I imagine it’s a lot easier to be naked when it’s warm outside! The reason I’m imagining is that we’re still using dressed talent at this reading — but we’re in L.A. now, so I’m hopeful that we’ll get the nudity going soon…

Here’s the exciting news: The Academy for New Musical Theatre (ANMT) is presenting a concert reading of NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL.

That’s right! On May 21, 2007 at 7pm in North Hollywood, ANMT’s Main Hall will be the sight of a concert reading of the musical I co-wrote with Greg Silva, NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL.

The Academy of New Musical Theatre was founded by John Sparks (also the Artistic Director) and exists “to foster and to advance the state of new musical theatre production.”

From the AMNT website:

ANMT’s roots go back 30 years to the teachings of our first mentor, Lehman Engel, a pre-eminent Broadway musical director. The Academy became a non-profit corporation in response to an ever-growing interest in the international musical theatre community. Our community includes writers of new works, and the producers, directors, choreographers, actors, and singer who make those works come alive.

Here’s the info from the promotional flyer:

NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL

A Full-Frontal Assault

Book by Greg Silva and Suzy Conn
Lyrics by Suzy Conn
Music by Greg Silva

Monday May 21, 2007 (7:00pm)
The Academy for New Musical Theatre
Main Hall
5628 Vineland Avenue
North Hollywood, CA

Admission is free
For reservations e-mail gerg@mindspring.com
For more information, visit www.anmt.org.

NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL

This wry and sometimes shocking musical revue exposes the naked truth about our attitudes towards nudity, sex and violence in modern-day America.

NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL asks the hard questions: Where did these values come from? Where will they take us? How much is too much? What’s the big deal?

Rated PG (Pretty Graphic — Not Recommended for Prudes!)

Technorati tags: Broadway Musicals Musical Theatre Movie Musicals Theatre American Theatre

Well, it’s been a few days since I’ve discussed nudity, and I miss it already!

I’ve always been curious regarding the phenomenon of nude or topless beaches. Why is it that it’s somehow borderline acceptable for women to take their tops off on the beach, but not in the city?

Topless beaches exist in limited numbers in North America, like Vancouver’s famous “Wreck Beach“, but Europe is positively lousy with them! Like it’s TOPLESS, TOPLESS, TOPLESS, everywhere in Europe. At the same time, the paparazzi will run around taking pics of famous people topless on the European beaches for publication — which is viewed as scandalous…

Am I missing something here? How can it be OK to be topless on the beach, but oh-so-risque to have a photo of yourself topless on the beach published in the newspaper? And why is the entire set-up totally taboo in North America?

Then you take the example of our intrepid snowboarder to the left. Apart from the obvious danger to his extremities due to frostbite, why does this visual feel so…wrong?

Could our whole hang-up with nudity trace to some reptilian Northern European instinct to swaddle ourselves in Woolly Mammoth skins to keep ourselves warm? Could this whole “nudity hang-up” thing really be all about the need for central heating and the generally miserable conditions in northern climates? And do these instincts get loosened when we live in a perpetually warm or temperate climate? Have you seen how people dress in L.A.?

I think I’m on to something here, and it would explain why the “beach” is OK for stripping, while the “slopes” are not…

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

We had a very successful concert reading of NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL Monday night at Theatre Building Chicago. We had a really good house which was great. But I think there were some disappointed people in the audience when they realized that this was just a concert reading and there wasn’t going to be any nudity (which is against TBC policy)!

Don’t worry folks — the next production will let it all hang out!

This concert reading of NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL was directed by Matthew Gunnels with musical direction by Jeffrey A. Bouthiette. Our stage manager was Natalja Aicardi.

The very lovely and very talented (and very clothed) cast included:

Mark Bartishell
Moira Begale
Katherine Keberlein
Leah Morrow
Peter Oyloe
Luke Siddall
Tim Soszko
Bethany Thomas

The cast did an outstanding job. They had to play a number of roles and they did so with such ease!

These people could not only sing the heck out of the material, but they really got into the piece and brought some really great funny moments to the piece, some really nice business. I even laughed at stuff, which is unusual when I’m so familiar with a piece I’ve been working on for a while. So Kudos to y’all!

The reaction was really rewarding. The audience laughed, applauded and really seemed to enjoy the piece. And only a few people threw stones, and they weren’t even that big (the stones I mean…). I know the dynamic will change greatly when we do the show with nudity, but phase one went well!

People hung around for a long time after the show having wine and cookies. Everyone got evaluation/comment forms to fill out and there were tons filled out in the drop box. I’m can’t wait to get the audience feedback!

Thanks to my co-writer Greg, and to the cast and crew and to everyone at Theatre Building Chicago!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Today is the big staged reading for NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL, and to celebrate I’m blogging NAKED all day…I guess this would be a bit more compelling if I was in a glass cube in the middle of Times Square, right next to the Naked Cowboy…but y’all hafta settle for just imagining that right now!

One interesting thing about computers is that I suspect that we all spend a lot more time talking to each other in our underwear, or at least partially naked, than at any other time in history. Yeah for the Web — whoever thought that computers would play such an important role in the disrobing of America?

NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL is the wry and sometimes shocking musical revue that exposes the naked truth about our attitudes towards nudity, sex, and violence. Don’t miss the Concert Reading at Theatre Building Chicago tonight (Monday, October 16, 2006) at 7pm! For tickets, click here, or call 773.327.5252.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Well, today’s the big staged reading for NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL. I’m pretty excited, and it’s been an interesting rehearsal process. I’ve particularly enjoyed watching the orgy scene come together…

In celebration, I grabbed a camera and took a picture of myself this morning (see left) and thought I would use it as an illustration of some of the central tenets of NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL.

