frances Mayli McCann (Bonnie & Clyde, Chess In Concert).
Commenting on the importance of supporting and nurturing musical theatre writing and composing talent, Anthony Drewe said: “As with all art forms, musical theatre is an evolving beast that needs fresh blood just as much as it celebrates old. Shows as innovative or daring as Hamilton, The Band’s Visit, The Book of Mormon and Come From Away wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for the legacy handed down from previous generations of song writers. You read, you listen, you learn – and then you create.”
Stephen Schwartz added: “For those of us who love the genre, it means we’ll continue to have good musicals to go see.”
Andrew Lippa commented: “New musicals with original scores are friggin’ hard to get right. And they are expensive. Without support, guidance, funding, nurturing, practice, space, time, room to fail, new musicals can’t really grow.”
Maury Yeston said: “The musical theatre is now a worldwide form. It brings us together and unites so many disparate and unique national styles and techniques. Its musical and theatrical force has fostered a common bond in theatre communities all over the world. The nurturing of its creators and its traditions creates a continuing force for peace.”
Theatrical Rights Worldwide is the lead sponsor of REGENERATE. The event is also supported by Music Theatre International and Clintons Solicitors.
Angela Thomas
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