Amas Musical Theatre

A tween musical for the whole family, WANDA'S WORLD is about a 12-year-old girl with a birthmark on her face who imagines herself as the popular host of a television talk show where kids call in and talk about their problems. The real truth, however, is that it's really Wanda who needs advice as she fearfully begins the year at a new school.

With hip music and arrangements, WANDA'S WORLD runs an hour and 15 minutes. With its message of inclusiveness and acceptance, WANDA will win your heart.

Book by Eric H. Weinberger

Music by Beth Falcone

Musical Direction by Doug Oberhamer

Directed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett

Presentation produced by:

Amas Musical Theatre
Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director
(Rosetta LeNoire, Founder)

Overview

WANDA'S WORLD

Wanda is the popular host of the hit TV talk show, WANDA'S WORLD, where kids call in so she can help them solve their problems. She is beautiful, confident and always knows what to say…in her fantasy. Indeed, the show is a product of Wanda's vivid imagination and the "TV Studio" is her bedroom.

In real life, Wanda Butternut has a problem of her own. She has a large "port wine stain" birthmark on her face and is dreading her first day of middle school in a new town, Cheese Valley, USA. At the tender age of 12, Wanda has always been branded as an outsider.

When she arrives at Cheese Valley Middle School, she is mercilessly ridiculed by her peers, especially Jenny Hightower, head cheerleader, and P.J. Dunbar, the school hoodlum. P.J. is running for Student Council President against popular quarterback, Ty Belvedere, and will do anything to win-even start a smear campaign with a rumor that "Ty likes 'Blotches', the freaky new chick!"

The audio-visual teacher, Mr. Lemmings, realizes that Wanda has the talent to create a show for School Channel 23. His belief in her inspires Wanda to go forward but not before P.J.'s evil plot sends her running out of the school dance in tears.

At last, Wanda triumphs over her fears and realizes that she is the one who is "cool." Her show "WANDA'S WORLD" becomes a huge hit on School Channel 23 and changes the life of every kid in Cheese Valley.

A History

It could be said that WANDA'S WORLD was actually conceived when Beth Falcone was a "tween" in Bethlehem, PA, and Eric Weinberger was suffering through middle school in New York City. Their musical, born many years later, was a product of first hand knowledge! In 2003, they met through a mutual friend and realized that they shared a mission to write for young kids who feel like outsiders.

WANDA traveled through the BMI Workshop and was tremendously aided by Beth's participation in the Jonathan Larson Fellowship Program. It was chosen to be part of a master class with Thomas Meehan and Peter Howard in 2004 and had its first workshop production in Toronto later that year. In 2005, it was featured in "Songsmiths of Broadway," the BMI showcase and at Musical Mondays as part of the Emerging Musicals Theatre Series.

Director Lynne Taylor-Corbett joined the development team in 2006 and directed readings in May that resulted in "WANDA'S" present association with Amas Musical Theatre.

In Fall 2006, excerpts of the show were presented in Boston at the Vascular Birthmark Foundation's International Conference and at the annual "Bound For Broadway" series at Merkin Hall in New York City.

The creators and staff of Amas are hoping that these staged readings will ultimately result in a fully-staged commercial production that will bring WANDA'S WORLD to families everywhere.

Special Issues for Tweens and Teens

November, 25, 2006

"According to 360 Youth, an umbrella organization for various youth marketing groups, tweens represent $51 billion worth of annual spending power on their own from gifts to allowance, and also have a great deal of say about the additional $170 billion spent directly on them each year."

The "Tween" Market

One of the most important recent developments in advertising to kids has been the defining of a "tween" market (ages 8 to 12). No longer little children, and not yet teens, tweens are starting to develop their sense of identity and are anxious to cultivate a sophisticated self-image. Marketers are discovering there's lots of money to be made by treating tweens like teenagers.

The "tween" market, popularly identified as kids 8-12, began to emerge in the late 1980s. By 1998, Bruce Friend, vice president of worldwide research and planning for Nickelodeon, could say, "The 12- to 14-year-olds of yesterday are the 10 to 12´s of today."

The "tween" market represents a whole new marketing challenge - and opportunity - for retailers and marketers. Defined as "kids ages 8-12," the tween market has approximately $14 billion in annual spending power. That spending power comes from real funds (allowances or birthday gifts) controlled by the youngsters or from their influence in the family. For marketers and retailers, this population represents a huge opportunity to build brand recognition and loyalty.