The result? How come this feels faintly uncomfortable, and just a touch porny…

I mean, I think I’m looking pretty good. No pubes. No sex. Just a body, without clothes on. But I can gurantee I’m going to get all sorts of NSFW warnings and admonishments from my readers.

And not one of those tsks will make a comment on the double standard between men’s “breasts” and women’s “breasts”. Guaranteed, if I was a guy, and the pic on the left was some hunky guy with his shirt off — no one would blink an eye. Seriously, what’s that all about?

Meanwhile this statue — virtually the identical pose — feels “cultured”?

This is one of the central questions of NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL. Where do we get our hang-ups on nudity and sexuality, while “Scarface: The Video Game” is advertised on primetime TV?

Why is the word “kill” OK, while the word “penis” is a no-no?

Well, we don’t have all the answers, but we’re certainly raising lots of questions at the staged reading — see you there!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

One of the things I love about writing musicals is each project is so different — PLANE CRAZY, THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND, AD CRAZY, BECKY AND THE BOOGER…and now: NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL! (Yikes!)

In our final year of the Theatre Building Chicago Musical Theatre Writers’ Workshop we had to write a full musical in order to graduate. Fellow workshop member Greg Silva and I decided to write a revue, which was new for me since I’d only written book musicals. So we decided to share the book writing aspect of the project, and split the music (Greg) and lyrics (moi).

This is how we describe the musical:

“This wry and sometimes shocking musical revue exposes the naked truth about our attitudes towards nudity, sex and violence in modern-day America. NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL asks the hard questions: Where did these values come from? Where will they take us? How much is too much? What’s the big deal?”

What intrigued me about the whole topic, is that even though I consider myself pretty open minded (to generalize — nudity and sex are fine, violence is bad), I wouldn’t feel comfortable going to a nudist resort.

And why are naked statues okay, but not naked people? Why are bare ankles okay now, but were considered somewhat obscene not that long ago? Obviously, these hang ups and eccentricities aren’t just “skin deep”.

We don’t have all the answers (or any for that matter) but we are stirring things up!

Whenever I mention this project to people I usually get one of two responses:

1. Surprise and/or curiosity, or
2. Awkward silence.

That is why I am so excited to see the concert reading presentation of NAKED IN AMERICA — THE MUSICAL at Theatre Building Chicago on Monday, October 16 at 7pm. The audience members will be filling out feedback forms, and will be meeting (or stoning) the writers after the show.

For tickets call Theatre Building Chicago Box Office at 773.327.5252 or Ticketmaster at 312.559.1212 (or online at ticketmaster.com).

B.Y.O.S. (Bring Your Own Stones…)

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

If you’re reading this, then you’ll notice the amazing graphics on the left-hand side of Blogway Baby under “Suzy’s Musicals”.

All the amazing graphics for NAKED IN AMERICA - THE MUSICAL, PLANE CRAZY, and THE TALE OF PIGLING BLAND were done by designer extraordinaire Michael Karst.

And of course the whole blog looks so darn amazing (and it has moving parts!) thanks to all ’round computer genius, John Henson.

Yes, you’ll both get free front row seats to NAKED IN AMERICA - THE MUSICAL…

Lookin’ good! Thanks!

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment

Wow, I was shocked when I saw this (don’t ask how I found it…)

Maybe Barbra would be interested in appearing in the nudie musical I’m writing as part of my Chicago BMI workshop — NAKED IN AMERICA?

Here are the details from the original eBay post, which has now been removed (last I looked the bid was up to $250K):

This film is in it’s original box and canister. There is no smell of vinegar which indicates good shape for viewing. There is a leader for threading into the projector. Having viewed the film I am convinced of it’s authenticity.There is NO copywrite that I can find pertaining to this film. It was originally released in the early 1960’s to the public viewing audience, and is one of about 200 released at the price of $50.00 which is clearly marked on the bottom right hand corner of the packaging. As I understand it the release date was before the ratings system was set up as it is today, and there is no rating for it, unless it is “X”. It is silent and in Sepia Tones, which is a sort of romantic shade of light orangish. The film is very clear and filmed in a sort of intimate setting, with some scenes taking place on a couch.

The male CO-STAR is unknown to me. The actress/singers’ face is VERY CLEAR in many scenes, as are her very recognizable hands, though this appears to be before she grew her nails so long.

This pornographic film was bought in the 60’s at a garage sale and has been stored very well for all of these years.

The leading player in this film is at the approximate age of 22 and there is no doubt in my mind or others’ who have viewed it about who this actress is. Serious bidders only.

Before the payment for the sale is complete serious bidders may request a viewing of a portion of this film until 12 hours prior to closing of the auction. The time and place of preview to be set during negotiations during the bidding. Negotiations and any pre-viewing of the film should be finished 12 hours before the end of the auction.Sellers offer to allow a preview of the film before end of bidding will be considered to be withdrawn 12 hours prior to end of auction. All costs of the travel, time and expenses associated with the preview to be paid for by the interested partie(s). Anonymity of the bidders will be honored to the best of my abilities.

This film was made after Ms. “Streisand” was all ready a rising star in Hollywood, and had made several general audience movies.

Due to the graphic sexually explicit material contained on the film no other photos (except for the one in this ad) or material will be provided in any manner to any bidder except by appointment for a preview before the sale is final and made at the bidders’ request.

Technorati tags: Broadway Music Movie Musicals Musicals Blog Blogs Theater Theatre Entertainment