Current SeasonPressMembershipAbout UsTheatre ProgramsEducational ProgramsDonate Now!Photo GalleryArchives
Amas is Latin for You Love

40 Years of Multi-Ethnic Musical Theatre

2007-2008

BURLY-Q!
A Gay Burlesque
Written by Peter Charles Morris, Phillip George, Ernie Lijoi and Tom Orr
Additional Songs by Brad Ellis, Ethan Fein, Mat Eisenstein, Fred Barton, Matt Ward and Dick Gallagher
Directed by Phillip George

BLACKFootnotes
Written and directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

Lorenzo
Book by Richard Enquist
Lyrics by Richard Enquist and Judd Woldin, music by Judd Woldin
Directed by Christopher Scott

Wanda's World
Book by Eric H. Weinberger, lyrics and music by Beth Falcone
Musical Direction by Doug Oberhamer
Directed and Choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett
*New York Premiere

Mama, I Want to Sing
Written by Vy Higgenson and Ken Wydro
Benefit Gala Directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj.
Choreography by James Harkness and Michael Susko

Street Dreams
Book and lyrics by Eve Merriam, music by Helen Miller
Directed by Christopher Scott, Choreographed by Monica Johnson

2006-2007

Magpie
Book by Steven M. Jacobsen, Lyrics by Edward Gallardo, Music by Gary William Friedman
Directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

Escape from Pterodactyl Island
Book & Lyrics by Peter Charles Morris, Music by Michael Jeffrey
Directed by Phillip George

Broadway Soul
Benefit Gala starring BJ Crosby and Freda Payne
Directed by Chapman Roberts

108 Waverly
Book & Lyrics by Dan Clancy, Music by Lynn Portas
Directed by Sam Scalamone

An Officer and a Gentleman
Book by Douglas Day Stewart and Sharleen Cooper Cohen, Words & Music by Robin Lerner and Ken Hirsch
Directed by Michael Bush

Izzy! A Dizzy Fairy Tale
Music & Lyrics by Steven Fisher, Book by Joan Ross Sorkin & Steven Fisher
Directed by David Glenn Armstrong

The Psalm of Ruby Redd
Written by Carl Maultsby
Directed by Chuck Patterson

Sprang Thang
Written by Goldee Greene
Directed by Christopher Scott, Choreography by Monica Johnson

2005-2006

Sheba
Book & Lyrics by Sharleen Cooper Cohen, Music by Gary William Friedman
Directed by Iona Morris

Dog Music
Book & Lyrics by Mark Masi, Music by Jess Platt
Directed by Alex Lippard

Stormy Weather
Written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen
Directed by Victoria Pero

Damn Yankees
Book by George Abbott & Douglass Wallop, Music & Lyrics by Richard Adler & Jerry Ross
Directed & Choreographed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

Shout! The Mod Musical
Created by Phillip George & David Lowenstein
Directed by Phillip George

On the Town
Music by Leonard Bernstein, Book & Lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green
Directed by Phillip George

It Happened in Little Rock
Written by Rajendra Ramoon Maharag
Directed by Rajendra Ramoon Maharaj

2004-2005

Lone Star Love, or The Merry Wives of Windsor, Texas
Book by John Haber, music and lyrics by Jack Herrick
Music direction by Jack Herrick and Ken Lundie
Directed by Michael Bogdanov
*New York Premiere

Footloose
Adaptation by Dean Pitchford and Walter Bobbie, music by Tom Snow
Musical direction by Rachel Kaufman, choreographed by Monica Johnson
Directed by Christopher Scott
RLMTA Production

2003-2004

Blackout
music by Debra Barsha, book and lyrics by Sharleen Cooper Cohen;
music direction by Deborah Hurwitz, directed by Phillip George
Workshop Production

Mandela
music and lyrics by Steven Fisher, book by Steven Fisher and Duma Ndlovu;
directed by Ricardo Khan
co-production with Crossroads Theatre Company

Godspell
music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz, conceived by John Michael-Tebelek;
musical direction by Edward Barns, choroegraphed by Monica Johnson, directed by Christopher Scott
RLMTA Production

Stormy Weather: The Story of Lena Horne
book by Sharleen Cooper Cohen
musical direction by David Alan Bunn, choreographed by Hope Clarke, directed by Victoria Pero
Workshop Production

2002-2003

Zanna, Don?t!
book, lyrics and music by Tim Acito;
directed and choreographed by Devanand Janki
*New York Premiere
+Off-Broadway Commercial Transfer: John Houseman Theatre