CREATIVE TEAM BETH FALCONE, Composer/Lyricist, is currently a member of the BMI Musical Theater Lehman-Engel Musical Theater Workshop (Advanced), Beth won the 2006 Jerry Harrington Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement. She was also selected as a Jonathan Larson Musical Theater Fellow in 2004. She is a contributing composer to HATS, the musical, currently touring the US. Beth is the musical director for the BMI showcase and she is musical director and vocal consultant for the Eugene O'Neill Summer Cabaret Conference. She is on faculty (teaching voice) at the National Theater Institute and also teaches privately in Manhattan. Beth holds a double masters degree from Northwestern University in piano performance/conducting and was mentioned in the Chicago Sun Times for her "fiery piano playing." She is a member of the Voice Care Network, New York Singing Teachers Society, and she founded "Broadway Bound Voice Studios" in 1998 which specializes in musical theater voice training for children as well as teaching them how to write and perform their own songs.

ERIC H. WEINBERGER, Book. Eric's one-woman play CLASS MOTHERS '68 was produced Off-Broadway in 2002/2003 and garnered a Drama Desk Award for its star, Priscilla Lopez. It was named Best New Comedy in NJ by the Star Ledger in 1999. Priscilla and Eric are currently writing a screenplay of the work. Eric's play SIX HANDS was produced at Yale and at the Luna Stage Company in Montclair, NJ, along with his one-act play THE NIGHTWATCHMAN. Three of his children's plays were produced by Andy's Summer Playhouse in NH. His play STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT had a staged reading in Los Angeles starring Kelly Bishop and Ed Asner. His one-woman play TEA FOR THREE: LADY BIRD, PAT & BETTY, which he co-wrote with its star, Elaine Bromka, originated at 12 Miles West Theatre in Bloomfield, NJ in 2004 and has been touring the country ever since - www. teaforthree.com. Eric took jazz dance classes from Lynne Taylor-Corbett many moons ago. He is so happy to be reunited with her and to be associated with everyone involved with WANDA.

LYNNE TAYLOR-CORBETT, Director, is known for her work in theatre, dance and film. She was nominated for two Tony Awards for direction and choreography of Broadway's SWING! and for two American Theatre Wing Star Awards for its National Tour. She also choreographed Broadway's CHESS and TITANIC. Off-Broadway, she directed THEDA BARA AND THE FRONTIER RABBI, Marie Jones' WOMEN ON THE VERGE… at the Irish Rep, DARLENE LOVE: PORTRAIT OF A SINGER at the Bottom Line, 20th CENTURY POP" at the Rainbow and Stars, and was the original director of the Korean import "COOKIN' at the Minetta Lane. She directed the play YOUR SIMONE at the Culture Project and NATURAL SELECTION" at the New York Fringe Festival. Regional shows include TINTYPES at Hartford Stage and the Old Globe, OPAL at George Street Playhouse and the Lyric Theatre, and FLIGHT OF THE LAWNCHAIR MAN for the Goodspeed Opera House.

Her dance works have been commissioned by New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Company, the Carolina Ballet and companies throughout the world. Broadcasts of her work have been seen on "Live from Lincoln Center" and "Live from the San Francisco Opera House. Her films include FOOTLOOSE, MY BLUE HEAVEN, VANILLA SKY, and BEWITCHED.

In the summer of 2005, she directed a multi-million dollar project for Disney in China, currently playing in the largest indoor theatre in Asia, located near Hong Kong. Her show, HATS!, now playing in Denver, is headed for Harrah's in New Orleans. Based on The Red Hat Society, it garnered rave reviews. Her ballet PICNIC ON THE GRASS with costumes by William Ivey Long is set to open in January 2007 in Raleigh, North Carolina to celebrate the huge Monet exhibit there. Other projects in the pipeline are ASKING FOR IT, written and performed by Joanna Rush and, of course, "Wanda's World". Ms. Taylor-Corbett is a member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers.

