Monthly Archives: January 2023

The Association for Independent Music Publishers (AIMP) has revealed the final nominees for the 2023 AIMP Nashville Country Awards, celebrating the biggest hits of the past year penned and championed exclusively by Nashville’s independent publishing companies and their songwriters.

The event, sponsored by Spotify and open to all AIMP Nashville members, will take place at the Ryman Auditorium on March 21 at 6 p.m. Bob DiPiero and Craig Wiseman will serve as hosts.

“We are thrilled to bring the AIMP awards back to the Ryman to celebrate the Nashville community of independent artists, writers and publishers,” says Ree Guyer, President, AIMP Nashville Chapter. “The show promises to be an intimate and special experience, highlighting the best songwriting talent Nashville has to offer.”

Music Row veteran Jody Williams will be honored with the 2023 AIMP Nashville Spirit Award. Williams, who was previously recognized by the AIMP in 2016 as one of the inaugural co-recipients of the AIMP Nashville Song Champion Award, will be celebrated for his enduring and significant contributions to the independent publishing and songwriting community.

AIMP has introduced a new category for this years’ awards, recognizing the writers and publishers of the Most Streamed Song of the Year. The new category will supplement existing categories such as Rising Songwriter of the Year, Rising Artist-Writer of the Year, Artist-Writer of the Year, Song Champion of the Year, Publisher’s Pick of the Year, Song of the Year, Songwriter of the Year and Publisher of the Year.

AIMP Nashville members were emailed updated voter eligibility and category requirements for the 2023 AIMP Nashville Country Awards on Dec. 14, 2022. Email [email protected] for a copy of the requirements if needed. The final voting period will open tomorrow (Feb. 1) and close at 5 p.m. CT on Wednesday, Feb. 8.

See the full list of nominees below:
AIMP Rising Songwriter of the Year
– Ben Williams (Major Bob Music)
– Cameron Bedell (Liz Rose Music)
– Jenn Schott (RED Creative Group and Anthem Entertainment)
– Joe Fox (Liz Rose Music)
– Lydia Vaughan (Cornman Music)
– Ryan Beaver (SMACKSongs)
– Will Bundy (Cornman Music)

AIMP Rising Artist-Writer of the Year
– Ashley Cooke (Back Blocks Music)
– Corey Kent (Combustion Music)
– Ernest (Big Loud Publishing)
– Jackson Dean (Little Louder Music)
– Meg McRee (Hang Your Hat Music and Concord Music Publishing)
– Pillbox Patti (Nicolette Hayford) (SMACKSongs and River House Artists)

AIMP Artist-Writer of the Year
– Ashley McBryde (Canned Biscuit Songs)
– Hardy (Relative Music Group)
– Jimmie Allen (Endurance Music Group)
– Jordan Davis (Anthem Entertainment)
– Morgan Wallen (Big Loud Publishing)
– Walker Hayes (SMACKSongs and RareSpark Media Group)

AIMP Songwriter of the Year
– Ben Johnson (Artist Publishing Group and Taperoom Music)
– Ernest Keith Smith (Big Loud Publishing)
– Jesse Frasure (Rhythm House Music)
– Michael Hardy (Relative Music Group)
– Morgan Wallen (Big Loud Publishing)
– Shane McAnally (SMACKSongs and Tempo Investments)

AIMP Song Champion of the Year
– Cris Lacy – Co-President, Warner Music Nashville
– Erika Wollam Nichols – President / General Manager, The Bluebird Cafe
– Lee Krabel – Vice President, Publishing, SMACKSongs
– Sara Knabe – Owner, Cake Maker Music
– Shannan Hatch – Vice President of Creative Services, SESAC
– Tim Hunze – Vice President of Publishing, Big Machine Music

AIMP Publisher Pick of the Year
– “Already Crazy” written by Lauren Hungate, Tofer Brown and Carter Faith; independently published by Concord Music Publishing, Chromatic Music; performed by Carter Faith
– “As Far As You Could” written by Jimmy Robbins, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood; independently published by BOOM Music Group, Cinq Music Publishing; performed by Charles Kelley
– “Don’t Think Jesus” written by Mark Holman, Jessi Alexander and Chase McGill; independently published by Big Loud Publishing; performed by Morgan Wallen
– “Humble Quest” written by Jimmy Robbins, Laura Veltz and Maren Morris; independently published by Big Machine Music, Muse Magic, JRM Publishing, Round Hill Music; performed by Maren Morris
– “If He Wanted To He Would” written by Ben Johnson, Kylie Morgan and Zandi Holup; independently published by Artist Publishing Group, Bad Angel Entertainment, SMACKSongs, Tape Room Music; performed by Kylie Morgan
– “Man Made” written by Brett Sheroky and Ian Christian; independently published by Brett Sheroky Publishing, Still Working Music; performed by Matt Stell
– “Reverse Cowgirl” written by Jared Scott, Joe Fox and Zack Dyer; independently published by Plaid Flag Songs, Liz Rose Music; performed by Jon Pardi

AIMP Song of the Year
– “23” written by Chris La Corte, Shane McAnally, Josh Osborne and Sam Hunt; independently published by Concord Music Publishing, Hang Your Hat Music, SMACKSongs, Tempo Investments; performed by Sam Hunt
– “All Too Well (Taylor’s Version)” written by Liz Rose and Taylor Swift; independently published by Liz Rose Music; performed by Taylor Swift
– “Circles Around This Town” written by Jimmy Robbins, Ryan Hurd, Maren Morris and Julia Michaels; independently published by Big Machine Music, Muse Magic, JRM Publishing, Round Hill Music; performed by Maren Morris
– “Last Night Lonely” written by Dylan Marlowe, Joe Fox and Jimi Bell; independently published by Play It Again Entertainment, Liz Rose Music; performed by Jon Pardi
– “You Proof” written by Ashley Gorley, Ernest Keith Smith, Morgan Wallen and Ryan Vojtesak; independently published by Big Loud Publishing, Round Hill Music; performed by Morgan Wallen
– “You Should Probably Leave” written by Ashley Gorley, Chris DuBois and Chris Stapleton; independently published by Round Hill Music, Sea Gayle Music, Spirit Music Nashville; performed by Chris Stapleton

Top Independent Music Publishers of the Year
– Anthem Entertainment
– Big Loud Publishing
– Big Machine Music
– Round Hill Music
– SMACKSongs
– Tape Room Music

Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, Goodspeed Musicals has announced the participants for the annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals which will be held January 31 – February 27 on the Goodspeed campus in East Haddam, Connecticut. A distinguished group of 34 established and emerging composers, lyricists and librettists representing 16 new musicals will gather in East Haddam creating a truly exceptional environment for discovery and inspiration at one of the premier writers’ residencies in the nation.

Established in 2013, The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed is an unparalleled, long-term residency program devoted exclusively to musical theatre writing. It provides a sanctuary for composers, lyricists, and librettists to embark on new musical theatre work or to devote a substantial amount of time to a work-in-progress in an environment rich with creative energy. For four weeks, starting January 31, the writing teams work in residence in Goodspeed’s Artists Village, each team in their own house, with whatever support is needed, from dramaturgical to Goodspeed’s fine music department. In the evenings writers get together in an informal, salon-style environment and share the day’s work. This gathering allows the artists an invaluable opportunity to gain insight from their colleagues. The Grove is the ultimate think tank of veteran Broadway and young working professionals in theater today.

“I have worked with JMF Writers Grove since its inception and each year I am humbled and inspired by the amazing group of musical theatre creators who join us on the Goodspeed campus. I am awed to listen to their beautiful work and to know that these artists will ensure that the future of musical theatre is vibrant, inclusive and exciting,” said Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals’ Artistic Director.

Jonathan Brielle, Executive Vice President of JMF and Writer/Producer in Residence stated, “Years ago, when I described the Grove as the think tank for new musicals, I could only dream it would become the success it is today. Over 300 emerging and award-winning writers have participated, including teams represented on Broadway right now. It has become an experience I look forward to all year long.”

