Regretting Almost Everything ALBUM PROMOTION
To celebrate the release of the Regretting Almost Everything concept album, Lauren was interviewed for a variety of shows and podcasts, including:
You’re Not Invisible Over 50 with Kiran Kumar
Making a Martini with Caleb Feigles
New Cleveland Radio with Karen Hale
The Jim Masters Show
The big fat joey show (to be released)
PLAYBILL: Shereen Pimentel, Amber Iman, Troy Iwata, More Set for New York Theatre Barn’s April Virtual Programming
“New York Theatre Barn will continue to host its free live stream show New Works Series in April featuring Shereen Pimentel, Amber Iman, Troy Iwata, and more performing highlights from shows in development. Each hour-long episode features excerpts from two new musicals and a conversation with the writers and creative team. The series is available to watch on New York Theatre Barn’s YouTube channel and Broadway On Demand…
April 14 at 7 PM ET— Mimosa, book and lyrics by Lauren Taslitz and music by Danny Ursetti. Featuring performances by Diana Huey, Shereen Pimentel, Christine Toy Johnson, Tuan Malinowski, and BB Stone. Mimosa is a plant with a special gift: she can dance. Mom begs her to stop, concerned that she could be noticed by a human. Then along comes lonely, teenage human Molly, who catches sight of Mimosa dancing and is so delighted by her, she digs Mimosa up and takes her home. Together they learn to communicate in order to unite and heal their imperiled communities.”
You can read more about the event and about New York Theatre Barn’s April programming on Broadway World.
PLAYBILL: National Alliance for Musical Theatre Selects Winners for 15 Minute Musical Challenge
“The National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced 12 winners from its 15 Minute Musical Challenge. The contest was developed in March as a push for creativity during times of self-isolation during the pandemic…Challenge winners will receive a cash prize supported by the Alhadeff Family Charitable Foundation. Over the course of the application period, 269 projects of both self-contained and full-length new works were submitted….First Award Level: Mimosa (Book and lyrics by Lauren Taslitz, Music by Danny Ursetti)…”
BROADWAY WORLD: VIDEO — Lauren Taslitz and Danny Ursetti Premiere 'Built For Joy' Music Video Featuring Keri René Fuller and More
“To mark the occasion of their now postponed Lincoln Center concert as part of the Broadway's Future Songbook Series, musical theater writers Lauren Taslitz and Danny Ursetti have released a music video for their song "Built for Joy." The song, which would have been performed at the April 20th concert, comes from In My Book, a musical commissioned by Coastal Carolina University and presented there last spring, inspired by students' real-life stories.”
source: MacDowell
MACDOWELL AWARDS WINTER-SPRING FELLOWSHIPS TO 87
“MacDowell has awarded Fellowships to 87 artists from 21 states and seven countries. The incoming Fellows reflect seven artistic disciplines and will arrive from locales as far apart as Poland, Mexico, Belgium, and Israel, as well as Tennessee, Washington, and Minnesota. The Fellowships are for upcoming winter and spring residencies at one of the nation’s leading contemporary arts organizations…Incoming Fellows include [the following] theatre artists: Madeleine George, Khawla Ibraheem, C.A. Johnson, Haruna Lee, Francisco Mendoza, Jay B. Muskett, Stav Palti Negev, and Lauren Taslitz.
BROADWAY WORLD: The Work Of Lauren Taslitz to Be Featured in WOMEN OF THE WINGS VOLUME III
The work of Lauren Taslitz will be featured in Women of The Wings Volume III: A Celebration of Female Musical Theatre Writers on Saturday, March 14th at 9:30pm.
After two sold out editions, this third edition of Women of the Wings returns to Feinstein's/54 Below to celebrate female musical theatre writers. You'll hear songs that make you laugh, songs that make you cry, and songs that make you think differently about the world around you... all created by women who have made their mark on musical theatre.
Also featuring the music of Sami Horneff and Amanda D'Archangelis, Jane Lee, Moira Lo Bianco, Mia Moravis, Christine Rosenblatt, Murphy Smith, Rory Michelle Sullivan, Kristen Lee Rosenfeld, and more.
The 5th Announces 4 Inaugural First Draft Commissions
“The 5th Avenue Theatre proudly announces that four writing teams representing womxn, gender non-conforming and non-binary voices have been selected to receive a First Draft Commission following the inaugural First Draft: Raise Your Voice Story Summit. The commissioned teams will have one year to complete a first draft of their script with the support of The 5th Avenue Theatre. At the end of the cycle, The 5th will produce a one-week reading with a final presentation in New York City. The four writing teams include Emily Chiu (she/her) and Lauren Taslitz (she/her).”
Thanks to Kelsey Thorgalsen and the folks at The Fifth for this amazing opportunity, as well to the wonderful artists for sharing their talents and creating a safe space in which to share our ideas and our work. (Photo: Mark Kitaoka)
Table-read of Bak Chang at NYU in mid-January. Many thanks to my collaborator, Emily Chiu, and the wonderful actors who shared their talents: Viveca Chow, Kimberly Immanuel, Ashley Coia, Cassandra Hlong, Rebecca Pena, AriDy Nox, and Amie Bermowitz. A special thank you to Steven Eng, for his time and insight, and Jacob Fjeldheim and Benji Goldsmith for being there.
34 Participants Announced For 7th Annual Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony At Goodspeed
Lauren and composer Carmel Dean, who are collaborating on an as-yet-untitled “Moon Project,” have been selected as 2 of 34 established and emerging composers, lyricists, and librettists to participate in the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals from mid-January to mid-February. “The writing teams, representing 21 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration.”
Thanks to Donna Lynn Hilton and all the folks at Goodspeed Musicals, Jonathan Brielle and The Johnny Mercer Foundation, my collaborator Carmel Dean, and all the other amazing artists who made it an unforgettable (and humbling) two weeks.
Jeff Blumenkrantz and Anne L. Nathan To Star in REGRETTING ALMOST EVERYTHING at 54 Below
"Writers 50-something Taslitz and 30-something Ursetti met in 2015 as MFA classmates in New York University's Tisch School for the Arts Musical Theater Writing program, and Regretting Almost Everything marks their first major collaboration. Two-time Tony Award winner William Finn describes it as 'Outrageous, wise, and honest. Anyone who cares about the future of musical theatre would be well advised to see this.'"
Source: Broadway World
Broadway world: Review/Photo Coverage: Mr. Finn's Cabaret Premiers REGRETTING ALMOST EVERYTHING
"A mature love story, Regretting Almost Everything combines humor, honesty, and compassion to deliver a seldom-seen musical look at life from the perspective of late middle age."
Source: Princeton.edu
PRINCETON ALUMNI WEEKLY: After raising her children, Lauren Taslitz ’79 tackles ‘emptynesterhood,’ and brings it to the stage
"When Taslitz was younger and thinking about a career, she wouldn’t have pursued theater, she says, 'because I never would have been willing to starve to death. I’m way too practical a person. But now I can.'"
Source: Broadway World
CHRISTINE WOLF PODCAST
Lauren Taslitz & Leigh Anna Reichenbach discuss their initial connection and the collaborative process that led to their lighthearted, new musical Join the Club.
BROADWAY WORLD: NYC Monuments Inspire Original Musicals 2/3 At The TimesCenter
"Prospect's annual writers lab is one of our most impactful programs. It engages a diverse array of artistic viewpoints and styles in dialogue with a shared theme," said Reichel. "The outcome is always compelling, and this year we are once again thrilled to showcase these talented writers and their world premiere works in our IGNITE Series of concerts."