Mannyville LLC and Dramatic Question Theatre in association with the New York Musical Theatre Festival is presenting the premiere of Manuel versus The Statue of Liberty with book by Noemi de la Puente, music by David Davila & Howard Post, lyrics by Noemi de la Puente & David Davila. Helmed by José Zayas, Manuel versus The Statue of Liberty, features choreography by Sidney Erik Wright and musical direction by Karl Hedrick. The new musical will play at the 2015 NYMF from July 21 -27 at the Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street).
The writers and the muses….at Gleason’s Boxing Gym in Brooklyn – with David Davila, Shakina Nayfack, Gil Perez-Abraham and Noemi de la Puente. Photo courtesy of Manuel vs the Statue of Liberty/Facebook
Gil Perez-Abraham
Winner of the 2014 NYMF Developmental Reading Series, this Latin infused American musical is inspired by the true story of a Princeton Undergrad who was an undocumented child immigrant from the Dominican Republic. When Manuel gets a scholarship to study at Oxford, he’s faced with the realization that he can’t leave the USA. He takes on The Statue of Liberty in the fight of a lifetime; the high-stakes boxing match that is immigration today. Is Manuel worthy? No one is spared in this political comedy that pulls no punches about immigration reform and the American Dream.
Shakina Nayfack. Photo by Susan Rosenberg Jones
The cast stars Gil Perez – Abraham (Little Fish) as Manuel and Shakina Nayfack (2015 Lilly Award, One Woman Show) as The Statue of Liberty, and features AJ Meijer (Heathers The Musical), Alicia Taylor Tomasko (In The Heights), Anthony Chan (National Tour: Anything Goes), Erika Gonzalez (Shot in the Dark), Michael Marotta (Regional: Tenderly), and Tami Dahbura (National Tour: Memphis). Creative team includes: Zach Blane (Lighting Design), David Margolis Lawson (Sound Design), Jason Simms (Set Design), Lux Haac (Costume Design).
Tickets are $27.50 and are available by visiting nymf.org or by calling 212-352-3101.
Performance schedule:
- Tuesday, July 21, 2015 at 8:00 pm
- Wednesday, July 22, 2015 at 5:00 pm
- Saturday, July 25, 2015 at 5:00 pm
- Sunday, July 26, 2015 at 8:00 pm
- Monday, July 27, 2015 at 12:00 pm
Click here for more information.
Lia Chang is an actor, a performance and fine art botanical photographer, and an award-winning multi-platform journalist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon and Taxman. She has guest starred on “One Life to Live,” “As the World Turns,” and “New York Undercover.” She is profiled in Jade Magazine.
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