Over the course of the program, Jonathan Brielle will again serve as a writer and Producer in Residence. His first Broadway credit was writing music and lyrics for Foxfire starring theater legends Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy (who won the Tony) and Keith Carradine. Subsequently, he became Composer in Residence of the prestigious Circle Repertory Company in New York, providing scores for some of New York’s top playwrights. His recent credits include his slightly autobiographical show, A Monkey and Me, Stories I Never Told My Mother (book, music, lyrics) Axelrod Performing Arts Center, in which he starred with Tovah Feldshuh and Veanne Cox; Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics), Minetta Lane Theater; Nightmare Alley (book, music, lyrics), Geffen Playhouse; and A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics), Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference. His Las Vegas shows include book, music and lyrics for Enter The Night (Stardust) and MADhattan (New York, New York). For television, he is the music director and composer for Wonderama on the Tribune network and is the founder of Vala Musicals, a streaming platform for new shows and forever free musical theater education. At this year’s JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed, Jonathan will be working with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Bernstein on an untitled project.

Blair Russell will serve as Producer in Residence. Mr. Russell is a producer, developer, supporter and lover of theatre and live performances whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows. His most recent theatre projects include the Tony-nominated Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris, Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas, and the new musicals For Tonight and EPIC. As Co-Founder of Resounding, he produces live immersive entertainment. He is currently Co-President of the board of New York Theatre Barn, Vice Chair of the board of The New Harmony Project and a member of the Board of Trustees of Goodspeed Musicals.

Clifford Lee Johnson III will serve as Resident Dramaturge. As part of Wonder City Productions, he produces and develops new plays and musicals. Their current project is a new musical about a beloved American figure. Between 1993 and 2009, he was the Director of Musical Development at Manhattan Theatre Club; prior to that he was the Assistant Literary Manager at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He has been a critic for BACKSTAGE and published articles on the theater in various publications. He has also taught at the Kenyon Playwrights Conference and served as an adviser during the creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Mr. Johnson recently co-created the Theater Consultants Resource website www.theaterconsultants.org, a centralized location for consultants wishing to share information and clients seeking to locate consultants. He is especially proud of participating in a citizen-scientist effort to discover new planets. So far, he has one to his credit.

Goodspeed’s Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton is guiding Goodspeed Musicals’ efforts on The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed with additional artistic support from Goodspeed Artistic Associate Michael Fling and Line Producer Stephen Agosto.

Establishing the Grove created a confluence of Goodspeed’s long-held mission of fostering new works and JMF’s dedication to nurturing the discipline of songwriting. With this unique collaboration, Goodspeed continues to be an incubator for the next generation of musical theatre artists and performers, as well as the home of the American Musical. This is best illustrated by several projects that Goodspeed has moved from The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed forward to full production including the acclaimed 2019 productions of Passing Through by Brett Ryback and Eric Ulloa and Hi, My Name Is Ben by Scott Gilmour and Claire MacKenzie as well as the 2017 productions of Deathless and Darling Grenadine, Indian Joe in 2015, and Chasing Rainbows in 2016. In 2023, Goodspeed will be further developing Private Gomer Jones by Marshall Pailet which also was included in Goodspeed’s 2020 Festival of New Musicals. Other notable productions from the Grove include the Pulitzer Prize and 2022 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson.

The Grove is pleased to announce that the 2023 participants are (in alphabetical order) Melis Aker, Jake Bernstein, Jonathan Brielle, Jonatha Brooke, Jessie Burton, Jeff Chambers, Jacinta Clusellas, Paula Cole, Jennifer Lucy Cook, Lauren Du Pree, Scott Gilmour, Mark Governor, Jasmine Joshua, Joriah Kwamé, Patrick Lundquist, Beth Malone, Claire McKenzie, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Geoffrey Nauffts, Tatiana Pandiani, T.J. Peiffer, Barnaby Race, Heather Ragusa, Lynn Rosen, Janet Roston, Emily Sailers, Marc Sambola, Jesse J. Sanchez, Peter Seibert, Shelby Solla, Mary Ann Stratton, Shea Sullivan, Melvin Tunstall III and Pia Wilson.

The outstanding writers who have been invited to participate in the 2023 JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed have earned tremendous recognition in the industry with honors including a Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prizes, ASCAP’s Harold Arlen Award, Sundance fellow, NAACP award, Walt Disney Imagineering New Voices, Great British Podcast Award, Member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, “Best Score” award in the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Festival, McKnight Artist Fellowship Grant, International Acoustic Music Award for Best Female Artist, Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award for Best New American Play, Independent Music Award, Sundance Interdisciplinary Program grant, National Directors Fellowship from the O’Neill Center, Naledi Award, the South African equivalent to the Tony Award, Webby award, ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award, Ovation Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Premis de la Crítica Award for Best Composition, National Book Awards Book of the Year, Waterstones Book of the Year, Cantus Emerging Composer Award, Unique Business of the Year at the Scottish Business Awards and NYMF Publishing Award among other awards and nominations.

The mission of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is to support the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of the legendary Johnny Mercer: lyricist, composer, performer, collaborator and producer. The Foundation continues Johnny’s legacy by partnering with individuals and organizations dedicated to celebrating and nourishing the disciplines he mastered and the causes he and his wife Ginger Mercer championed.
JMF has created a number of dynamic creative joint ventures with several prestigious institutions to facilitate their goals including the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Accentuate the Positive Programs (New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta), The Musical Theater Program at NJPAC, Georgia State University Fellowship Program, the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project with Northwestern University and the Johnny Mercer Archives at Georgia State University. JMF also supports the Johnny Mercer Music Program at the Braille Institute, Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.johnnymercer.org.

ABOUT GOODSPEED MUSICALS:

Goodspeed Musicals has achieved international acclaim and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Under the leadership of Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director and David B. Byrd, Managing Director, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the celebration, development and advancement of musical theatre. Goodspeed creates powerful, world-class productions of enlightening new and established works to entertain and inspire audiences. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah and Holiday Inn) and more than 90 new musicals have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, GoodWorks commissioning program and The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture the talents of new and established artists and support the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of The Shubert Foundation, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; CT Humanities; and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.goodspeed.org

Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, Goodspeed Musicals has announced the participants for the annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals which will be held January 31 – February 27 on the Goodspeed campus in East Haddam, Connecticut. A distinguished group of 34 established and emerging composers, lyricists and librettists representing 16 new musicals will gather in East Haddam creating a truly exceptional environment for discovery and inspiration at one of the premier writers’ residencies in the nation.

Established in 2013, The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed is an unparalleled, long-term residency program devoted exclusively to musical theatre writing. It provides a sanctuary for composers, lyricists, and librettists to embark on new musical theatre work or to devote a substantial amount of time to a work-in-progress in an environment rich with creative energy. For four weeks, starting January 31, the writing teams work in residence in Goodspeed’s Artists Village, each team in their own house, with whatever support is needed, from dramaturgical to Goodspeed’s fine music department. In the evenings writers get together in an informal, salon-style environment and share the day’s work. This gathering allows the artists an invaluable opportunity to gain insight from their colleagues. The Grove is the ultimate think tank of veteran Broadway and young working professionals in theater today.

“I have worked with JMF Writers Grove since its inception and each year I am humbled and inspired by the amazing group of musical theatre creators who join us on the Goodspeed campus. I am awed to listen to their beautiful work and to know that these artists will ensure that the future of musical theatre is vibrant, inclusive and exciting,” said Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals’ Artistic Director.

Jonathan Brielle, Executive Vice President of JMF and Writer/Producer in Residence stated, “Years ago, when I described the Grove as the think tank for new musicals, I could only dream it would become the success it is today. Over 300 emerging and award-winning writers have participated, including teams represented on Broadway right now. It has become an experience I look forward to all year long.”

