Contemporary Classics’ New Voices Settles into Second Show Produced by The Central Heating Lab at ACT

New Voices 8 Premieres at ACT’s Falls Theatre Dec. 28, 8:00 p.m.

Seattle, WA – November 23, 2009 – He’s young, enthusiastic, and a little bit twisted! Local musical theatre producer and founder of Contemporary Classics, Brandon Ivie has a lust for musical theatre and an insatiable appetite for irreverent lyrical experimentation. On December 28, 2009 at 8:00 p.m., the Central Heating Lab at ACT presents the eighth edition of his very popular New Voices songwriter showcase series, featuring a new collection of songs and an expanded band. “I have discovered that ACT’s Central Heating Lab is absolutely, positively the best place to let our type of edgy energy roam free,” said Ivie.

New Voices 8 is a one-night only songwriter showcase in the Falls Theatre at ACT, allowing for the largest capacity crowd in New Voices history. Like previous shows, audiences will delight in hearing brand new music from this country’s most innovative composers and lyricists, sung by this city’s best musical theatre talent. But this time Ivie takes it up a notch with frequent collaborator, and one of Seattle’s busiest music directors RJ Tancioco (5^th Avenue Theatre’s HAIR, Village Theatre’s Chasing Nicolette). Tancioco will direct a full band with piano, drums, guitar, cello, and four backup singers.

In the spirit of hot Broadway musicals like Spring Awakening and Next to Normal (which was previewed at New Voices 4 in 2006 and went on to receive three Tony Awards), New Voices 8 brings together young, fresh writers who combine modern pop/rock music with a contemporary musical theatre style. Their sound is distinct and their lyrics deal with issues facing people today. It’s an opportunity to witness the next generation of composers getting scrappy and strutting their stuff with an irreverent attitude. Edgy, catchy songs like I'm Not Pregnant… I'm Just Fat, Joey Is A Punk Rocker, No One's Gonna Love You…Bitch , and Expectations of a Man may move onto big Broadway musicals someday. And Seattle heard them first!

Since its conception, New Voices has introduced more than 40 new writers to Seattle audiences. And the talented New Voices 8 cast features a bevy of “New Voices Virgins” including: Angie Louise (5^th Avenue Theatre’s Cabaret), Reba Buhr, Keely Avery, Thomas Dutton (of the band Forgive Durden), and Eric Ankrim (Seattle Children’s Theatre Peter Pan). A glamorous selection of returning favorites will join in as well: Nick Garrison (5^th Avenue Theatre’s Cabaret), Don Darryl Rivera (Seattle Children’s Theatre’s If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, and Gregory Award Winner), Ryah Nixon (Village Theatre’s Meet Me in St. Louis), Kate Jaeger (Village Theatre’s Chasing Nicolette, Centerstage Theatre’s Always… Patsy Cline), Jessica Skerritt (Village Theatre’s Chasing Nicolette, Stunt Girl), and Jennifer Paz (5^th Avenue’s Joseph…Dreamcoat) among others.

New Voices 8 contains adult content. Tickets are $20 and are available through ACT Theatre’s ticket office at 700 Union Street, Downtown Seattle, (206) 292-7676, or online at www.acttheatre.org.

About Contemporary Classics

Contemporary Classics is a new production company dedicated to producing Seattle premieres of contemporary musicals and the development of the future’s composers, lyricists, and librettists, all while using the best up-and-coming talent Seattle has to offer. Contemporary Classics produced the Seattle premieres of john & jen, The Last Five Years, A New Brain, the recent Footlight Award-winning Zanna, Don’t!, world-premiere readings of Razia’s Shadow and Over Seas, as well as The Songs of David A. Austin concert and the popular New Voices series.