DOUGLAS OBERHAMER, Musical Director, has been involved in musical theater for over 25 years. He has performed in and/or musical directed Broadway, Off-Broadway, regional productions and international tours including THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, SWING!, FRANKENSTEIN, FLIGHT OF THE LAWNCHAIR MAN, CRAZY FOR YOU, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, HELLO DOLLY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, WOMEN ON THE VERGE, THE APPLE TREE, ANNIE, RINGS, and NO NO NANETTE. He can be heard as the featured trumpet soloist on the Sony Classics Grammy-nominated recording of SWING! (Original Broadway Cast recording) as well as MCA Records Vanessa Daou "Slow to Burn". He was recently nominated for Best Musical Direction at the 2005 Jefferson Awards in Chicago for his work on SWING! It is great to be working once again with Lynne Taylor-Corbett, and is happy to be musical directing WANDA'S WORLD with this outstanding cast.

BEOWULF BORITT (Set Design) Broadway: THE 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE (dir James Lapine), LOVEMUSIK (dir Harold Prince) (drama desk Nom), JAY JOHNSON: THE TWO AND ONLY. Off-Broadway: LAST FIVE YEARS (Drama Desk Nom), THE OTHER SIDE (Lortel Nom), SAINT LUCY'S EYES (Audelco Award), HANK WILLIAMS: LOST HIGHWAY, I LOVE YOU BECAUSE, ROMEO AND JULIET, THE GOD COMMITTEE, MISS JULIE, IN-BETWEENS, SHYSTER, THE ARK, ONCE AROUND THE SUN, SLUT, BURNING BLUE, CLASS MOTHERS '68, HOW TO SAVE THE WORLD…, EMERGENCE-SEE! (Public), EVERYTHINGS TURNING INTO BEAUTIFUL, ROAR, THE ACCOMPLICES (New Group), DARK DARK HOUSE, THE WOODEN BREEKS (MCC), WONDERLAND (American Place), RICHARD III, CHERRY ORCHARD (Pearl), 2007-08 RINGLING BROTHERS BARNUM & BAILEY CIRCUS. 2007 Obie Award for sustained excellence in set design.

AARON SPIVEY (Lighting Designer) Off-Broadway: FROM MY HOMETOWN, 4 GUYS NAMED JOSÉ, GOLF THE MUSICAL, and ELLE (w/Alan Cumming). On Broadway, Aaron has served as the associate or assistant designer on several productions, including all three parts of THE COAST OF UTOPIA, GREASE, TARZAN, LITTLE WOMEN, GLENGARY GLENN ROSS, and THE PIRATE QUEEN. Currently, Mr. Spivey is working on the Broadway productions of THE SEAFARER, and THE HOMECOMING. Other New York credits include: FROM MY HOME TOWN, 4 GUYS NAMED JOSÉ, STARMITES 2001 (Amas Musical Theatre), KING LEAR (Aulis Collective), WAITING FOR GODOT (The Actors' Institute), THE NAKED EARTH and THE LIFE AND TIMES OF NG-CHUNG YIN (Yangtze Rep), and associate designer for CHESS in concert at the New Amsterdam. Regional credits include: 4 GUYS NAMED JOSÉ (Actors' Playhouse), MAME (Helen Hayes Performing Arts Center), LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS and BEAUTIFUL DREAMER (Cherry County Playhouse), THE KING AND I and JOSEPH (Carousel Dinner Theatre), BIG RIVER and ANNIE GET YOUR GUN (Seacoast Repertory Theatre).

JENNIFER CAPRIO (Costume Designer) Broadway: The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (also original, 1st Nat'l Tour and sitdown companies). National Tour: The Great American Trailer Park Musical. Recent New York: Masked (DR2), Striking 12 (Daryl Roth), Girl's Room (QTIP), The Atheist (Center Stages), Serendib (EST), Hardball (NYSPF), The Blowin' of Baile Galle (Irish Arts Center, Gabriel Byrne). International: The Collected Works of Billy the Kid (Edinburgh Festival Fringe). Regional: Utah Shakespearean Festival, Minnesota Opera, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Geva Theatre, the Weston Playhouse, the Hangar Theater, the Cleveland Playhouse, Barrington Stage Company, Millbrook Playhouse, Helen Hayes Theatre Company, Hudson Stage, the Kitchen Theater, Utah Musical Theatre.