Latin Heat
conceived by Ovi Vargas, Maria Torres, Oscar Hernandez and David Coffman; directed and choreographed by Maria Torres

The Robber Bridegroom
book and lyrics by Alfred Uhry; Music by Robert Waldman;
choreographed by Monica Johnson; directed by Christopher Scott
RLMTA Production

From My Hometown
conceived by Lee Summers, written by Lee Summers, Ty Stephens and Herbert Rawlings, Jr.; Co-choreographed by Leslie Dockery,
directed and co-choreographed by Kevin Ramsey
*New York Premiere
+Off-Broadway Commercial Transfer: Gramercy Theatre

2001-2002

Stormy Weather?The Lena Horne Story
by Sharleen Cooper Cohen, directed by Billie Allen
Workshop Production

Little Ham
book by Dan Owen, lyrics by Richard Engquist and Judd Woldin,
music by Judd Woldin;
choreographed by Leslie Dockery, directed by Eric Riley
*New York Premiere
+Off-Broadway Commercial Transfer: John Houseman Theatre

Once on this Island
book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty;
choreographed by Monica Johnson, directed by Christopher Scott.
The Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy

2000 - 2001

Starmites 2001
music and lyrics by Barry Keating, book by Stuart Ross and Barry Keating; directed by Barry Keating

The Me Nobody Knows
adapted by Robert H. Livingston and Herb Schapiro,
lyrics by Will Holt, music by Gary William Friedman;
choreographed by Monica Johnson, directed by Christopher Scott
RLMTA Production

1999 - 2000

A Virtual Woman
conceived by Donna Trinkoff, book by Marsha Sheiness, Lyrics by Luis Santeiro, June Seigel, and Greer Woodward and music by Rick Cummins; directed by Nancy Rhodes
Workshop Production

Carefully Taught
choreographed by Monica Johnson, directed by Christopher Scott
A musical review created by the students of RLMTA

Four Guys Named Jose? and Una Mujer Named Maria!
by Dolores Prida and David Coffman; choreographed by María Torres,
directed by Lisa Portes
*World Premiere
+Off-Broadway Commercial Transfer: The Blue Angel Theatre

1998 - 1999

Reunion: A Musical Epic in Miniature
book by Jack Kyrieleison, traditional music arranged by Michael O'Flaherty; choreographed by Karen Eisenberg, directed by Ron Holgate
*New York Premiere
+Off-Broadway Commercial Transfer: Theatre Row Theatre

Delphi or Bust
music by Gerald Jay Markoe, lyrics by Michael Colby, directed by Christopher Scott
*World Premiere

Rollin' on the T.O.B.A
by Ronald Stevens and Jaye Stewart, directed by Ronald Stevens
*New York Premiere
+Off-Broadway Commercial Transfer: 47th Street Theatre
+Broadway Commercial Transfer: Henry Miller Theatre

Virtual Families
choreographed by Monica Johnson, directed by Christopher Scott. A musical review created by the staff and students of RLMTA

1997 - 1998

Barrio Babies
music by Fernando Rivas, lyrics and book by Luis Santeiro; directed by Susanna Tubert.
1997 Richard Rodgers Development Award
Workshop Production

Out of the Night and Into the Light: Three One-Act Musical/Operas
Miss Havisham's Wedding Night - music by Dominick Argento, libretto by John Olon-Scrymgeour
Ocean Dream - music by Victor Kioulaphides, libretto by Nancy Rhodes
I Will Wait - music and lyrics by Arif Mardin; directed by Nancy Rhodes
co-presentation with the Encompass New Opera Theatre

1996 - 1997

Bobos
music by James McBride, lyrics by Ed Shockley, choreographed by Monica Johnson, directed by Daniel Banks.
1996 Richard Rodgers Development Award for Playwriting
Workshop Production

The Princess and the Black-Eyed Pea
book and lyrics by Karole Foreman, music by Andy Chuckerman; directed by Daniel Banks.
1996 Richard Rodgers Development Award
Workshop Production

Song by Song: The Music of Michael Valenti
music by Michael Valenti, written and directed by Mark Waldrop
*World Premiere

Good God!
book, music and lyrics by George O. Brome
RLMTA Production

1995 - 1996

After Hours
Musical director Diana B; directed by Nancy Rhodes
*World Premiere

Paul Robeson
a play with music by Phillip Hayes Dean; directed by Harold Scott
Associate Producer - Longacre Theatre

Bring in the Morning
lyrics by Herb Schapiro, music by Gary William Friedman; choreographed by Monica Johnson, directed by Christopher Scott
RLMTA Production

1994 - 1995

I Have A Name
music and lyrics by Holly B. Francis; directed by James L. Moody.
RLMTA Production