Over the course of the program, Jonathan Brielle will again serve as a writer and Producer in Residence. His first Broadway credit was writing music and lyrics for Foxfire starring theater legends Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy (who won the Tony) and Keith Carradine. Subsequently, he became Composer in Residence of the prestigious Circle Repertory Company in New York, providing scores for some of New York’s top playwrights. His recent credits include his slightly autobiographical show, A Monkey and Me, Stories I Never Told My Mother (book, music, lyrics) Axelrod Performing Arts Center, in which he starred with Tovah Feldshuh and Veanne Cox; Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics), Minetta Lane Theater; Nightmare Alley (book, music, lyrics), Geffen Playhouse; and A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics), Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference. His Las Vegas shows include book, music and lyrics for Enter The Night (Stardust) and MADhattan (New York, New York). For television, he is the music director and composer for Wonderama on the Tribune network and is the founder of Vala Musicals, a streaming platform for new shows and forever free musical theater education. At this year’s JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed, Jonathan will be working with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Bernstein on an untitled project.

Blair Russell will serve as Producer in Residence. Mr. Russell is a producer, developer, supporter and lover of theatre and live performances whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows. His most recent theatre projects include the Tony-nominated Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris, Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas, and the new musicals For Tonight and EPIC. As Co-Founder of Resounding, he produces live immersive entertainment. He is currently Co-President of the board of New York Theatre Barn, Vice Chair of the board of The New Harmony Project and a member of the Board of Trustees of Goodspeed Musicals.

Clifford Lee Johnson III will serve as Resident Dramaturge. As part of Wonder City Productions, he produces and develops new plays and musicals. Their current project is a new musical about a beloved American figure. Between 1993 and 2009, he was the Director of Musical Development at Manhattan Theatre Club; prior to that he was the Assistant Literary Manager at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He has been a critic for BACKSTAGE and published articles on the theater in various publications. He has also taught at the Kenyon Playwrights Conference and served as an adviser during the creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Mr. Johnson recently co-created the Theater Consultants Resource website www.theaterconsultants.org, a centralized location for consultants wishing to share information and clients seeking to locate consultants. He is especially proud of participating in a citizen-scientist effort to discover new planets. So far, he has one to his credit.

Goodspeed’s Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton is guiding Goodspeed Musicals’ efforts on The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed with additional artistic support from Goodspeed Artistic Associate Michael Fling and Line Producer Stephen Agosto.

Establishing the Grove created a confluence of Goodspeed’s long-held mission of fostering new works and JMF’s dedication to nurturing the discipline of songwriting. With this unique collaboration, Goodspeed continues to be an incubator for the next generation of musical theatre artists and performers, as well as the home of the American Musical. This is best illustrated by several projects that Goodspeed has moved from The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed forward to full production including the acclaimed 2019 productions of Passing Through by Brett Ryback and Eric Ulloa and Hi, My Name Is Ben by Scott Gilmour and Claire MacKenzie as well as the 2017 productions of Deathless and Darling Grenadine, Indian Joe in 2015, and Chasing Rainbows in 2016. In 2023, Goodspeed will be further developing Private Gomer Jones by Marshall Pailet which also was included in Goodspeed’s 2020 Festival of New Musicals. Other notable productions from the Grove include the Pulitzer Prize and 2022 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson.

The Grove is pleased to announce that the 2023 participants are (in alphabetical order) Melis Aker, Jake Bernstein, Jonathan Brielle, Jonatha Brooke, Jessie Burton, Jeff Chambers, Jacinta Clusellas, Paula Cole, Jennifer Lucy Cook, Lauren Du Pree, Scott Gilmour, Mark Governor, Jasmine Joshua, Joriah Kwamé, Patrick Lundquist, Beth Malone, Claire McKenzie, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Geoffrey Nauffts, Tatiana Pandiani, T.J. Peiffer, Barnaby Race, Heather Ragusa, Lynn Rosen, Janet Roston, Emily Sailers, Marc Sambola, Jesse J. Sanchez, Peter Seibert, Shelby Solla, Mary Ann Stratton, Shea Sullivan, Melvin Tunstall III and Pia Wilson.

The outstanding writers who have been invited to participate in the 2023 JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed have earned tremendous recognition in the industry with honors including a Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prizes, ASCAP’s Harold Arlen Award, Sundance fellow, NAACP award, Walt Disney Imagineering New Voices, Great British Podcast Award, Member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, “Best Score” award in the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Festival, McKnight Artist Fellowship Grant, International Acoustic Music Award for Best Female Artist, Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award for Best New American Play, Independent Music Award, Sundance Interdisciplinary Program grant, National Directors Fellowship from the O’Neill Center, Naledi Award, the South African equivalent to the Tony Award, Webby award, ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award, Ovation Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Premis de la Crítica Award for Best Composition, National Book Awards Book of the Year, Waterstones Book of the Year, Cantus Emerging Composer Award, Unique Business of the Year at the Scottish Business Awards and NYMF Publishing Award among other awards and nominations.

The mission of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is to support the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of the legendary Johnny Mercer: lyricist, composer, performer, collaborator and producer. The Foundation continues Johnny’s legacy by partnering with individuals and organizations dedicated to celebrating and nourishing the disciplines he mastered and the causes he and his wife Ginger Mercer championed.
JMF has created a number of dynamic creative joint ventures with several prestigious institutions to facilitate their goals including the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Accentuate the Positive Programs (New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta), The Musical Theater Program at NJPAC, Georgia State University Fellowship Program, the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project with Northwestern University and the Johnny Mercer Archives at Georgia State University. JMF also supports the Johnny Mercer Music Program at the Braille Institute, Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.johnnymercer.org.

ABOUT GOODSPEED MUSICALS:

Goodspeed Musicals has achieved international acclaim and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Under the leadership of Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director and David B. Byrd, Managing Director, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the celebration, development and advancement of musical theatre. Goodspeed creates powerful, world-class productions of enlightening new and established works to entertain and inspire audiences. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah and Holiday Inn) and more than 90 new musicals have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, GoodWorks commissioning program and The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture the talents of new and established artists and support the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of The Shubert Foundation, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; CT Humanities; and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.goodspeed.org

Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, Goodspeed Musicals has announced the participants for the annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals which will be held January 31 – February 27 on the Goodspeed campus in East Haddam, Connecticut. A distinguished group of 34 established and emerging composers, lyricists and librettists representing 16 new musicals will gather in East Haddam creating a truly exceptional environment for discovery and inspiration at one of the premier writers’ residencies in the nation.

Established in 2013, The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed is an unparalleled, long-term residency program devoted exclusively to musical theatre writing. It provides a sanctuary for composers, lyricists, and librettists to embark on new musical theatre work or to devote a substantial amount of time to a work-in-progress in an environment rich with creative energy. For four weeks, starting January 31, the writing teams work in residence in Goodspeed’s Artists Village, each team in their own house, with whatever support is needed, from dramaturgical to Goodspeed’s fine music department. In the evenings writers get together in an informal, salon-style environment and share the day’s work. This gathering allows the artists an invaluable opportunity to gain insight from their colleagues. The Grove is the ultimate think tank of veteran Broadway and young working professionals in theater today.

“I have worked with JMF Writers Grove since its inception and each year I am humbled and inspired by the amazing group of musical theatre creators who join us on the Goodspeed campus. I am awed to listen to their beautiful work and to know that these artists will ensure that the future of musical theatre is vibrant, inclusive and exciting,” said Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals’ Artistic Director.

Jonathan Brielle, Executive Vice President of JMF and Writer/Producer in Residence stated, “Years ago, when I described the Grove as the think tank for new musicals, I could only dream it would become the success it is today. Over 300 emerging and award-winning writers have participated, including teams represented on Broadway right now. It has become an experience I look forward to all year long.”

