Monday, April 13, 2009
Kerrigan and Lowdermilk Do it Again
I just heard about a new Broadway-hopeful musical, The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown, opening at the Orange County Performing Arts Center on April 21. From the award-winning team of Kait Kerrigan and Brian Lowdermilk, this is the show’s first completely staged developmental production and is part of the Los Angeles Festival of New American Musicals. If you aren’t familiar with their work, better start googling them now to catch up.
The Unauthorized Autobiography of Samantha Brown is the emotional story of a high school valedictorian struggling with life-changing decisions about sex, love, college, and the impact the paths she chooses have on the rest of her life. The show features a talented cast of Broadway performers, including: Patti Murin (Xanadu) in the title role, Lisa Brescia (Wicked) and Stephen Bogardus (White Christmas) as her parents, Jenni Barber (25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) as Sam’s friend Kelly, and Nick Blaemire (Cry Baby) as her boyfriend, Adam.
Samantha Brown’s development process includes a previous workshop at Manhattan Theatre Club, directed by Christopher Ashley, and a reading at the Artists’ Showcase Reading Series at the 92nd Street Y. It was also featured in the 2005 NAMT Songwriters Showcase. Kerrigan and Lowdermilk have collaborated on two other musicals: The Woman Upstairs and Wrong Number, both of which were featured in the New York Musical Theatre Festival. They are recipients of a 2006 Jonathan Larson Award and a 2004-2005 Jonathan Larson Fellowship at the Dramatists Guild.
Free post-show talk backs will follow the April 23, 25 (matinee) and 30 performances.
