THE BURNT PART BOYS Review Quotes

“A GENUINE TREAT! AN AMBITIOUS, BRACING COMING-OF-AGE NEW MUSICAL with rich songs, beautiful singing and a smoky bluegrass score. -Michael Sommers, New Jersey Newsroom “THRILLING! A BREATH OF FRESH AIR! ‘The Burnt Part Boys’ is a welcome end of season gift unlike anything in recent memory.” -Mark Peikert, New York Press “AN ADVENTUROUS, INNOVATIVE AND […]

“A GENUINE TREAT! AN AMBITIOUS, BRACING COMING-OF-AGE NEW MUSICAL

with rich songs, beautiful singing and a smoky bluegrass score.

-Michael Sommers, New Jersey Newsroom

“THRILLING! A BREATH OF FRESH AIR!

‘The Burnt Part Boys’ is a welcome end of season gift unlike anything in recent memory.”

-Mark Peikert, New York Press

“AN ADVENTUROUS, INNOVATIVE AND GRIPPING MUSICAL!”

-Steven Suskin, Variety

“TENSE AND TOUCHING WITH A STIRRING SCORE

of rich harmonies well-sung by a talented cast — ‘Burnt Part’ is a warm-hearted, coming-of-age musical.”

-Joe Dziemianowicz, New York Daily News

“VIVID, APPEALING PERFORMANCES!

A tuneful and warm-spirited, family-friendly new show- the spirit of youthful high jinks recall the exploits of Mark Twain’s beloved roughhousers, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.”

-Charles Isherwood, The New York Times

“FOUR STARS! AMBITIOUS AND ACCOMPLISHED! A SMART, ARDENT SHOW!

Just when you think musical theater is all tapped out, pieces like ‘Burnt Part’ find new material to mine.”

-Adam Feldman, Time Out New York

“MEMORABLE!

A warm-hearted and touching bluegrass-infused coming-of-age journey.

-Jennifer Farrar, Associated Press

Artists

Joe Calarco

(Direction and Musical Staging) is the adaptor/director ofSHAKESPEARE’S R&J, which ran for a year Off-Broadway, becoming the longest running version of Romeo and Juliet in New York history, and earning him a Lortel Award.  He also directed the play’s award-winning premieres in Chicago, DC, London and Tokyo.  He’s previously worked with THE BURNT PART BOYS writers Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen directing their song cycle FUGITIVE SONGS (Drama Desk nomination, Best Musical Revue). Additional New York credits include FLOYD AND CLEA UNDER THE WESTERN SKY (Playwrights Horizons), BOY(Primary Stages), …IN THE ABSENCE OF SPRING…(Second Stage), BURY THE DEAD (Transport Group) and SARAH, PLAIN AND TALL. He’s earned four Helen Hayes Awards for Best Director (ASSASSINS, URINETOWN, NIJINSKY’S LAST DANCE and SIDE SHOW, all at Signature Theatre).

Nathan Tysen

(Lyrics) Nathan Tysen, profiled in The Dramatist Magazine under “Fifty to Watch,” has written THE BURNT PART BOYS (music by Chris Miller, book by Mariana Elder, finalist for the American Theatre Critics New Play Award).  Other work with Miller includestheir song cycle FUGITIVE SONGS (2008 Drama Desk nomination for Outstanding Revue) and an adaptation of Chris Van Allsburg’s picture book THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK  (book by Joe Calarco, world premiere at Barrington Stage, Boston Globe Top Ten Pick of 2008).  He’s received awards and grants from many foundations including Richard Rodgers, Jonathan Larson, Frederick Loewe, Kitty Carlisle Hart and Daryl Roth.  He is currently working with Miller on MOLLY’S DELICIOUS (book by Craig Wright) for Playwrights Horizons/Theatreworks, an adaptation of TUCK EVERLASTING, and a new musical commissioned by Lincoln Center Theater.

Chris Miller

(Music) THE BURNT PART BOYS (Vineyard Theatre). Chris studied piano and voice at Elon University and Musical Theatre Writing at NYU. With Nathan Tysen, he has written an album of folk/cabaret songs entitled Point A, a musical based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK (Joe Calarco, book) and the Off-Broadway song cycle FUGITIVE SONGS, which was nominated for a Drama Desk Award (Outstanding Revue). He is a contributing composer (Mark Campbell, lyrics) to the song cycle SONGS FROM AN UNMADE BED produced at NYTW in 2005 (cast album on Sh-K-Boom Records). His string quartet MOMENT OF WEAKNESS premiered at Symphony Space in 2007. His songs have been performed at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Don’t Tell Mamas, The Triad and The Knitting Factory.  Awards: 2003 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Grant, 2003 Frederick Lowe Foundation Grant, 2004 Daryl Roth Creative Spirit Award, 2006 Richard Rodgers Award, 2007 Kitty Carlisle Hart Musical Theatre Award from the Vineyard Theatre, ASCAP Plus Awards 2005-07, one of the Dramatists Guild Magazine’s “50 To Watch” in 2007.