Over the course of the program, Jonathan Brielle will again serve as a writer and Producer in Residence. His first Broadway credit was writing music and lyrics for Foxfire starring theater legends Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy (who won the Tony) and Keith Carradine. Subsequently, he became Composer in Residence of the prestigious Circle Repertory Company in New York, providing scores for some of New York’s top playwrights. His recent credits include his slightly autobiographical show, A Monkey and Me, Stories I Never Told My Mother (book, music, lyrics) Axelrod Performing Arts Center, in which he starred with Tovah Feldshuh and Veanne Cox; Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics), Minetta Lane Theater; Nightmare Alley (book, music, lyrics), Geffen Playhouse; and A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics), Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference. His Las Vegas shows include book, music and lyrics for Enter The Night (Stardust) and MADhattan (New York, New York). For television, he is the music director and composer for Wonderama on the Tribune network and is the founder of Vala Musicals, a streaming platform for new shows and forever free musical theater education. At this year’s JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed, Jonathan will be working with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Bernstein on an untitled project.

Blair Russell will serve as Producer in Residence. Mr. Russell is a producer, developer, supporter and lover of theatre and live performances whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows. His most recent theatre projects include the Tony-nominated Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris, Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas, and the new musicals For Tonight and EPIC. As Co-Founder of Resounding, he produces live immersive entertainment. He is currently Co-President of the board of New York Theatre Barn, Vice Chair of the board of The New Harmony Project and a member of the Board of Trustees of Goodspeed Musicals.

Clifford Lee Johnson III will serve as Resident Dramaturge. As part of Wonder City Productions, he produces and develops new plays and musicals. Their current project is a new musical about a beloved American figure. Between 1993 and 2009, he was the Director of Musical Development at Manhattan Theatre Club; prior to that he was the Assistant Literary Manager at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He has been a critic for BACKSTAGE and published articles on the theater in various publications. He has also taught at the Kenyon Playwrights Conference and served as an adviser during the creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Mr. Johnson recently co-created the Theater Consultants Resource website www.theaterconsultants.org, a centralized location for consultants wishing to share information and clients seeking to locate consultants. He is especially proud of participating in a citizen-scientist effort to discover new planets. So far, he has one to his credit.

Goodspeed’s Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton is guiding Goodspeed Musicals’ efforts on The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed with additional artistic support from Goodspeed Artistic Associate Michael Fling and Line Producer Stephen Agosto.

Establishing the Grove created a confluence of Goodspeed’s long-held mission of fostering new works and JMF’s dedication to nurturing the discipline of songwriting. With this unique collaboration, Goodspeed continues to be an incubator for the next generation of musical theatre artists and performers, as well as the home of the American Musical. This is best illustrated by several projects that Goodspeed has moved from The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed forward to full production including the acclaimed 2019 productions of Passing Through by Brett Ryback and Eric Ulloa and Hi, My Name Is Ben by Scott Gilmour and Claire MacKenzie as well as the 2017 productions of Deathless and Darling Grenadine, Indian Joe in 2015, and Chasing Rainbows in 2016. In 2023, Goodspeed will be further developing Private Gomer Jones by Marshall Pailet which also was included in Goodspeed’s 2020 Festival of New Musicals. Other notable productions from the Grove include the Pulitzer Prize and 2022 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson.

The Grove is pleased to announce that the 2023 participants are (in alphabetical order) Melis Aker, Jake Bernstein, Jonathan Brielle, Jonatha Brooke, Jessie Burton, Jeff Chambers, Jacinta Clusellas, Paula Cole, Jennifer Lucy Cook, Lauren Du Pree, Scott Gilmour, Mark Governor, Jasmine Joshua, Joriah Kwamé, Patrick Lundquist, Beth Malone, Claire McKenzie, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Geoffrey Nauffts, Tatiana Pandiani, T.J. Peiffer, Barnaby Race, Heather Ragusa, Lynn Rosen, Janet Roston, Emily Sailers, Marc Sambola, Jesse J. Sanchez, Peter Seibert, Shelby Solla, Mary Ann Stratton, Shea Sullivan, Melvin Tunstall III and Pia Wilson.

The outstanding writers who have been invited to participate in the 2023 JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed have earned tremendous recognition in the industry with honors including a Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prizes, ASCAP’s Harold Arlen Award, Sundance fellow, NAACP award, Walt Disney Imagineering New Voices, Great British Podcast Award, Member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, “Best Score” award in the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Festival, McKnight Artist Fellowship Grant, International Acoustic Music Award for Best Female Artist, Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award for Best New American Play, Independent Music Award, Sundance Interdisciplinary Program grant, National Directors Fellowship from the O’Neill Center, Naledi Award, the South African equivalent to the Tony Award, Webby award, ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award, Ovation Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Premis de la Crítica Award for Best Composition, National Book Awards Book of the Year, Waterstones Book of the Year, Cantus Emerging Composer Award, Unique Business of the Year at the Scottish Business Awards and NYMF Publishing Award among other awards and nominations.

The mission of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is to support the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of the legendary Johnny Mercer: lyricist, composer, performer, collaborator and producer. The Foundation continues Johnny’s legacy by partnering with individuals and organizations dedicated to celebrating and nourishing the disciplines he mastered and the causes he and his wife Ginger Mercer championed.
JMF has created a number of dynamic creative joint ventures with several prestigious institutions to facilitate their goals including the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Accentuate the Positive Programs (New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta), The Musical Theater Program at NJPAC, Georgia State University Fellowship Program, the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project with Northwestern University and the Johnny Mercer Archives at Georgia State University. JMF also supports the Johnny Mercer Music Program at the Braille Institute, Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.johnnymercer.org.

ABOUT GOODSPEED MUSICALS:

Goodspeed Musicals has achieved international acclaim and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Under the leadership of Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director and David B. Byrd, Managing Director, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the celebration, development and advancement of musical theatre. Goodspeed creates powerful, world-class productions of enlightening new and established works to entertain and inspire audiences. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah and Holiday Inn) and more than 90 new musicals have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, GoodWorks commissioning program and The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture the talents of new and established artists and support the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of The Shubert Foundation, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; CT Humanities; and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.goodspeed.org

Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, Goodspeed Musicals has announced the participants for the annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals which will be held January 31 – February 27 on the Goodspeed campus in East Haddam, Connecticut. A distinguished group of 34 established and emerging composers, lyricists and librettists representing 16 new musicals will gather in East Haddam creating a truly exceptional environment for discovery and inspiration at one of the premier writers’ residencies in the nation.

Established in 2013, The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed is an unparalleled, long-term residency program devoted exclusively to musical theatre writing. It provides a sanctuary for composers, lyricists, and librettists to embark on new musical theatre work or to devote a substantial amount of time to a work-in-progress in an environment rich with creative energy. For four weeks, starting January 31, the writing teams work in residence in Goodspeed’s Artists Village, each team in their own house, with whatever support is needed, from dramaturgical to Goodspeed’s fine music department. In the evenings writers get together in an informal, salon-style environment and share the day’s work. This gathering allows the artists an invaluable opportunity to gain insight from their colleagues. The Grove is the ultimate think tank of veteran Broadway and young working professionals in theater today.

“I have worked with JMF Writers Grove since its inception and each year I am humbled and inspired by the amazing group of musical theatre creators who join us on the Goodspeed campus. I am awed to listen to their beautiful work and to know that these artists will ensure that the future of musical theatre is vibrant, inclusive and exciting,” said Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals’ Artistic Director.

Jonathan Brielle, Executive Vice President of JMF and Writer/Producer in Residence stated, “Years ago, when I described the Grove as the think tank for new musicals, I could only dream it would become the success it is today. Over 300 emerging and award-winning writers have participated, including teams represented on Broadway right now. It has become an experience I look forward to all year long.”

