COMPLETE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM ANNOUNCED FOR “NOTES FROM NOW”

Press Contact:

Michael Jorgensen
michael@jorgensenpr.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, PLEASE

PROSPECT THEATER COMPANY

ANNOUNCES COMPLETE CAST & CREATIVE TEAM FOR
WORLD PREMIERE SONG CYCLE

“NOTES FROM NOW”

SONGS OF RESILIENCE & RENEWAL

FEATURING NEW WORKS
FROM 21 MUSICAL THEATER WRITERS



PERFORMANCES BEGIN MARCH 2
OPENING NIGHT SET FOR MARCH 10
AT 59E59 THEATERS

STRICTLY LIMITED ENGAGEMENT

TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE


HEADSHOTS & ARTWORK AVAILABLE HERE


New York, NY (February 7, 2022) – Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director; Melissa Huber, Managing Director) announced today the complete cast and creative team for the world premiere of Notes From Now, directed and choreographed by Billy Bustamante. This brand-new musical anthology, bringing together songwriters from Broadway and beyond, will begin previews at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street) on Wednesday, March 2, with an official opening night set for Thursday, March 10. The strictly limited engagement is set to run through Sunday, March 20, 2022.

The cast will feature Ashley Blanchet (Waitress), Thani Brant, Darron Hayes, Josh Lamon (The Prom), Aline Mayagoitia (HBO’s “Love Life”), Outer Critics Circle Award winner Judy McLane (Romeo & Bernadette), John Yi (Soft Power), with understudy support from Genesis Adelia Collado.

The creative team for Notes From Now includes scenic design by Riw Rakkulchon, costume design by Rodrigo Muñoz, lighting design by Shannon Clarke, sound design by Ben Scheff, and casting by Michael Cassara, CSA. Production Stage Manager is Elizabeth Emanuel.

Notes From Now weaves together words and music to create a gallery of playful, provocative, and profound observations on the human journey. The line-up features newly-commissioned original songs created by 21 of today’s brightest musical theater writers: Jay Adana; Troy Anthony; Masi Asare; Jeff Blumenkrantz; Georgie Castilla and Jaime Lozano; Gretchen Cryer; Tia DeShazor and Derrick Byars; Alexandra Elle and Stephen Schwartz; Adam Gwon; Douglas Lyons and Ethan Pakchar; Peter Mills; Ryan Scott Oliver; Michelle J. Rodriguez; Angela Sclafani; Paulo K Tiról; and Amanda Yesnowitz and Deborah Abramson.

Notes From Now offers a dynamic musical reflection of our contemporary world, spanning a wide range of song styles. Sean Peter Forte serves as Music Director. Macy Schmidt, recently named to Forbes ’30 Under 30’ music list for 2022, is the Orchestrator.

Notes From Now will play March 2 – 20, 2022 on the following performance schedule: Tuesdays – Fridays at 7pm; Saturdays at 2pm and 7pm; and Sundays at 2pm. There are Wednesday matinees at 2pm on March 9 and March 16.

Tickets, starting at $25 for “first look” performances, are now available and can be purchased by visiting 59e59.org or by calling 646-892-7999. Student Rush tickets and ’30 & Under’ Membership tickets are also available.

For more information, please visit ProspectTheater.org.


CAST BIOGRAPHIES

ASHLEY BLANCHET (Actor). Broadway: Waitress (Dawn), Frozen, Beautiful (The Locomotion), Annie (Star-to-be), Memphis. Regional selections: Cinderella (Ella) Paper Mill Playhouse, Oklahoma! (Ado Annie) PCLO. Upcoming Film: Better Nate Than Ever on Disney+, Are You Okay? WonderMedia. Ashley received her BFA in Musical Theater from The University of Michigan where she became the first recipient of The Kurt Weill Award for Excellence in Theatre.

