This summer, NYMF will be on quest to save Paradise one Scrabble tile at a time. The new musical, The Last Word will be presented at the Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET® project (229 W 42nd St) . The Last Word is written by Brett Sullivan (Billy Elliot Live Film Director) and will be directed by Michael Bello (Doctor Zhivago), choreography by Nick Kenkel (Gotta Dance, Legally Blonde) and Musical Supervisor is Conrad Helfrich (Dirty Dancing). It will begin performances on July 22 and will run through July 29, 2016. Tickets are $27.50 and can be purchased by visiting NYMF.org. 
With an eclectic 1970’s groove soundtrack, The Last Word is set in East Cleveland in 1976 and follows Jay a charismatic slacker living above Paradise, the restaurant his father left him. But Jay has accumulated a trail of debt which includes Earlene Floyd, a local parking lot mogul, who wants to bulldoze Paradise and put up a parking lot. Jay enlists his old school gang of misfits with plans to raise cash by hustling across America – one game of Scrabble at a time. But old factions and Earlene’s offensive to crush them threaten Paradise forever. Who will have the last word?
The cast includes: Amanda Braun (National Tours: Catch Me If You Can), Felicia Finley (Broadway: Smokey Joe’s Café, The Wedding Singer), Kristian Espiritu (Here Lies Love), Michael Graceffa (National Tour: Matilda), Haley Hannah (Broadway: Bring It On), Jessica Jain (Pitch Perfect, A Free Man of Color), Travis Kent (Broadway: Disaster), Nathan Lucrezio (Broadway: Aladdin), MJ Rodriguez (RENT, 2011 revival), Philip Jackson Smith (Mozart in the Jungle), Kit Treece (EST’s Until She Claws Her Way Out, National Tour: Chorus Line).
Creative team includes: Adam Crinson (Scenic & Props Designer), Christopher Vergara (Costume Designer), Isabella Byrd (Lighting Designer), Josh Liebert (Sound Designer), Rachael Danielle Albert (Production Stage Manager), Sharon Fallon (General Manager), Michael Cassara (Casting). Cast TBA. The Last Word is produced by Amber Jacobsen and Steam Musicals.
Although this marks Brett Sullivan’s first musical, he is no stranger to theatre. Brett and his business partner Clayton Jacobsen own and operate Steam Motion and Sound, the production company that films most theatrical television commercials for the West End and Broadway. Working with Disney, Really Useful, Cameron Macintosh, Working Title, Dodgers, and Barry Weisler, Steam redefined live theatrical production for the stage. Additionally, they have filmed live theatrical productions including Les Misérable 25th Anniversary, Phantom of the Opera at Royal Albert Hall, Jesus Christ Superstar at Arena, Love Never Dies, Billy Elliot Live, and Miss Saigon.