Over the course of the program, Jonathan Brielle will again serve as a writer and Producer in Residence. His first Broadway credit was writing music and lyrics for Foxfire starring theater legends Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy (who won the Tony) and Keith Carradine. Subsequently, he became Composer in Residence of the prestigious Circle Repertory Company in New York, providing scores for some of New York’s top playwrights. His recent credits include his slightly autobiographical show, A Monkey and Me, Stories I Never Told My Mother (book, music, lyrics) Axelrod Performing Arts Center, in which he starred with Tovah Feldshuh and Veanne Cox; Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics), Minetta Lane Theater; Nightmare Alley (book, music, lyrics), Geffen Playhouse; and A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics), Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference. His Las Vegas shows include book, music and lyrics for Enter The Night (Stardust) and MADhattan (New York, New York). For television, he is the music director and composer for Wonderama on the Tribune network and is the founder of Vala Musicals, a streaming platform for new shows and forever free musical theater education. At this year’s JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed, Jonathan will be working with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Bernstein on an untitled project.

Blair Russell will serve as Producer in Residence. Mr. Russell is a producer, developer, supporter and lover of theatre and live performances whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows. His most recent theatre projects include the Tony-nominated Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris, Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas, and the new musicals For Tonight and EPIC. As Co-Founder of Resounding, he produces live immersive entertainment. He is currently Co-President of the board of New York Theatre Barn, Vice Chair of the board of The New Harmony Project and a member of the Board of Trustees of Goodspeed Musicals.

Clifford Lee Johnson III will serve as Resident Dramaturge. As part of Wonder City Productions, he produces and develops new plays and musicals. Their current project is a new musical about a beloved American figure. Between 1993 and 2009, he was the Director of Musical Development at Manhattan Theatre Club; prior to that he was the Assistant Literary Manager at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He has been a critic for BACKSTAGE and published articles on the theater in various publications. He has also taught at the Kenyon Playwrights Conference and served as an adviser during the creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Mr. Johnson recently co-created the Theater Consultants Resource website www.theaterconsultants.org, a centralized location for consultants wishing to share information and clients seeking to locate consultants. He is especially proud of participating in a citizen-scientist effort to discover new planets. So far, he has one to his credit.

Goodspeed’s Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton is guiding Goodspeed Musicals’ efforts on The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed with additional artistic support from Goodspeed Artistic Associate Michael Fling and Line Producer Stephen Agosto.

Establishing the Grove created a confluence of Goodspeed’s long-held mission of fostering new works and JMF’s dedication to nurturing the discipline of songwriting. With this unique collaboration, Goodspeed continues to be an incubator for the next generation of musical theatre artists and performers, as well as the home of the American Musical. This is best illustrated by several projects that Goodspeed has moved from The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed forward to full production including the acclaimed 2019 productions of Passing Through by Brett Ryback and Eric Ulloa and Hi, My Name Is Ben by Scott Gilmour and Claire MacKenzie as well as the 2017 productions of Deathless and Darling Grenadine, Indian Joe in 2015, and Chasing Rainbows in 2016. In 2023, Goodspeed will be further developing Private Gomer Jones by Marshall Pailet which also was included in Goodspeed’s 2020 Festival of New Musicals. Other notable productions from the Grove include the Pulitzer Prize and 2022 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson.

The Grove is pleased to announce that the 2023 participants are (in alphabetical order) Melis Aker, Jake Bernstein, Jonathan Brielle, Jonatha Brooke, Jessie Burton, Jeff Chambers, Jacinta Clusellas, Paula Cole, Jennifer Lucy Cook, Lauren Du Pree, Scott Gilmour, Mark Governor, Jasmine Joshua, Joriah Kwamé, Patrick Lundquist, Beth Malone, Claire McKenzie, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Geoffrey Nauffts, Tatiana Pandiani, T.J. Peiffer, Barnaby Race, Heather Ragusa, Lynn Rosen, Janet Roston, Emily Sailers, Marc Sambola, Jesse J. Sanchez, Peter Seibert, Shelby Solla, Mary Ann Stratton, Shea Sullivan, Melvin Tunstall III and Pia Wilson.

The outstanding writers who have been invited to participate in the 2023 JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed have earned tremendous recognition in the industry with honors including a Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prizes, ASCAP’s Harold Arlen Award, Sundance fellow, NAACP award, Walt Disney Imagineering New Voices, Great British Podcast Award, Member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, “Best Score” award in the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Festival, McKnight Artist Fellowship Grant, International Acoustic Music Award for Best Female Artist, Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award for Best New American Play, Independent Music Award, Sundance Interdisciplinary Program grant, National Directors Fellowship from the O’Neill Center, Naledi Award, the South African equivalent to the Tony Award, Webby award, ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award, Ovation Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Premis de la Crítica Award for Best Composition, National Book Awards Book of the Year, Waterstones Book of the Year, Cantus Emerging Composer Award, Unique Business of the Year at the Scottish Business Awards and NYMF Publishing Award among other awards and nominations.

The mission of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is to support the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of the legendary Johnny Mercer: lyricist, composer, performer, collaborator and producer. The Foundation continues Johnny’s legacy by partnering with individuals and organizations dedicated to celebrating and nourishing the disciplines he mastered and the causes he and his wife Ginger Mercer championed.
JMF has created a number of dynamic creative joint ventures with several prestigious institutions to facilitate their goals including the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Accentuate the Positive Programs (New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta), The Musical Theater Program at NJPAC, Georgia State University Fellowship Program, the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project with Northwestern University and the Johnny Mercer Archives at Georgia State University. JMF also supports the Johnny Mercer Music Program at the Braille Institute, Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.johnnymercer.org.

ABOUT GOODSPEED MUSICALS:

Goodspeed Musicals has achieved international acclaim and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Under the leadership of Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director and David B. Byrd, Managing Director, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the celebration, development and advancement of musical theatre. Goodspeed creates powerful, world-class productions of enlightening new and established works to entertain and inspire audiences. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah and Holiday Inn) and more than 90 new musicals have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, GoodWorks commissioning program and The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture the talents of new and established artists and support the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of The Shubert Foundation, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; CT Humanities; and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.goodspeed.org

ATLANTA — Five-time Grammy award-winning rapper Lil Wayne is bringing the ‘Welcome To Tha Carter’ tour to Atlanta.

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The hip-hop heavyweight, born Dwayne Carter Jr., has arguably been considered “one of the best-selling artists of all time.” He’s sold over 100 million records worldwide with 25 million albums and 90 million digital track sold just in the United States.

The 28-city tour kicks off this spring beginning April 4 in Minneapolis, Minn. and ending in Los Angeles, Calif. on May 13.

There will be multiple stops in between, including Atlanta at the Tabernacle on Apr. 22.

TRENDING STORIES:

The news comes just before The Recording Academy’s Black Music Collective pre-Grammy event.

According to the release, the musical icon is set to receive the Global Impact Award for his personal and professional achievements in the music industry.

The chart-topping artist is also the first artist to surpass Elvis Presley with the most entries on the Billboard Hot 100, the release states.

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Tickets for the tour will go on sale at 10 a.m. on Feb. 3 and can be purchased here.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Human trafficking prevention campaign launched in Atlanta

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Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, Goodspeed Musicals has announced the participants for the annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals which will be held January 31 – February 27 on the Goodspeed campus in East Haddam, Connecticut. A distinguished group of 34 established and emerging composers, lyricists and librettists representing 16 new musicals will gather in East Haddam creating a truly exceptional environment for discovery and inspiration at one of the premier writers’ residencies in the nation.

Established in 2013, The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed is an unparalleled, long-term residency program devoted exclusively to musical theatre writing. It provides a sanctuary for composers, lyricists, and librettists to embark on new musical theatre work or to devote a substantial amount of time to a work-in-progress in an environment rich with creative energy. For four weeks, starting January 31, the writing teams work in residence in Goodspeed’s Artists Village, each team in their own house, with whatever support is needed, from dramaturgical to Goodspeed’s fine music department. In the evenings writers get together in an informal, salon-style environment and share the day’s work. This gathering allows the artists an invaluable opportunity to gain insight from their colleagues. The Grove is the ultimate think tank of veteran Broadway and young working professionals in theater today.

