[LONG BEACH, CA] – Musical Theatre West (MTW) announced today its selections for its Fifth Annual New Works Reading Festival.
The first is The Postman’s Daughter, a one-act, sung-through musical dramedy told entirely through written correspondence. Book and lyrics are by Danielle Koenig. Music is by Justin D. Cook.
Also, Rails, the story of a troubled man caring for his aging grandmother who takes a wild ride through the stories of her past as he struggles to determine her future. Music and lyrics are by Tom Kenaston. Book and lyrics by Tom Paitson Kelly.
The two new musicals will have their pieces featured as part of the invite-only reading festival. It will take place in Long Beach, CA on Saturday, November 22nd.
“The two pieces we selected for this year’s festival are such exciting additions to the musical theatre canon.” said Paul Garman, Executive Director/Producer for MTW. “Both pieces combine humor and heart in such an exciting way, and we’re thrilled to give them the opportunity to see their work on its feet, using professional actors. This festival was created in part to uplift authors who can help shape the future of musical theatre, and we truly believe that these writers have the power to do just that.”
The writer of the book and lyrics for The Postman’s Daughter, Danielle Koenig, has had her work developed by Second Stage, Theatre NOW, Prospect Theatre Company, and Syracuse University. Koenig’s work has been presented at Lincoln Center, Joe’s Pub, Rattlestick Playwright’s Theater, and 54 Below. Composer Justin D. Cook’s work has been seen at Lincoln Center, UCLA, Syracuse University, Prospect Theatre Company, NYU, Rattlestick Theater, and Nautilus Music-Theater. Cook has music directed with Children’s Theatre Company, UCLA, Illusion Theater, among many other schools and theaters.
Rails began as a 15-minute piece for an event at the York Theatre Company. Inspired by the nostalgia of train travel, it is a representation of adventure and possibilities. Parts or all of Rails were performed at the National Asian Artists Project (2011), Florida Stage (2012), the York Theatre in NYC (2013), and the New York Musical Theatre Festival (2015). Rails is a three time semi-finalist for the Eugene O’Neill National Musical Theatre Conference. And it is currently a semi-finalist for the Pipeline Foundation Awards. It is also Coverfly’s Top Musical Stage Play of all time.
MTW’s New Works Program began in 2021, and spawned from participation in Inclusion Media Company’s “Raise Your Voice Playwriting Competition.” Since then, MTW has produced four 29-hour staged readings each year. The goal of the readings is to provide writers of new musical theatre an opportunity to see their work on its feet and receive an audience’s feedback. To learn more about the MTW New Works Program, visit https://musical.org/events/new-works/.
Tickets for MTW’s 2026 Mainstage Season are now on sale. The season features, Man of La Mancha, In the Heights, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Little Women, are now on sale. For more information, visit musical.org or call (562) 856-1999.
ABOUT MUSICAL THEATRE WEST (MTW)
The story of Musical Theatre West is the 73-year journey from a group of volunteers performing in a high school auditorium to one of the largest and most respected theatrical production companies in Southern California. Utilizing professional talent, and producing regional and even world premiere musicals while continuing to honor the tradition of classic musical theatre, MTW is the largest arts producer in the Long Beach area. The company continues to receive critical acclaim and national recognition – and many performers who cut their teeth on the MTW stage have gone on to successful careers on Broadway and in television and film.
Just as importantly, stage and screen veterans now come to Musical Theatre West to perform, finding it to be one of the friendliest and most fun venues to work in. A key aspect of the company is its dedication to education, and the Education and Outreach Programs of Musical Theatre West bring the joy and magic of musical theater to over 17,000 children each year through special morning performances, traveling shows and school assemblies, and the Summer Youth Conservatory. Musical Theatre West has a mission to enrich the community with Broadway-quality productions, preserve musical theatre as a unique American art form, and expose people of all backgrounds to the excitement of musical theatre.