Time and the Wind
lyrics by Norman Matlock, music by Galt McDermot; directed by Louis Johnson.
*World Premiere

Bobos
lyrics by Ed Shockley, music by James McBride; choreographed by Monica Johnson, directed by Luther Fontaine.
RLMTA Production

1993 - 1994

Legacy
music and lyrics by Holly B. Frances and Arden Altino
RLMTA Production

1992 - 1993

The River Flows
adapted from "Spoon River Anthology" by Edgar Lee Masters; music and lyrics by Holly B. France and Andre Orlando Edwards; choreographed by Felicia Kennerly; directed by James Moody
RLMTA Production

1991 - 1992

Gunmetal Blues
book by Scott Wentworth, music and lyrics by Craig Bohmler and Marion Adler; directed by Davis Hall

Junkyard
book by Manuel Mandel and Michael Sahl, lyrics by Mr. Mandel, music by Mr. Sahl; musical co-staging by Barry Finkel, directed by Avi Ber Hoffman

1990 - 1991

Juba
book and lyrics by Wendy Lamb, music by Russel Walden; choreographed by Mercedes Ellington, directed by Sheldon Epps
* Richard Rodgers Production Award

1989 - 1990

Capitol Cakewalk
book by Elmire Kline with Perry Arthur Koreger, lyrics by Lou Carter, music by Terry Waldo; choreographed by Welsey Fata, directed by Tom O'Horgan
*NY Outer Critics Circle Award

Step into My World
A music revue tracing the career of Micki Grant
Music and lyrics by Micki Grant; choreographed by Jeffrey Dobbs, directed by Ronald G. Russo

1988 - 1989

Blackamoor
based on "I, Juan de Pareja" by Elisabeth Borton de Trevino, book by Joseph George Caruso, lyrics by Helen Kromer, music by Ulpio Minucci; directed by Kent Paul

Prizes
book by Raffi Pehlivanian, music and lyrics by Charles DeForest and Lee Minskoff; choreographed by Margo Sappington, directed by Lee Minskoff

Paris '31
book by John Fearnley, music and lyrics by Cole Porter; choreographed by Robert Longbottom, directed by John Fearnley

1987 - 1988

Robin's Band
book by Antony Abeson and Jerry Eskow, music and lyrics by Maija Kupris; directed by Anthony Abeson

Struttin'
book, music and lyrics by Lee Chamberlain; directed by Mr. Chamberlain
*Audelco Award - Outstanding musical production of the year

Conrack
based on "The Water is Wide" by Pat Conroy, book by Granville Burgess with Anne Croswell and Lee Pockriss, lyrics by Ms. Croswell, music by Mr. Pockriss; directed by Stuart Ross

1986 - 1987

Prime Time
book by R.A. Shiomi, music and lyrics by Johnny Brandon; directed by Marvin Gordon

Dazy
book by Allen Knee, lyrics and concept by Norman Simon, music by Lowell E. Mark; directed by Philip Rose

Hot Sake?with A Pinch of Salt
based on "A Majority of One" by Leonard Spigelgass, book and lyrics by Carol Baker and Lana Stein, music by Jerome I. Goldstein; choreographed by Audrey Tischler, directed by Bill Martin

1985 -1986

Sh-Boom
book and lyrics by Eric V. Talt, Jr., music by Willex Brown, Jr. and Mr. Tait; choreographed by Audrey Tischler, directed by Stuart Warmflash

La Belle Helene
book by John Fearley, adapted from A. Herbert's "Helen", lyrics by David Baker, music by Jacques Offenbach; choreographed by J. Randall Hugill, directed by John Fearnley

The Peanut Man
book by Melvin Hasman, musical arrangements by William Greg Hunter; choreographed by Andy Torres; directed by Regge Life

Bingo
based on "The Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars and Motor Kings" by William Brashler, book by Ossie Davis and Hy Gilbert, lyrics by Mr. Gilbert, music by George Fischoff; choreography by Henry LeTang, directed by Ossie Davis

1984 -1985

Manhattan Serenade
a musical revue based on the music of Louis Alter
written by Karen Kottrell and Alfred Heller, compiled and arranged by Mr. Heller; directed and choreographed by Bob Rizzo

Northern Boulevard
book by Kevin Brofsky, music and lyrics by Carleton Carpenter; choreographed by Dennis Dennehy, directed by William Martin

Anonymous
book, music and lyrics by Vincenzo Stornaiuolo; directed by Mr. Stornaiuolo