“I have worked with JMF Writers Grove since its inception and each year I am humbled and inspired by the amazing group of musical theatre creators who join us on the Goodspeed campus. I am awed to listen to their beautiful work and to know that these artists will ensure that the future of musical theatre is vibrant, inclusive and exciting,” said Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals’ Artistic Director.

Jonathan Brielle, Executive Vice President of JMF and Writer/Producer in Residence stated, “Years ago, when I described the Grove as the think tank for new musicals, I could only dream it would become the success it is today. Over 300 emerging and award-winning writers have participated, including teams represented on Broadway right now. It has become an experience I look forward to all year long.”

Over the course of the program, Jonathan Brielle will again serve as a writer and Producer in Residence. His first Broadway credit was writing music and lyrics for Foxfire starring theater legends Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy (who won the Tony) and Keith Carradine. Subsequently, he became Composer in Residence of the prestigious Circle Repertory Company in New York, providing scores for some of New York’s top playwrights. His recent credits include his slightly autobiographical show, A Monkey and Me, Stories I Never Told My Mother (book, music, lyrics) Axelrod Performing Arts Center, in which he starred with Tovah Feldshuh and Veanne Cox; Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics), Minetta Lane Theater; Nightmare Alley (book, music, lyrics), Geffen Playhouse; and A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics), Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference. His Las Vegas shows include book, music and lyrics for Enter The Night (Stardust) and MADhattan (New York, New York). For television, he is the music director and composer for Wonderama on the Tribune network and is the founder of Vala Musicals, a streaming platform for new shows and forever free musical theater education. At this year’s JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed, Jonathan will be working with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Bernstein on an untitled project.

Blair Russell will serve as Producer in Residence. Mr. Russell is a producer, developer, supporter and lover of theatre and live performances whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows. His most recent theatre projects include the Tony-nominated Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris, Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas, and the new musicals For Tonight and EPIC. As Co-Founder of Resounding, he produces live immersive entertainment. He is currently Co-President of the board of New York Theatre Barn, Vice Chair of the board of The New Harmony Project and a member of the Board of Trustees of Goodspeed Musicals.

Clifford Lee Johnson III will serve as Resident Dramaturge. As part of Wonder City Productions, he produces and develops new plays and musicals. Their current project is a new musical about a beloved American figure. Between 1993 and 2009, he was the Director of Musical Development at Manhattan Theatre Club; prior to that he was the Assistant Literary Manager at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He has been a critic for BACKSTAGE and published articles on the theater in various publications. He has also taught at the Kenyon Playwrights Conference and served as an adviser during the creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Mr. Johnson recently co-created the Theater Consultants Resource website www.theaterconsultants.org, a centralized location for consultants wishing to share information and clients seeking to locate consultants. He is especially proud of participating in a citizen-scientist effort to discover new planets. So far, he has one to his credit.

Goodspeed’s Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton is guiding Goodspeed Musicals’ efforts on The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed with additional artistic support from Goodspeed Artistic Associate Michael Fling and Line Producer Stephen Agosto.

Establishing the Grove created a confluence of Goodspeed’s long-held mission of fostering new works and JMF’s dedication to nurturing the discipline of songwriting. With this unique collaboration, Goodspeed continues to be an incubator for the next generation of musical theatre artists and performers, as well as the home of the American Musical. This is best illustrated by several projects that Goodspeed has moved from The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed forward to full production including the acclaimed 2019 productions of Passing Through by Brett Ryback and Eric Ulloa and Hi, My Name Is Ben by Scott Gilmour and Claire MacKenzie as well as the 2017 productions of Deathless and Darling Grenadine, Indian Joe in 2015, and Chasing Rainbows in 2016. In 2023, Goodspeed will be further developing Private Gomer Jones by Marshall Pailet which also was included in Goodspeed’s 2020 Festival of New Musicals. Other notable productions from the Grove include the Pulitzer Prize and 2022 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson.

The Grove is pleased to announce that the 2023 participants are (in alphabetical order) Melis Aker, Jake Bernstein, Jonathan Brielle, Jonatha Brooke, Jessie Burton, Jeff Chambers, Jacinta Clusellas, Paula Cole, Jennifer Lucy Cook, Lauren Du Pree, Scott Gilmour, Mark Governor, Jasmine Joshua, Joriah Kwamé, Patrick Lundquist, Beth Malone, Claire McKenzie, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Geoffrey Nauffts, Tatiana Pandiani, T.J. Peiffer, Barnaby Race, Heather Ragusa, Lynn Rosen, Janet Roston, Emily Sailers, Marc Sambola, Jesse J. Sanchez, Peter Seibert, Shelby Solla, Mary Ann Stratton, Shea Sullivan, Melvin Tunstall III and Pia Wilson.

The outstanding writers who have been invited to participate in the 2023 JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed have earned tremendous recognition in the industry with honors including a Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prizes, ASCAP’s Harold Arlen Award, Sundance fellow, NAACP award, Walt Disney Imagineering New Voices, Great British Podcast Award, Member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, “Best Score” award in the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Festival, McKnight Artist Fellowship Grant, International Acoustic Music Award for Best Female Artist, Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award for Best New American Play, Independent Music Award, Sundance Interdisciplinary Program grant, National Directors Fellowship from the O’Neill Center, Naledi Award, the South African equivalent to the Tony Award, Webby award, ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award, Ovation Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Premis de la Crítica Award for Best Composition, National Book Awards Book of the Year, Waterstones Book of the Year, Cantus Emerging Composer Award, Unique Business of the Year at the Scottish Business Awards and NYMF Publishing Award among other awards and nominations.

The mission of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is to support the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of the legendary Johnny Mercer: lyricist, composer, performer, collaborator and producer. The Foundation continues Johnny’s legacy by partnering with individuals and organizations dedicated to celebrating and nourishing the disciplines he mastered and the causes he and his wife Ginger Mercer championed.
JMF has created a number of dynamic creative joint ventures with several prestigious institutions to facilitate their goals including the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Accentuate the Positive Programs (New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta), The Musical Theater Program at NJPAC, Georgia State University Fellowship Program, the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project with Northwestern University and the Johnny Mercer Archives at Georgia State University. JMF also supports the Johnny Mercer Music Program at the Braille Institute, Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.johnnymercer.org.

ABOUT GOODSPEED MUSICALS:

Goodspeed Musicals has achieved international acclaim and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Under the leadership of Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director and David B. Byrd, Managing Director, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the celebration, development and advancement of musical theatre. Goodspeed creates powerful, world-class productions of enlightening new and established works to entertain and inspire audiences. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah and Holiday Inn) and more than 90 new musicals have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, GoodWorks commissioning program and The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture the talents of new and established artists and support the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of The Shubert Foundation, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; CT Humanities; and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.goodspeed.org

The music business, historically speaking, has not been great at consensus. But there does seem to be growing agreement from many quarters now that the existing payment structure for streaming royalties isn’t working for everyone and that a different approach is required.

This isn’t a new idea, but it’s one that’s quickly gathering steam in the wake of Universal Music Group chairman/CEO Lucian Grainge’s internal staff memo/open letter to the industry earlier this month, in which he called for an “updated model” for the music industry — one that will be “an innovative, ‘artist-centric’ model that values all subscribers and rewards the music they love.”

It wasn’t clear what, exactly, Grainge meant in the letter. And on Tuesday (Jan. 31), it became a little bit clearer that, as of yet, there isn’t much clarity on what it will mean — though UMG is hoping to find it. To that end, Universal has announced a partnership with TIDAL to “research how, by harnessing fan engagement, digital music services and platforms can generate greater commercial value for every type of artist,” according to a press release. Essentially, there are a lot of unknowns here other than that something needs to change.

That was more or less what UMG’s executive vp/chief digital officer Michael Nash said in a statement accompanying the release. “As the digital landscape continues to evolve, it’s become increasingly clear that music streaming’s economic model needs innovation to ensure a vibrant and sustainable future,” he said. “Tidal’s embrace of this transformational opportunity is especially exciting because the music ecosystem can work better — for every type of artist and fan — but only through dedicated, thoughtful collaboration. Built on deeply held, shared principles about the value of artistry and the importance of the artist-fan relationship, this strategic initiative will explore how to enhance and advance the model in keeping with our collective objectives.”

