NYMF's "Best New Musical" Prize Goes to BW Grad

Photo courtesy Micah Joel

A new musical by BW music theatre grad Dan Marshall '02 was a big winner at this summer's New York Musical Theatre Festival.  Marshall co-wrote the book and lyrics for ACADEMIA NUTS which was chosen by the festival's 2014 Awards for Excellence jury as the "Play-by-Play Best New Musical" out of 26 shows.  ACADEMIA NUTS also picked up awards for acting, directing and writing, both book and lyrics.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is billed as "the preeminent launching pad for stylistically, thematically, and culturally diverse new musicals."

Described as a "nerd-rock musical," ACADEMIA NUTS is set at the National High School Quizbowl Championship where "dreamy-eyed brainiac Maggie McCutter hopes to win a scholarship so she can escape her controlling mother. (But) Maggie’s world is hilariously turned upside down when she falls for Tyler O'Neil, a football-loving opponent from (a) rival team."

"I was so excited to work alongside our talented cast, award-winning director and designers," Marshall said. "The experience of hearing audiences laugh and cheer at our jokes and songs made the effort of creating an original musical well worth it."

ACADEMIA NUTS also is the first New York Musical Theatre Festival project to receive a grant from the Kevin Spacey Foundation: America. Marshall and his writing partner started on the project in graduate school at NYU. 

Dan Marshall '02 (3rd from left) and his his ACADEMIA NUTS co-creators celebrate their NYMF "Best New Musicial" award. Left to right are Charissa Bertels (producer) Julian Blackmore (composer), Dan Marshall (lyrics/book) and Becca Anderson (lyrics/book).