1983-1984

Blackberries
conceived and written by Joseph George Caruso, sketches by Billy K. Wells, additional material by André DeShields, choreographed and directed Mr. DeShields

Sing Me Sunshine
book by Robert E. Richardson and Johnny Brandon, music and lyrics by Mr. Brandon; choreographed by Henry Le Tang, directed by Jack Timmers

The Buck Stops Here
book by Norman J. Fedder, conception, music and lyrics by Richard A. Lippman; choreographed by Tim Mellett, directed by Regge Life

Miss Waters to You
book by Loften Mitchell, based on a concept by Rosetta LeNoire; directed by Billie Allen

1981-1982

Opening Night
book, music and lyrics by Corliss Taylor-Dunn and Sandra Reaves Phillips; choreographed by Mabel Robinson, directed by William Michael Maher

Five Points
book by Laurence Holder, music and lyrics by John Braden; directed by William Michael Maher

Louisiana Summer
book and lyrics by Robert and Bradely Wexler, music by Rocky Stone; choreographed by Eiko Yamaguchi, directed by Robert Stark

1980-1981

The Winds of Change
book by Franklin Tramutola, lyrics by Gary Romero, music by Joseph D'Agostino; choreographed by Robin Reseen, directed by William Michael Maher

The Crystal Tree
book and lyrics by Doris Julian; music by Luther Henderson; directed by Billie Allen

Langston Speaks
an original revue based on the work of Langston Hughes;
directed by Bob Brooker

A Local Dilemma
book by Frederick MacKinnon, lyrics by Alan Baboff, music by Fred Lederman

Mo' Tea Miss Ann?
book and lyrics by Bebe Coker, music by Leander Morris; directed and choreographed by Denny Shearer

Will They Ever Love Us on Broadway?
book, music and lyrics by Osayande Baruti; directed and choreographed by Mable Robinson

1979 - 1980

And Still I Rise
book and lyrics by Maya Angelou, music by Lalo Schifrin; directed by Ms. Angelou

Before the Flood
book by Rudy Gray, lyrics by Paul Piteo, lyrics by David Blake; choreographed by Mabel Robinson, directed by Billie Allen

Dunbar
adapted by Ayanna, lyrics by Lonnie Hewitt and Paul Lawrence Dunbar, music by Paul Tilman Smith and Quitman Flood, III; directed by Ron Stacker Thompason

Jam, A Jazz Odyssey
book by Johnny Greeted; choreographed by Dennis J. Shearer, directed by William Mooney

Mama, I Want to Sing
book and lyrics by Vy Higginsen, lyrics and additional story by Key Wydro, music by Richard Tee; directed by Duane L. Jones
+Off-Broadway Commercial Transfer

1978 - 1979

Sparrow in Flight, The Story of Ethel Waters
conceived by Rosetta LeNoire, book by Charles Fuller; choreographed by Bernard Johnson. directed by Dean Irby

Helen
book by Lucia Victor, music and lyrics by Johnny Brandon
directed by Lucia Victor

It's So Nice to Be Civilized
book, music and lyrics by Micki Grant; choreographed by Fred Benjamin; directed by Jeffrey Dunn

Suddenly the Music Starts
a musical revue by Johnny Brandon; choreographed by Henry Le Tang, musical staging by Mr. Le Tang and Lucia Victor

1977 - 1978

Beowulf
book and lyrics by Betty Jane Rylie, music by Victor Davies; directed and choreographed by Voigt Kempson

Adam, The life of Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
book by June Ahlert, music and lyrics by Richard Ahlert

Boston, Boston
book by William M. Maher, music by Bill Brohn, lyrics by Mr. Brohn and Mr. Maher; directed and choreographed by Mr. Maher

1976 - 1977

Ragtime Blues
book and lyrics by Mitch Douglas, music by Scott Joplin; choreography by Dennis Karr, directed by Jay Binder

Bojangles!
book by Norman Mitgang, music from the repertoire of Bill Robinson; choreographed by Frank Hatchett, directed by Ira Cirker

Save the Seeds, Darling
book by Helen Powers, music by Bill Brohn; directed by Arthur Whitelaw

Come Laugh and Cry with Langston Hughes
an original musical revue choreographed by Eugene Little, directed by Rosetta LeNoire

1973 - 1976

(a partial listing)
Bubbling Brown Sugar

conceived by Rosetta LeNoire, book by Loften Mitchell, choreographed by Fred Benjamin, directed by Robert M. Cooper
+Broadway Commercial Transfer

Reminiscing with Sissie and Blake
conceived by Rosetta LeNoire, book by Louis Johnson, music and lyrics by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle; directed and choreographed by Louis Johnson.