Smugbug Productions presents The Eleventh Hour! Band at The Bitter End

Join Smugbug Productions and The Eleventh Hour! band, featuring Skyler Fortgang (drums), Emily Goggin (keyboard), Chris Neptune (guitar), Greg Salmon (bass), and composer David Seamon, for a night of music from the rock musical comedy at The Bitter End 147 Bleecker Street, NYC, 10012 on Tuesday, September 11, 2018 at 8:30pm. Space is limited, so make sure you register early to book your space now! Directions to The Bitter End are available at http://www.bitterend.com/directions/.

Smugbug Productions will present the New York Premiere of The Eleventh Hour! from September 21 – November 16, 2018 at Town Stages, 221 West Broadway, NYC. Performances are at 8pm, with preshow bands starting at 7:30pm. Tickets are $35 and are available at https://www.eleventhhourmusical.com/performance-tickets/the-eleventh-hour.

It’s the end of the world in New Jersey! A burnout basement rocker and his ex-girlfriend, a rising star astrophysicist, may have the key to surviving the black hole bearing down on earth. If they can reconcile their feelings and manage a dangerous journey on the NJ Turnpike, they just may save their music, each other, and the mole people who live beneath them.

The Eleventh Hour! Is a new rock musical comedy featuring music, book, and lyrics by David Seamon, direction by Jessica Francis Fichter, and is produced by Smugbug Productions. The story for the musical was originally created by Seamon, Annie Rutherford Lutz, and Shimmy Schwartz through a commission by coLAB Arts.

Cast:Henry Fisher (Nevin Denham), Olivia London (Neil DeGrasse Tyson), Miranda Luze (Amy Leonardo), Christopher Pasi (Astor Whitewater), Joshuah D. Simpson (Shawn Ryan), Brianne Wylie (Thelma).

David Seamon (Composer/Book/Lyrics) is a playwright, composer, and actor. He works as a teaching artist for the George Street Playhouse and McCarter Theatre and is the co-director of the company ensemble at the Wharton Institute of Performing Arts. In 2013, David won the Silver Tripod Award at Campus Movie Fest for best score to a short film, Melody. David has an extensive background as a musical director and touring children’s theater performer, and has a degree in journalism and media studies from Rutgers University. His 2007 album “The Brotherhood of Teenage Haze” is available on iTunes and Spotify and his 2017 release “Minimum Rage” is available on Soundcloud. David is a frequent collaborator with coLAB Arts, having worked as an actor, composer, and playwright. The Eleventh Hour is David’s first full-length musical. Thedaveseamon.com

BAND BIOS
Greg Salmon is an electric and double bass player from the North Jersey / NYC area. His playing style is heavily influenced from electric bassists John Entwistle and John Myung, and plays in groups ranging from rock to reggae, metal to musicals, and everything else in between. He is very excited for the opportunity to work with such great people in the 11th Hour production.

Chris Neptune is a teacher of vocal music for Belleville Public Schools, who graduated with highest honor (summa cum laude) from Mason Gross School of the Arts within Rutgers University of New Brunswick, NJ, holding a bachelor’s degree in music education. Before attending Rutgers, Chris graduated from West Orange High School, where he was a member of various performing ensembles. He dabbled with songwriting and composition at a young age, enabling him to orchestrate a tone poem for the WOHS Wind Ensemble, titled “A Praise to Glory,” which was performed publicly. Chris also composed a piece for the WOHS Jazz Ensemble, titled “Follow My Lead,” which was performed at Trumpets Jazz Club in Montclair, NJ. These accomplishments paved the way for opportunities at Rutgers, where Chris continued to write compositions to be performed by the Rutgers’ Jazz Ensemble, Symphony Band, Symphony Orchestra, and Kirkpatrick Choir. In addition to his achievements within the realm of classical and jazz composition, Chris sought to hone his songwriting skills within the pop genre. He met Dave Seamon when they were both members of the Rutgers University Glee Club, and they have collaborated on various songwriting projects ever since. Working alongside Dave contributed to providing Chris with the confidence to initiate his own solo artistic projects under the pseudonym “Chris Neptune.” Most recently, Chris’s music video, “Magic,” was accepted into the 2018 Garden State Film Festival, as well as the 2018 Westfield International Film Festival.