This is not TIDAL’s first attempt at stepping out of the traditional streaming royalties model, in which streaming income is collected and divvied up among rights holders according to their share of total streams. In November 2021, the streamer announced a new three-tier membership structure and a step into a user-centric royalty model for its premium tier, which endeavored to pay rights holders based on the streaming activity of each individual user — with the additional element that 10% of each user’s subscription fee would go directly to their most-streamed artist.

That, in itself, is a twist on the “fan-powered royalties” that SoundCloud first rolled out in March 2021, which allocated streaming revenue to artists based on which acts a given user listened to, and which Warner Music Group opted into last year. (Deezer has also publicly supported a user-centric model.) SoundCloud says that artists using FPR generate 60% more streaming revenue than those who use the more traditional model, though it’s currently only being offered to indie artists and WMG artists on the SoundCloud platform; a MiDiA study said that 56% of artists were better off with FPR. Access to the data on who the fans are who are streaming that music the most, SoundCloud has said, is the true game-changer for the model.

There has, however, been some hesitance around that user-centric idea, mainly due to studies conducted in the last few years surrounding who would benefit, and at the expense of whom, by the switch. One study found that for 99.4% of artists, the switch would equate to less than a 5% bump in royalties — for many, effectively just a few euros per year — which could be offset by the administrative costs of the switch itself for the platform. That could disproportionately affect R&B/hip-hop artists, given that the genres have thrived in the streaming era, to the benefit of other, smaller or more niche genres. And it would definitely take away from top earners’ revenue — i.e., artists who wield an outsized voice in the business. A general view became that the switch would equate to moving money from one bucket to another, without really moving the needle for most artists at all.

TIDAL, in today’s announcement, effectively conceded the point and said they are stepping away from the user-centric model they were pursuing in order to take a step back and join in this new research project with UMG. “We are setting aside our current fan-centered royalties investigation to focus on this opportunity for more impact,” TIDAL’s Jesse Dorogusker said in a statement. “This partnership will enable us to rethink how we can sustainably improve royalties’ distribution for the breadth of artists on our platform.”

What they’re saying is, essentially, it’s time for a new study to see if there are better, perhaps more nuanced, ways to change up a model that pretty much everyone is beginning to agree is no longer functioning the way it was originally intended. “At TIDAL, we learned from [fan-centered royalties] there is an opportunity to build a royalties distribution model that could be better at compensating the breadth of genres and artists that contribute to streaming catalogs,” TIDAL’s global head of communications Sade Ayodele tells Billboard. “Many of the alternative models explored, however well intended that they are, unfortunately create a new set of winners and losers. With this partnership, we’re hoping to find a fairer and more equitable distribution approach that benefits a broader set of genres and artists contributing to the culture of music.”

Which brings us, again, to the original question: What will that look like? The answer could be varied, and it could be different for each streaming service. There have been some conversations in some sectors of the industry about weighting music streams higher than background sounds, for instance, or more heavily weighting intentional listening (searching for or clicking on a song or artist) over background listening (a playlist, or an algorithmically-chosen next song). There are already different models around ad-supported vs. paid subscription payouts, and there is a conversation to be had about how fan engagement should or could influence where money is directed. What UMG and TIDAL are trying to say with Tuesday’s announcement is, let’s go try some things and see what works, and let everyone else know what we’re doing so that maybe they can try to find an innovative answer, too.

Consensus is a hard thing to come by. There likely won’t be a consensus around what the end solution is, and several options could eventually emerge. But streaming has been around for more than a decade now, and if there’s any consensus at all, it’s that something needs to change.

Now celebrating its 11th anniversary, Goodspeed Musicals has announced the participants for the annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals which will be held January 31 – February 27 on the Goodspeed campus in East Haddam, Connecticut. A distinguished group of 34 established and emerging composers, lyricists and librettists representing 16 new musicals will gather in East Haddam creating a truly exceptional environment for discovery and inspiration at one of the premier writers’ residencies in the nation.

Established in 2013, The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed is an unparalleled, long-term residency program devoted exclusively to musical theatre writing. It provides a sanctuary for composers, lyricists, and librettists to embark on new musical theatre work or to devote a substantial amount of time to a work-in-progress in an environment rich with creative energy. For four weeks, starting January 31, the writing teams work in residence in Goodspeed’s Artists Village, each team in their own house, with whatever support is needed, from dramaturgical to Goodspeed’s fine music department. In the evenings writers get together in an informal, salon-style environment and share the day’s work. This gathering allows the artists an invaluable opportunity to gain insight from their colleagues. The Grove is the ultimate think tank of veteran Broadway and young working professionals in theater today.

“I have worked with JMF Writers Grove since its inception and each year I am humbled and inspired by the amazing group of musical theatre creators who join us on the Goodspeed campus. I am awed to listen to their beautiful work and to know that these artists will ensure that the future of musical theatre is vibrant, inclusive and exciting,” said Donna Lynn Hilton, Goodspeed Musicals’ Artistic Director.

Jonathan Brielle, Executive Vice President of JMF and Writer/Producer in Residence stated, “Years ago, when I described the Grove as the think tank for new musicals, I could only dream it would become the success it is today. Over 300 emerging and award-winning writers have participated, including teams represented on Broadway right now. It has become an experience I look forward to all year long.”

Over the course of the program, Jonathan Brielle will again serve as a writer and Producer in Residence. His first Broadway credit was writing music and lyrics for Foxfire starring theater legends Hume Cronyn, Jessica Tandy (who won the Tony) and Keith Carradine. Subsequently, he became Composer in Residence of the prestigious Circle Repertory Company in New York, providing scores for some of New York’s top playwrights. His recent credits include his slightly autobiographical show, A Monkey and Me, Stories I Never Told My Mother (book, music, lyrics) Axelrod Performing Arts Center, in which he starred with Tovah Feldshuh and Veanne Cox; Himself and Nora (book, music, lyrics), Minetta Lane Theater; Nightmare Alley (book, music, lyrics), Geffen Playhouse; and A Monkey and Me (book, music, lyrics), Eugene O’Neill Cabaret Conference. His Las Vegas shows include book, music and lyrics for Enter The Night (Stardust) and MADhattan (New York, New York). For television, he is the music director and composer for Wonderama on the Tribune network and is the founder of Vala Musicals, a streaming platform for new shows and forever free musical theater education. At this year’s JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed, Jonathan will be working with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jake Bernstein on an untitled project.

Blair Russell will serve as Producer in Residence. Mr. Russell is a producer, developer, supporter and lover of theatre and live performances whose experience ranges from fringe festivals to Broadway shows. His most recent theatre projects include the Tony-nominated Slave Play by Jeremy O. Harris, Lizard Boy by Justin Huertas, and the new musicals For Tonight and EPIC. As Co-Founder of Resounding, he produces live immersive entertainment. He is currently Co-President of the board of New York Theatre Barn, Vice Chair of the board of The New Harmony Project and a member of the Board of Trustees of Goodspeed Musicals.

Clifford Lee Johnson III will serve as Resident Dramaturge. As part of Wonder City Productions, he produces and develops new plays and musicals. Their current project is a new musical about a beloved American figure. Between 1993 and 2009, he was the Director of Musical Development at Manhattan Theatre Club; prior to that he was the Assistant Literary Manager at Actors Theatre of Louisville. He has been a critic for BACKSTAGE and published articles on the theater in various publications. He has also taught at the Kenyon Playwrights Conference and served as an adviser during the creation of the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. Mr. Johnson recently co-created the Theater Consultants Resource website www.theaterconsultants.org, a centralized location for consultants wishing to share information and clients seeking to locate consultants. He is especially proud of participating in a citizen-scientist effort to discover new planets. So far, he has one to his credit.

