Tune in Time Musical Theater Game Show at the York Theatre in New York on March 14, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Last night, Garth Kravits and Benjamin Halstead were the winners for the musical theater game show TUNE IN TIME, which just kicked off its new season at The York Theatre Company in New York.
Benjamin Halstead and Garth Kravits win the Tune in Time Musical Theater Game Show competition at the York Theatre in New York on March 14, 2016. Photo by Lia Chang
Presented by Amy Engelhardt and Heather Shields, and hosted by Emily McNamara, the evening celebrated Broadway’s Online/Internet Showstoppers, with guest Musical Director Brad Simmons and guest Timekeeper Peter Michael Marino.
Tune in Time Managing Producer Heather Shields, Artistic Producer Amy Engelhardt, Musical Director Brad Simmons and Host Emily McNamara. Photo by Lia Chang
In this “Musical Theater Olympics,” three teams of composers and lyricists who have never worked together are forced to collaborate – and to beat the clock. Their task? They must write a song for a new Broadway musical, the title of which is picked from a hatful of audience suggestions – and in a style determined by a spin of the dreaded Genre Wheel – all within 20 minutes! Tune in Time is an evening of edge-of-your-seat suspense, brain-frying bravery, and musical theatre magnificence.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Kate Chadwick, Emily McNamara, Nikko Benson, Peter Michael Marino, Lisa DeSpain, Sarah Ziegler, Mo Brady, Benjamin Halstead, Garth Kravits, Brad Simmons and Laura Heywood. Photo by Lia Chang
The songwriting pairs included:
Garth Kravits (The Drowsy Chaperone and Composer of M: The Musical), a returning champion who was paired with Benjamin Halstead (Lyricist of Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat, The Larger Life of Alice Liddel; Picture Perfect).
Musical Title: Alpaca Farm, Run!
Genre: Experimental
Song Title: “On the Lam”
Lisa DeSpain (Composer of Storyville, “Let’s Not Talk About the Weather,” and an NEA Jazz Fellowship Recipient), a returning champion who was paired with Kate Chadwick (Lyricist of Second Place; New In November; Turn Out).
Musical Title: Galavanting Lampshade
Genre: Jazz
Song Title: “Wanna Get Lit?”
Sarah Ziegler (Composer/Lyricist/Actress: Sarah vs. Sarah, The Black Monk), a returning champion who was paired with Nikko Benson (Composer of Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat, Unpacking; Who’s Waldo – A Comedy, and is a 2016 Jonathan Larson Award winner).
Musical Title: Bubble Cancel
Genre: Disco
Internet celebrities Laura Heywood (@BroadwayGirlNYC) and the hosts of the Ensemblist podcast, Nikka Graff Lanzarone and Mo Brady were the guest judges, who live tweeted during the competition.
Judges Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Laura Heywood and Mo Brady, with host Emily McNamara. Photo by Lia Chang
Each of the contestants had an opportunity to showcase their talents. Garth Kravits performed a duet with Emily Borromeo of “That Man” from M: The Musical. Borromeo, an actor, singer and dancer, is the host of “The Sunny Side Up Show” on SPROUT (NBC), a member of America’s Sweethearts, a vintage music entertainment group, and appeared on Season 4 of “The Sing Off” as a member of the A Cappella group Element.
Judges Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Laura Heywood and Mo Brady, host Emily McNamara and contestants Kate Chadwick, Lisa DeSpain, Benjamin Halstead and Garth Kravits. Photo by Lia Chang
In May, Tune in Time celebrates-we hope-the return of warmer weather and skimpier clothing when Nick Cearley and Lauren Molina, from the popular performance group The Skivvies, will be joined by their Tony Award-winning pal Daisy Eagan (The Secret Garden) to make up the panel of celebrity judges. Writers will include Adam Overett (My Life Is a Musical), Teresa Lotz (She Calls Me Firefly), and others to be announced shortly. The May installment will be presented on Monday, May 9, 2016 beginning at 7:30 p.m. www.yorktheatre.com
Nikko Benson, Emily McNamara, Sarah Ziegler Kate Chadwick, Lisa DeSpain,Benjamin Halstead and Garth Kravits. Photo by Lia Chang
Previous winners have included Meghan Kelleher and Adam Spiegel for the jazz-inflected title song from Ethiopia Rocks!; Christiana Cole and Joe Kinosian for their experimental assault on the inside of the piano, the outside of the proscenium, and the concept of luncheon meat from The Sweating Smörgåsbord; Jordan Mann and Landon Braverman for their love anthem, “Retweeter” from the disco-era musical, The Capricious Hashtag (anachronism be damned); Bill Nelson and Brad Simmons for their original song “Kiss Her” from the fictional The Slighted Hickey, à la Jason Robert Brown; and Lisa DeSpain and Sarah Ziegler for their selection from the nonexistent new multi-culturally themed musical, The Chatty Apple. Earlier champions include David Gomez and Zach Redler, Kellen Blair and Dave Christensen, David Sisco and Kate Anderson, Dan McKenzie and Ben Wexler, Erik Jareth Ransom and Clay Zambo, and Avi Amon and Robbie Torres.
Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Benjamin Halstead, Mo Brady, Garth Kravits and Laura Heywood. Photo by Lia Chang
Seth Christenfeld, Literary Coordinator, The York, James Morgan, Artistic Producing Director, The York, Heather Shields, Tune in Time Managing Producer, winners Garth Kravits and Benjamin Halstead, Amy Engelhardt, Tune in Time Artistic Producer, Kevin Maloof, Production Manager and host Emily McNamara. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang. Photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an award-winning filmmaker, a Best Actress nominee, a 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, Taxman and Hide and Seek, which will screen at the end of April as an official selection of the Disorient Film Festival in Eugene, Oregon. She is profiled in Examiner.com, Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
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