THANI BRANT (Actor) is thrilled to be making their New York debut in Notes From Now! Recent credits include Working at the Depot Theatre, Touchstone in U of M’s As You Like It, and Anna in Spring Awakening with Exit Left Theatre Co. They are a 2021 graduate of the University of Michigan, with a BFA in Musical Theatre and a Minor in Musical Theatre Composition. Go Blue!


GENESIS ADELIA COLLADO (Understudy) (she/they) is a Dominican NY based performer, voice actor, & an Affiliated Twitch Streamer. Genesis is very passionate about queer representation & inclusivity for both performers & viewers from marginalized communities. She has worked closely with Women of Color on Broadway, as well as performing in Mexico’s Broadway in the Park with Lance Horne. Genesis is very excited to be here, making her off-Broadway debut.

DARRON HAYES (Actor) is excited to be making his Off-Broadway debut! Regional credits include: Asolo Repertory Theatre, Music Theatre Wichita, Two River Theatre, New London Barn Playhouse, and JAG Productions, where he was in the first ever All-Black production of Next to Normal. He is from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and graduated high school from The University of North Carolina School of the Arts. He is also a recent alum of Penn State- BFA Musical Theatre ‘21. Gratitude to HCKR and Casting, and he is extremely thankful for his family, teachers, and friends for the endless sacrifices and love.

JOSH LAMON (Actor) most recently appeared at the A.R.T in the world premiere of Wild* with Idina Menzel. Broadway: The Prom*, Groundhog Day*, Finding Neverland*, Elf, Hair*. Shakespeare in the Park: Into the Woods. Off-Broadway: A New Brain* (Encores!); Little Miss Sunshine (2nd Stage); Little Me!; Emojiland*; February House (The Public Theatre). National Tour: Hair (Helen Hayes Award), Wicked (1st National). TV/Film: Here Today (Dir. Billy Crystal), “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” “The Blacklist,” “The Good Fight,” “30 Rock,” “Deadbeat,” “Inside Amy Schumer.” Podcast: “Josh Swallows Broadway,” Broadway Podcast Network. (*Original Cast Recording).

ALINE MAYAGOITIA (Actor) is a Mexican and American actor returning to Prospect Theater Company after being a part of Monument in 2018. Off-Bway: Forbidden Broadway: The Next Generation. Regional: A Crossing, Evita, Into the Woods, Kinky Boots, In the Heights. TV: “Love Life” on HBO Max. Graduate of the University of Michigan. Thank you for providing fertile space for new work. “…keep breaking traditions, I beg you.” —Stanislavsky


JUDY MCLANE (Actor) is a 2020 Outer Critics Circle Honoree for Romeo and Bernadette, and Drama Desk and Drama League Nominee for Johnny Guitar. She starred on Broadway in Mamma Mia! as both Donna and Tanya, performing over 4000 shows. Other Broadway credits: Kiss of the Spider Woman, Aspects of Love, Chess. National and International tours: Big, Into the Woods, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Side By Side By Sondheim directed by Rob Marshall. Regional: LaChuisa’s Los Otros, Master Class, Sunset Boulevard, Next to Normal, Light in the Piazza, Follies (Helen Hayes nomination), Evita, Man of La Mancha. Film: Were the World Mine, Hiding in Daylight (Cannes Film Festival). TV: “Madame Secretary,” “Elementary,” “The Blacklist,” Showtime’s “The Loudest Voice.”

JOHN YI (Actor). New York Theatre: KPOP, Soft Power, Oliver!. Tours: Cinderella (First National), Miss Saigon. TV: “Jigsaw” (Netflix), “The Other Two” (HBO Max), “Mr. Robot” (USA). Film: Over The Moon (Netflix). Education: Elon. Proud Teach For America Houston alum.