Goodspeed’s Artistic Director Donna Lynn Hilton is guiding Goodspeed Musicals’ efforts on The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed with additional artistic support from Goodspeed Artistic Associate Michael Fling and Line Producer Stephen Agosto.

Establishing the Grove created a confluence of Goodspeed’s long-held mission of fostering new works and JMF’s dedication to nurturing the discipline of songwriting. With this unique collaboration, Goodspeed continues to be an incubator for the next generation of musical theatre artists and performers, as well as the home of the American Musical. This is best illustrated by several projects that Goodspeed has moved from The JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed forward to full production including the acclaimed 2019 productions of Passing Through by Brett Ryback and Eric Ulloa and Hi, My Name Is Ben by Scott Gilmour and Claire MacKenzie as well as the 2017 productions of Deathless and Darling Grenadine, Indian Joe in 2015, and Chasing Rainbows in 2016. In 2023, Goodspeed will be further developing Private Gomer Jones by Marshall Pailet which also was included in Goodspeed’s 2020 Festival of New Musicals. Other notable productions from the Grove include the Pulitzer Prize and 2022 Tony Award-winner for Best Musical A Strange Loop by Michael R. Jackson.

The Grove is pleased to announce that the 2023 participants are (in alphabetical order) Melis Aker, Jake Bernstein, Jonathan Brielle, Jonatha Brooke, Jessie Burton, Jeff Chambers, Jacinta Clusellas, Paula Cole, Jennifer Lucy Cook, Lauren Du Pree, Scott Gilmour, Mark Governor, Jasmine Joshua, Joriah Kwamé, Patrick Lundquist, Beth Malone, Claire McKenzie, Claudine Mboligikpelani Nako, Geoffrey Nauffts, Tatiana Pandiani, T.J. Peiffer, Barnaby Race, Heather Ragusa, Lynn Rosen, Janet Roston, Emily Sailers, Marc Sambola, Jesse J. Sanchez, Peter Seibert, Shelby Solla, Mary Ann Stratton, Shea Sullivan, Melvin Tunstall III and Pia Wilson.

The outstanding writers who have been invited to participate in the 2023 JMF Writers Grove at Goodspeed have earned tremendous recognition in the industry with honors including a Grammy Award, Pulitzer Prizes, ASCAP’s Harold Arlen Award, Sundance fellow, NAACP award, Walt Disney Imagineering New Voices, Great British Podcast Award, Member of the Georgia Music Hall of Fame, “Best Score” award in the Seattle 48 Hour Horror Film Festival, McKnight Artist Fellowship Grant, International Acoustic Music Award for Best Female Artist, Outer Critics Circle’s John Gassner Award for Best New American Play, Independent Music Award, Sundance Interdisciplinary Program grant, National Directors Fellowship from the O’Neill Center, Naledi Award, the South African equivalent to the Tony Award, Webby award, ASCAP Foundation Cole Porter Award, Ovation Award, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards, Premis de la Crítica Award for Best Composition, National Book Awards Book of the Year, Waterstones Book of the Year, Cantus Emerging Composer Award, Unique Business of the Year at the Scottish Business Awards and NYMF Publishing Award among other awards and nominations.

The mission of the Johnny Mercer Foundation (JMF) is to support the discipline of songwriting in the tradition of the Great American Songbook as exemplified by the life and work of the legendary Johnny Mercer: lyricist, composer, performer, collaborator and producer. The Foundation continues Johnny’s legacy by partnering with individuals and organizations dedicated to celebrating and nourishing the disciplines he mastered and the causes he and his wife Ginger Mercer championed.
JMF has created a number of dynamic creative joint ventures with several prestigious institutions to facilitate their goals including the Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed Musicals, Accentuate the Positive Programs (New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta), The Musical Theater Program at NJPAC, Georgia State University Fellowship Program, the Johnny Mercer Songwriters Project with Northwestern University and the Johnny Mercer Archives at Georgia State University. JMF also supports the Johnny Mercer Music Program at the Braille Institute, Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.johnnymercer.org.

ABOUT GOODSPEED MUSICALS:

Goodspeed Musicals has achieved international acclaim and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards for outstanding achievement in musical theatre. Under the leadership of Donna Lynn Hilton, Artistic Director and David B. Byrd, Managing Director, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the celebration, development and advancement of musical theatre. Goodspeed creates powerful, world-class productions of enlightening new and established works to entertain and inspire audiences. From Goodspeed, 21 musicals have gone to Broadway (including Man of La Mancha, Annie, Shenandoah and Holiday Inn) and more than 90 new musicals have been launched. Goodspeed’s Festival of New Musicals, GoodWorks commissioning program and The Johnny Mercer Writers Grove at Goodspeed are distinguished cornerstones of the organization that highlight its commitment to nurture the talents of new and established artists and support the creative process. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed gratefully acknowledges the support of The Shubert Foundation, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development; CT Humanities; and the National Endowment for the Arts. www.goodspeed.org

Written and directed by Francesco Paladino, “The 3 (three simple plays about desire, deceit, and delusion)” is a tryptic of one acts. They include the following pieces.

• RECLAIM THE WOODS: Lori and Vincent seem to be a typical happy couple residing in the middle of the woods in rural upstate New York, but everything is not as it appears.

• MOTHER AND TERESA: The relationship between two women living in the church rectory of St. Teresa of Pensacola becomes strained when one has a desire to change her life.

•FATA MORGANA: Anna and Jason are celebrating a relationship milestone in Southern Italy, where caretaker Sonya complicates their stuggles to identify what is an illusion and what is their own delusion.

I had the pleasure of interviewing the show’s writer and director, Francesco Paladino about his production that is opening at the Montclair Women’s Club on February 3rd.

Please tell us about your involvement in theater.

I am a classically trained actor, director, and writer and a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), the Writers Guild of America (WGA), and the Society of European Stage Authors and Composers (SESAC). My first play, “Love Is Beautiful,” premiered at France’s The UBU Repertory Theatre in New York City. In addition to acting in Netflix’s “Orange is the New Black” and writing, appearing, and directing for “The Wendy Williams Show,” I have had an extensive stand-up and comedy writing career, opening for such comedians as Gilbert Godfrey, Julia Scotti, and Judy Gold.

What inspired you to write and direct this piece?

Although each play focuses on very different characters in very different circumstances, each one is struggling with personal demons. I’m sure we can all identofy with the challenges of wondering whom to trust, and how to remain true to oneself while keeping those we love happy. The constant tension between trying to figure out what is real and what is merely a product of our imaginations and desires is universal.

What do you want your audiences to take away from this show?

All of my art is aimed at inspiring thought and conversation. I hope this show leaves the audience with a great deal to explore, and even argue about. The endings to each piece are intended to allow room for many interpretations.

Do you have any upcoming projects that you will be working on after this?

I am currently in preproduction for a short film that I wrote and will direct. I also plan to bring “The 3” to NYC for an extended run.

How can people buy tickets to this show?

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-3-three-simple-plays-about-desire-deceit-delusion-tickets-477874333997?fbclid=IwAR0rDS6Lx47Nzq0vColBl0J1d1uIzsMS8xMFevR4SrTHJR8L7XiQwgLzkmE&mibextid=Zxz2cZ

The performers include:

Wendy Baron

Doug Bollinger

Penny Paul.

The creative team includes:

Emmy Award winning costume designer, Penelope Laughman,

Prop and set designer, Jennifer Caswell

Audio and visual director, Charles “Charlie” Noseworthy,

International entertainment photographer, Laura Desantis-Olsson

Producers include national broadcaster Christine Nagy of “The Cubby and Christine Morning Show “on 106.7 Lite-FM,;Chauncey Dandridge, artistic director, talent curator, and DJ for The Stonewall Inn, and Colleen Issa, owner and director of the Ottawa, Canada-based Colleen Issa Photography.

Photo credit: Laura Desantis-Olsson