LIBERTY SMITH @ NewArts: Newtown Musicals (a division of the 12.14 Foundation)

Music by Michael Weiner, Lyrics by Adam Abraham, Book by Marc Madnick & Eric R. Cohen & Adam Abraham, Based on a story by Marc Madnick & Eric R. Cohen

Executive Producer: Dr. Michael Baroody, M.D., Production Sponsor: Scotty McCreery, Music Direction by Jeffrey Saver, Choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter, Set Design by Brian Prather, Lighting Design by G. Benjamin Swope, Costume Design by Kristina Sneshkoff, Sound Design by David Bullard,Prop Master: Erin Keller, Orchestrations by Alan Lee Silva, Production Coordinator Zoya Kachadurian, Assistant Director: Sarah Jane Schostack, Stage Managers: Jonathan K. Phillips, Heather Ber

Production Photos by T. Charles Erickson

(Reviews below photos.)

GIVE US LIBERTY SMITH! The best musical I’ve seen this season gives us George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and yes, you’re already saying, we know: HAMILTON. No, that was last season’s show, as the Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and New York Drama Critics Circle have already proved. I’m talking about LIBERTY SMITH, which was recently performed in Newtown, Connecticut by grammar, middle and high school students. Let’s give Libby Smith… an A+ for entertainment. (Peter Filichia)

Early August means that the young people of the Newtown area are ready to present the performances of their always magical shows with the 1214 Foundation, now under the wing of NewArts Musicals. Considering how high these previous productions have set the bar, I couldn’t help but be excited to see this year’s first choice. What I liked most about the choice for this year was the fact that it was original in so many ways. The talent on the production side is staggering. Artistic director Michael Unger returned to Newtown for the third year to direct and produce this piece. (Onstage Blog)