Skyler Fortgang (Drums) is a percussionist/student currently studying percussion performance at Mason Gross School of The Arts at Rutgers University. Pursuing a career as a pit musician and conductor, he has played with a variety of theater companies, actors and musicians in New York City and the greater tri-state area. He has been a part of the 11th hour since October of 2017 and is thrilled to be continuing the journey at Town Stages NYC! Credits include productions and events at Papermill Playhouse, Count Basie Theater, Union County Performing Arts Center, and others. Most of all he is thrilled be riding out the end of the world with the cast and band of the 11th Hour with another run!

Emily Goggin is an NYC-based pianist and music director. She holds a music degree from George Washington University. She loves working on new musical theater and collaborating and creating with others, whether through performing or teaching. Her passion is sharing the joy of music with artists and audiences of all ages!

PRODUCER BIOS

Smugbug Productions chooses projects that are challenging, stimulating, and reinvent audience engagement. We engage with work on all levels of creation and presentation including stage direction, production management, producing, general management, and consulting. Our work includes projects in theater, dance, public art, video, and community engagement. Our experience spans from shoe-string to multi-million dollar budgets.

Dan Swern is the founder and owner of Smugbug Productions, with professional credits as a stage director, producer, public art and creative engagement artist, teaching artist, and activist. Based out of New Brunswick, NJ, Swern is the co-founder and producing director of nonprofit arts organization coLAB Arts, engaging artists, social advocates, and communities to create transformative new work. Swern is pioneering Creative Engagement, a method of art making that produces new works through transdisciplinary collaboration, integrated education, and high quality artistic production. Swern has developed new platforms for artist/advocate/community collaboration in dance, theater, and public art and annually creates massive community-based immersive performances.

The musical was originally commissioned by New Brunswick, NJ’s coLAB Arts, engaging artists, social advocates, and communities to create transformative new work. coLAB Arts facilitates creative conversation through innovative programs and artist infrastructure, connects artists with community partners and mentors, and executes productions that challenge perceptions and inspire action.

ABOUT TOWN STAGES

Town Stages (Robin Sokoloff, Executive Director) is New York’s premier venue to celebrate, collaborate, and put on a show. A new female-driven cultural arts institution in the heart of downtown Tribeca, Town Stages is a state-of-the-art, flexible performance and event space that supports the entire lifecycle of New York’s hallmark industries. With a stunning 10,000 square foot storefront facility, “TOWN” provides world-class cultural experiences and opportunities for all: from civic to corporate, tech to theater. Town Stages holds 299 guests, blending convention-level facilities with captivating decor throughout its Mainstage, Cabaret Bar & Lounge, Gallery, Salon, Greenrooms, and more. Town Stages offers much-needed space and production resources for businesses, arts organizations, and families celebrating their very important day. TOWN boasts ticketed performances and curated community programming in the performing arts, fine arts, and the advancement of social justice. Town Stages is available for fashion shows, film shoots, weddings, and beyond. Follow under @townstages and #itsyourtown. For more information, visit www.townstages.com.

Sokoloff Arts (501c3) is an emerging cultural institution providing inspired space, perspective, and opportunity for cutting edge events in all sectors of The Arts, Corporate, Civic, and Cultural life in New York City. Led by a team of women from diverse backgrounds and multi-hyphenate artistic disciplines, Sokoloff Arts works to provide viable and safe space to congregate, strives to promote cross-cultural community engagement, and blends the arts and business to create sustainable solutions to social and financial inequalities. The organization assists young creators with not only space, but resource generation, production, and community. To address the overwhelming demand for hi-tech, flexible, and affordable performance and event space in New York City, Sokoloff Arts has built Town Stages in Tribeca. To learn more, visit sokoloffarts.org.