THE NEW PICASSO CAST RECORDING NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-SALE WITH CUCCIOLI, VON ESSEN, HICKS & NOLL

January 8, 2008

Stars Robert Cuccioli, Max von Essen, Ashley Amber, Brooke Sunny Moriber, Rodney Hicks & Christiane Noll

lead a cast of Broadway veterans including performances with the 59-piece Prague Symphony Orchestra.

Click here for the complete track listing for each album of The New Picasso here
 

    The original concept album cast recording of the new musical The New Picasso is now available for pre-sale online.   BlackForestProductions.com is currently selling the recording as 2 albums (“Act One” and “Act Two”) for $14.98 each. CDs will ship later this month at BlackForestProductions.com and CDBaby.com along with availability for digital download at Apple's iTunes Stores worldwide, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, and GroupieTunes. Both albums are currently available for digital download at Amazon.com.

     The New Picasso concept albums feature Tony-nominated Robert Cuccioli (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards: Jekyll & Hyde), Max von Essen (Les Miserables), Ashley Amber (Curtains), Brooke Sunny Moriber (Les Miserables), Rodney Hicks (Rent) and Christiane Noll (Jekyll & Hyde) along with Broadway veterans William Parry (Sunday in the Park with George, Gypsy), Joseph Dellger (Ragtime), Tony Freeman (The Lion King), and John Jeffrey Martin (Hairspray, Disney's High School Musical). Several of the tracks feature the 59-piece Prague Symphony Orchestra. The concept albums also include Bob Barth, Tara Cornetto, Elizabeth Earley (Baltimore/Las Vegas: Beauty and the Beast), Jerry Gallagher (Paper Mill: Guys and Dolls), Steven M. Goldsmith (San Francisco/Chicago: Jersey Boys), and Nyjah Moore Westbrooks. Casting by Mungioli Theatricals & Arnold J. Mungioli, C.S.A.

    The New Picasso features a book and score by Jonathan David Sloate. "Tormented by his mother's suicide, Jon Bernard (Max von Essen) is driven to become the greatest painter that the world has ever known. Incapable of embracing the unconditional love and adoration from his childhood sweetheart, Jennifer Robbins (Brooke Sunny Moriber), or from his caring father, Nate (William Parry), and upbeat group of friends (Rodney Hicks, John Jeffrey Martin, Steven M. Goldsmith), Jon innocently entangles himself into the ever-scheming clutches of Vanguard City's most powerful art dealer, Jules de Medici (Robert Cuccioli), who remains deeply obsessed with the memory of Jon's mother, Nicolette Bernard (Christiane Noll). The dark passionate journey Jon embarks upon to discover the depths of true love brings him to the brink of disaster and ruin once Jules entices him with a stunning temptress, Alexandra Laurent (Ashley Amber). So befalls this epic tale of betrayal, obsession, resurrection, and the quest for love's ultimate redemption… The Soul."

    Stars Robert Cuccioli and Max von Essen shine on Amazon’s Bestsellers List. The New Picasso Act One (Original Concept Album) hit the "Top 60 Soundtracks" Bestsellers List for an MP3 Album on Amazon.com as well as the "Top 100 Hot New Releases," "Top 15 Hot New Releases Soundtracks," "Top 100 Hot New Releases Pop," and "Top 400 Bestsellers" for all MP3 Albums on Amazon. The New Picasso Act Two (Original Concept Album) hit the "Top 30 Hot New Releases Soundtracks," "Top 400 Hot New Releases Pop," "Top 250 Soundtracks Bestsellers," "Top 400 Hot New Releases," and the "Bestsellers" List for all MP3 Albums on Amazon.com.

    The New Picasso Original Concept Album Cast consists of Robert Cuccioli (Jules de Medici), Max von Essen (Jon Bernard), Ashley Amber (Alexandra Laurent/Trixie), Brooke Sunny Moriber (Jennifer Robbins), Rodney Hicks (Robert), Christiane Noll (Nicolette Bernard), William Parry (Nate Bernard), Joseph Dellger (Charles Chadwick/Mr. Robbins), Tony Freeman (Baron von Voofenschteiner), John Jeffrey Martin (Michael), Steven M. Goldsmith (Steven), Jerry Gallagher (Mr. Miracles), Bob Barth (Sidney Rothchilds), Elizabeth Earley (Mrs. Robbins), Tara Cornetto (Summerton Townsperson), and Nyjah Moore Westbrooks (Vanguard City Socialite).