MATTHEW MYHRUM (Video Designer) Designs: Scenery and projections for THE WATSONS GO TO BIRMINGHAM, 1963 at Children's Theatre Company, SAM COOKE: FOREVER, MR. SOUL at Delaware Theatre Company, FROM MY HOMETOWN at Amas and the Gramercy Theatre in New York, and at the American Heartland Theatre, ELLA: THE FIRST LADY OF SONG, YO SOY LATINA, and HISTORY OF THE WORD at Crossroads Theatre, and A QUESTION OF MERCY at the ART Institute in Cambridge, MA. Projections: THE MERCHANT OF VENICE at Theatre for a New Audience/RSC, IT HAPPENED IN LITTLE ROCK at Arkansas Rep. Theatre, MOVIN' MAN at Crossroads Theatre, TREEMONISHA at Alice Tully Hall, DISS DISS AND DISS DAT at New Federal Theatre, EXPOSURES at Baruch College, MAYBE BABY, IT'S YOU at St. Luke's Theatre, and BUBBLING BROWN SUGAR and DAMN YANKEES for Amas Musical Theatre. Scene Designs: BETRAYAL at Penobscot Theatre, HOME at Queens Theatre in the Park, JULIUS CAESAR, MACHINAL, and THE PIANO LESSON at Brandeis University. Art Director for David Weller Design, whose production designs include Who Wants to be a Millionaire, the YES Network (2003 Emmy Award), WCBS2 News, Voice of America, On The Lot, and Rock Star: Seasons 1 and 2.

BRETT JARVIS (Sound Designer) Recent projects include Roundabout Theatre's SPEECH AND DEBATE, REVOLUTION at the Joyce, KIKI AND HERB-ALIVE ON BROADWAY!; TWO TRAINS RUNNING (2007 Audelco Award Nomination), LANDSCAPE OF THE BODY and THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL at Signature Theatre, and BEST OF BOTH WORLDS at the Women's Project Theatre. Other selected works include PEOPLE BE HEARD at Playwrights Horizons, Bill Irwin's MR. FOX: A RUMINATION, THE REGARD EVENING, AND HARLEQUIN STUDIES (Signature Theatre), AVENUE Q (Lucille Lortel Award 2003), THE KARAOKE SHOW, LYPSINKA! AS I LAY LIP-SYNCHING, the Vineyard Theatre's ELI'S COMIN', SWIMMING WITH WATERMELONS and BRUTAL IMAGINATION (Lucille Lortel Nomination 2002, co-design), Music Theatre Group's RUNNING MAN, Mark Dendy's DREAM ANALYSIS, and the long running hit THE DONKEY SHOW. Dance Credits include the National Tour of Donald Byrd and Duke Ellington's "The Harlem Nutcracker," Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ivy Baldwin Dance, and Maureen Fleming's "After Eros" and "Decay of the Angel." Mr. Jarvis is also currently working on a dance musical adaptation of Dante's Inferno with CircleNine. He holds a degree in Sound Score Design from The North Carolina School of the Arts.

CAROL HANZEL, Casting. Broadway: SWING!, SALLY MARR AND HER ESCORTS. First National: SWING! Off-Broadway: WINGMAN, DR. SEX, BREATHE, THEDA BARA AND THE FRONTIER RABBI, TROPHIES, IDENTICAL TWINS FROM BALTIMORE. Regional: THE SHAPE OF THINGS, FLIGHT OF THE LAWNCHAIR MAN, MANDELA!, THE TIN PAN ALLEY RAG, LIZZIE BORDEN, I LOVE YOU,…NOW CHANGE. TV: HI-5, THE WONDER PETS, WHERE IN TIME IS CARMEN SANDIEGO?, GLOBE TREKKER. Film: A VERY SERIOUS PERSON… and over 2500 television and radio commercials.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director) -- New York City’s award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968. Amas (“you love” in Latin) is devoted to the creation, development and professional production of new American musicals through the celebration of diversity and minority perspectives, the emergence of new artistic talent, and the training and encouragement of inner-city young people. In recent years, Amas has emerged as a leading not-for-profit laboratory for new musicals, including SHOUT! THE MOD MUSICAL; LONE STAR LOVE; FROM MY HOMETOWN; ZANNA, DON’T!; and STORMY WEATHER: IMAGINING LENA HORNE. Amas education programs include the Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Academy, a pre-professional training program for teenagers, the Immigration Experience for middle and high schools, and Lens on Live Theatre.

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