CREATIVE TEAM BIOGRAPHIES

BILLY BUSTAMANTE (Director/Choreographer) is a NYC-based Performer, Director/Choreographer, Performer and Photographer. His Directing/choreography credits include The Adding Machine, LaChiusa’s The Wild Party, Utah Shakespeare Festival, Prospect Theater Company, Arden Theatre, Virginia Stage Company, Goodspeed, Lincoln Center & National Asian Artists Project. Broadway performing credits include Miss Saigon (Engineer alt.), The King And I (Lun Tha u/s). Off-Broadway/ Regional: Soft Power and Here Lies Love at the Public Theatre, Center Theatre Group, Arena Stage, Old Globe and Paper Mill Playhouse. Billy studied musical theatre at Philadelphia's University Of The Arts and is a proud member of SDC, AEA and SAG/AFTRA. He is co-founder of Broadway Barkada, and is on faculty at Jen Waldman Studio and Circle In the Square Theatre School. Billy is passionately committed to the development of new artists and building a more equitable world.

MICHAEL CASSARA, CSA (Casting Director) current/upcoming: Mr. Holland's Opus (dir. BD Wong, upcoming/2022), Americano! (off-Broadway/2022), Penelope (York Theatre/2022). Recent: An American In Paris (int'l tour, dir. Christopher Wheeldon), The Mad Ones (Prospect Theater Company, dir. Stephen Brackett), Spamilton (NYC/Chicago/Pittsburgh CLO/tour), Gigantic (Vineyard Theatre, dir. Scott Schwartz), Enter Laughing (York Theatre), Forbidden Broadway (last three editions/cast albums), The 12 (Denver Center/world premiere). Regional credits include productions for Gulfshore Playhouse, Asolo Rep, Actors Theatre of Louisville, Ogunquit Playhouse, Hangar Theatre, and many others. Resident Casting Director for the National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) since 2013, and previously for the New York Musical Festival (NYMF) from 2007-2019. Native Clevelander, member of the Casting Society of America. BFA, Otterbein University.

SHANNON CLARKE (Lighting Design) is a New York based lighting designer and she is thrilled to be working with Prospect Theatre Company again. Her previous designs for Prospect include Rule of Three, Reignite, MoveMEANT and Ship in a Bottle. Her other design credits include Broadway Holiday Spectacular for Transendence Theatre Company, The Ballroom, Almost Ritual, and Any/Which/Way for Co•Lab Dance. She recently made her Broadway debut as the associate lighting designer on Chicken & Biscuits.

SEAN PETER FORTE (Music Director) is a Brooklyn-based musical director, conductor, pianist, arranger, and occasional actor-musician. Most recently he was the associate musical director of Daniel Fish’s Most Happy which was a part of Bard Summerscape 2021. He also served as the associate musical director for the national tour of Fiasco Theater’s Into the Woods and has worked regionally at Paper Mill Playhouse and Ogunquit Playhouse. He’s been a rehearsal pianist on several Broadway shows, including the 2019 Oklahoma! Revival, Tina, Mean Girls, and A Gentlemen’s Guide to Love and Murder. He is currently developing a few new theatrical pieces and works with Broadway actress Bianca Marroquin as her musical director.

RODRIGO MUÑOZ (Costume Design) is a New York-based costume designer originally from Mexico City. Recent credits: The Bluest Eye (Huntington Theatre), This Space Between Us (Theatre Row), Preparedness (Bushwick Starr), The Fall of the House of Usher (Boston Lyric Opera), Water by the Spoonful (Fordham Theatre), Impulso (The Movement Theatre), The Revenger's Tragedy (Redbull Theatre), Jazz Singer (Abrons Arts Center). Education: BA Theatre Set Design, The National School of Theatre and Arts (Mexico); MFA Costume Design, NYU Tisch School of the Arts - Design for Stage and Film.

RIW RAKKULCHON (Scenic Design) is a Set & Costume Designer, Animator, and Chef from Bangkok, Thailand. Selected credits: Associate Set Designer (Pass Over on Broadway). He/They has worked at Yale Repertory Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Drury Lane Theatre, Asolo Rep, The Acting Company, 59E59, Edinburgh Fringe, Primary Stages, The Public Theater, amongst others. He/They also works with designers Wilson Chin, Riccardo Hernandez, Jason Ardizzone-West, Donyale Werle, Santo Loquasto, Rachel Hauck, Clint Ramos and Walt Spangler. Board member of WithAll, a non-profit organization that fights to end eating disorders. B.F.A. Ithaca College, M.F.A Yale School of Drama (Donald & Zorca Oenslager Fellowship Award in Design Recipient). Member of United Scenic Artist 829.

