The Burnt Part Boys: new musical to play at Playwright Horizons in Spring of 2010

The Burnt Part Boys � a new musical by Mariana Elder (book), Nathan Tysen (lyrics) and Chris Miller (music), directed by Erica Schmidt (Humor Abuse) � will have an innovative production and development schedule on its way to an Off-Broadway premiere in the spring of 2010, when it will be presented as a co-production by Playwrights Horizons and the Vineyard Theatre at Playwrights Horizons, it has been announced by both non-profit theaters.

Following a developmental Lab Production � not open for review � at The Vineyard from 26 May - 6 Jun 2009, The Burnt Part Boys will be presented this summer at New York Stage and Film at Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, and will then receive its New York City premiere in spring of 2010.

The unique developmental track of The Burnt Part Boys � which involves the collaboration of two New York City theater companies, Vineyard Theatre and Playwrights Horizons, and one regional theater, New York Stage and Film Company � comes in part under the aegis of a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to Playwrights Horizons for the development of new musicals in partnership with a regional theater, wholly within the non-profit system from start to finish.

The 2010 debut of The Burnt Part Boys marks the first time that the two award-winning theaters, Playwrights Horizons and Vineyard Theatre, have co-produced together.

Having given The Burnt Part Boys several developmental readings, the Vineyard Theatre approached Playwrights Horizons about a co-production; their shared passion for the piece made the timing felicitous to join together to bring it to life. The Mellon Foundation grant will support this unique model for the development and production of an original American musical.

With The Burnt Part Boys, Playwrights Horizons, Vineyard Theatre and New York Stage and Film continue their commitment to developing unique and ground-breaking new musicals. At Playwrights Horizons, these include such musicals as 'Grey Gardens,' James Joyce�s 'The Dead,' 'Assassins,' 'Once on This Island' and 'Sunday in the Park with George,' and at the Vineyard Theatre these include such musicals as 'Avenue Q,' '[title of show],'' The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island,' 'Eli�s Comin�' and 'Dream True.' New York Stage and Film has developed new musicals by artists including Pete Townshend, Duncan Sheik and Steven Slater, John Patrick Shanley and Henry Krieger and Christopher Durang.