Mariana Elder

(Book) Credits include THE BURNT PART BOYS (New York Stage and Film, Vineyard Theatre, Barrington Stage Company, Theatreworks Palo Alto, University of Nebraska: Lincoln, National Endowment of the Arts Grant, American Critics New Play Finalist); THIS SIDE OF PARADISE (Theater for a New City, Bank Street Theater, Hudson Backstage Theater, Manhattan Theatre Source, published Estrogenius Sourcebook); RUN TEDDY RUN (Electric Pear, NYU/Playwrights Horizons, Musical Theater Works, Ensemble Studio Theatre Rusty Magee Fellowship, Daryl Roth Award).  Graduate of NYU Tisch (Dean’s Fellow) and Grinnell College, teaching artist for Lincoln Center Theater and Dreamyard Project.

Asa Somers

(Miner Taylor) Originated the role of Doctor Madden in the Second Stage production of NEXT TO NORMAL and recently joined the Broadway production. Other Broadway: GREY GARDENS, TABOO, DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES,THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW. Off-Broadway: THE BURNT PART BOYS, HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (title role), ONCE AROUND THE SUN. Regional includes THE MAN IN THE WHITE SUIT (NY Stage & Film) and HAIR (TUTS Houston).

Randy Redd

(Miner Boggs) Broadway: RING OF FIRE, PARADE (Lincoln Center and national tour).  Other credits include THE BURNT PART BOYS (Vineyard Theatre), SOME MEN (Second Stage), LUCKY STIFF (York),SMOKE ON THE MOUNTAIN (Lambs), PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES (20th Anniversary) and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s BY JEEVES (Kennedy Center). Film: KINSEY, AFTER THE STORM.

Molly Ranson

(Frances) Broadway/London: Jean in AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY (2009 Olivier Award nomination, Best Company Performance). Recent graduate of LaGuardia Arts High School: Mother in RAGTIME, Moll in THE CRADLE WILL ROCK. She had the distinction of playing the title role in the recent workshop of the notorious musical CARRIE. Off-Broadway- THE BURNT PART BOYS (Vineyard Theatre).

Noah Galvin

(Dusty) Originated the role of Billy in ACE (Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Playhouse in the Park in Cincinnati) for which he won a Kevin Kline Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Musical. Galvin also originated the role of Jamie in Cirque du Soleil’s WINTUK at Madison Square Garden. Off-Broadway: THE BURNT PART BOYS. National tour: LES MISÉRABLES (Gavroche). Regional: THE WHO’S TOMMY (Bay Street Theatre).

Steve French

(Miner Tinns) New York: THE BURNT PART BOYS (Vineyard Theatre), MANIFESTO (Second Stage); STILL THE RIVER RUNS, PROFESSIONAL SKEPTICISM(Zootopia). Regional: AVENUE X (Alliance Theatre); CAMELOT, BIG RIVER (Goodspeed Musicals); OTHELLO, A CHRISTMAS CAROL (Hartford Stage Company); A MOON FOR THE MISBEGOTTEN, THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP (Long Wharf).

Andrew Durand

(Brent) Broadway: WAR HORSE, SPRING AWAKENING. West End: THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG. Off-Broadway: LOVE’S LABOUR’S LOST, THE WILD BRIDE, YANK, THE BURNT PART BOYS. TV: “Madam Secretary” guest star CBS. Andrew has toured the US and UK extensively doing multiple shows with Kneehigh Theater Co. to venues such as Berkeley Rep, Chicago Shakespeare, The Guthrie, St Ann’s Warehouse, Liverpool Everyman Playhouse, and The Bristol Old Vic.

Al Calderon

(Pete) Made his Broadway debut as Eddie in the Jason Robert Brown musical 13.  He performed the role of Patrick in the RADIO CITY CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR 2007, also appearing in the role on television. Off-Broadway: THE BURNT PART BOYS. Regional: GREASE, BYE BYE BIRDIE, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, 13.

Charlie Brady

(Jake) Broadway debut in the Lincoln Center Theater production of SOUTH PACIFIC. Off-Broadway: THE BURNT PART BOYS (Vineyard Theatre). National tours: LES MISÉRABLES, MAMMA MIA! Regional: Barrington Stage Company (THE BURNT PART BOYS, THE MYSTERIES OF HARRIS BURDICK), North Shore Music Theater (LES MISÉRABLES), St. Louis Muny (MISS SAIGON), Moonlight Amphitheater (THE MUSIC MAN). He was a series regular on the TV show “Kids Incorporated.”

Michael Park

(Cop) Broadway: SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ; CAROUSEL; LITTLE ME; Encores: APPLAUSE; BLOOMER GIRL. Off-Broadway: MIDDLETOWN (Vineyard Theatre), THE BURNT PART BOYS (Vineyard, Playwrights Horizons); VIOLET (Playwrights Horizons); HELLO AGAIN (Lincoln Center); MILK AND HONEY (AJT); THE LAST GOODBYE (Williamstown Theatre Festival). Cast Recordings: SMOKEY JOE’S CAFÉ; HELLO AGAIN; LITTLE ME; VIOLET. TV: “As theWorld Turns”,(2010 Emmy Winner).