    The New Picasso staged its premiere reading at New World Stages in October 2006. The creative team was comprised of Director Sam Scalamoni (Beauty and the Beast), Music Director Jan Rosenberg (Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) and Composer, Lyricist and Librettist Jonathan David Sloate, who also created the new musical fairy tale The Tower Of Babel.  As composer, Jonathan David Sloate wrote the scores for Warner Bros.' Mortal Kombat Conquest and USA Networks' Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm. Casting by Mungioli Theatricals & Arnold J. Mungioli, C.S.A (Ragtime).  Dave Ferdinand's One Dream Sound provided sound design.  Pianist Jan Rosenberg conducted Keyboardist Kristin Dabaghian, Bassist Ray Kilday (The Drowsy Chaperone), and Percussionist Paul Davis (Fiddler On The Roof).  Production Stage Manager Beverly Jenkins (The Lion King) lead Stage Managers Karyn Meek (Fiddler On The Roof) and Jovon E. Shuck (Noises Off).

    The staged reading featured the original concept album cast except Michael Gillis (Tour: The Phantom of the Opera) performed the role of Jon Bernard, Felicia Finley (Happy Days, Aida, Smokey Joe’s Cafe) portrayed Alexandra Laurent, and Sara Chase (Paper Mill: Godspell) played Trixie. Alton Fitzgerald White (The Color Purple, The Lion King) recorded songs as both Jules de Medici and Nate Bernard in earlier recording sessions along with Maxim Radio Sirius Satellite Host Diana Falzone.
   
    The New Picasso is the first of two concept recordings recently released by Black Forest Productions in December 2007 along with the compilation release Score Highlights from The Musical Concept Albums of The New Picasso and The Tower Of Babel. The concept album of the new musical fairy tale The Tower Of Babel and Score Highlights from The Musical Concept Albums of The New Picasso and The Tower Of Babel are also both currently available for digital download at Amazon.com with further availability to follow at Apple's iTunes Stores worldwide, Rhapsody, Napster, eMusic, and GroupieTunes later this month.

    Score Highlights from The Musical Concept Albums of The New Picasso and The Tower Of Babel hit the "Top 25 Hot New Releases Soundtracks," "Top 200 Soundtracks Bestsellers," "Top 200 Hot New Releases Pop," "Top 250 Hot New Releases," and the "Bestsellers" List for all MP3 Albums on Amazon.com.

    The Tower Of Babel features a book and score by Jonathan David Sloate. The musical is described as such: "To save their kingdom of Shinar, Queen Bathsheba implores her daughter, the virtuous Princess Alana, to take a love potion and marry the playboy Prince Canaan of Babylon even though he may have murdered her father, but Prince Tiras, his jealous brother who lusts for power and recognition, may incite the ultimate apocalypse. The twin brothers vie not only for the princess they both desire but also the right to be King of Babylon."
   
    The New Picasso and The Tower Of Babel have been penned for both stage and cinema and have garnered 43 Awards at worldwide film festivals and writing competitions. Both musicals are currently ranked as the 1st and 2nd most award-winning Fantasy and Romance scripts over the past decade.

For more information visit www.TheNewPicasso.com, www.TheTowerOfBabel.com and www.BlackForestProductions.com.

http://www.BlackForestProductions.com
http://www.TheNewPicasso.com
http://www.TheTowerOfBabel.com
http://www.myspace.com/jonathandavidsloate
http://www.myspace.com/thenewpicasso
http://www.myspace.com/thetowerofbabelthemusical
http://www.myspace.com/scorehighlights

The New Picasso - The Musical - Act One (Original Concept Album) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001135J5G/?tag=blacforeprod-20

The New Picasso - The Musical - Act Two (Original Concept Album) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001133ET4/?tag=blacforeprod-20

Score Highlights from The Musical Concept Albums of The New Picasso and The Tower Of Babel http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00122KUSC/?tag=blacforeprod-20

The Tower Of Babel - The Musical - Jonathan David Sloate's Original Sketches (The Concept Album) http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0011XZ8KW/?tag=blacforeprod-20