BEN SCHEFF (Sound Design). Off-Broadway: Kennedy: Bobby’s Last Crusade; Only Human; Red Roses, Green Gold. Regional/Touring: Twas the Night Before… (Cirque du Soleil), Stars Above (Hideaway Circus), Hurricane Diane (The Huntington Theater), No Room for Wishing (Company One/Central Square Theater), The Secret in the Wings, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (South Coast Rep YC). Associate/Assistant Design: Roundabout Theater Company, Cherry Lane Theater, Primary Stages, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York Theater Workshop, Playwright’s Realm, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, The Geffen Playhouse, South Coast Rep, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Member IATSE USA 829 - United Scenic Artists.

MACY SCHMIDT (Orchestrator) is an Egyptian-American Orchestrator & Music Director based who was recently named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 Music list for her work as Founder & CEO of The Broadway Sinfonietta, an all female-identifying, majority women-of-color orchestra showcasing BIPOC women musicians on Broadway. Recent projects include: TINA (Broadway), Kimberly Akimbo (Off-Bway), Disney’s Aida (upcoming revival), and Beauty and the Beast (UK tour), the musical adaptation of Chelsea Clinton’s SHE PERSISTED (Music Supervisor), and the acclaimed Ratatouille musical, for which her orchestration work was praised by The New York Times for its likeness to a “classic Disney Act I finale in the brassy manner of Alan Menken.” She is represented by ICM Partners


ABOUT 59E59 THEATERS

59E59 THEATERS was established by the Elysabeth Kleinhans Theatrical Foundation in 2004 to grant professional space and expertise to non-profit theater companies premiering their work in New York City. Under the leadership of Val Day, Artistic Director, and Brian Beirne, Managing Director, 59E59 Theaters presents a year-round curated program of Off Broadway plays and musicals that are nurtured and supported through highly-subsidized rental rates as well as production, ticketing, FOH, marketing, and press support.


ABOUT PROSPECT THEATER COMPANY

PROSPECT THEATER COMPANY is dedicated to fostering and showcasing today's new voices shaping tomorrow's musicals. Over two decades, the company has premiered more than 35 musicals in New York City, in addition to new plays and numerous re-inventions of classic works. Reflecting its investment in the future of the field, Prospect leads a variety of developmental initiatives: including an annual Musical Theater Lab for emerging writers, and the IGNITE Series of new musical theater in concert. In 2020, Prospect launched the VISION Series of original music-theater works on film, created for online streaming. In recognition of its enterprising and risk-taking new musical theater, the company has received an OBIE Award grant, and its role as a community anchor for emerging artists that strengthens the quality, diversity, and dynamism of American theater was honored by the American Theatre Wing.

Recently, Prospect produced the Drama Desk Award-nominated Einstein’s Dreams (2019) by Joanne Sydney Lessner & Joshua Rosenblum, adapted from the novel by Alan Lightman, and The Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Award-nominated The Hello Girls (2018), by company founding artists Peter Mills & Cara Reichel. Both shows ran Off-Broadway at 59E59 Theaters, and have original cast albums available from Broadway Records. Other notable productions include: Kerrigan & Lowdermilk's The Mad Ones (2017); Milburn & Vigoda's Long Story Short (2015); Ryan Scott Oliver and Hunter Foster's Jasper in Deadland (2014); the Drama Desk nominated Tamar of the River (2013) by Joshua H. Cohen and Marisa Michelson; Carner & Gregor's Unlock'd (2013); Gordon Greenberg's revisal of Working (Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Ensemble, 2012) including new songs by Lin Manuel Miranda; Elizabeth Lucas' re-imagining of Guettel's Myths and Hymns (2012); and John Gregor's With Glee (2010).


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