Nominations for the awards were announced in Los Angeles at a press conference and on the GLAAD website.
The GLAAD Media Awards recognize and honor media for their fair, accurate and inclusive representations of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives.
40 is the New 15 explores five characters who are turning 40, and looks back on their lives when they met as high-school freshman at 15. Two of these characters, K.P. (Tod Macofsky) and Robby (Ed Martin) face coming-of-age sexuality issues at 15 that shape their view of the world for the rest of their lives. The ups-and-downs of Robby and K.P.’s relationship is the heart and soul of 40 is the New 15.
40 is the New 15 recently completed a successful developmental run at the Secret Rose Theatre in North Hollywood, produced by the Academy for New Musical Theatre. The production enjoyed sold-out houses throughout its run. There were raves about the “tuneful, clever songs, (and) engrossing storyline,” and critics called it “a diamond in the rough,” “sweetly entertaining,” and “something to sing about.”
“We are proud that this success has come to a new musical that was born in our Full Length Curriculum program and nurtured with a spot in our Concert Reading Series,” says ANMT Artistic Director Elise Dewsberry. “40 is the New 15 was a natural to be our first developmental production, and we congratulate Larry and Cindy for having their work honored with a GLAAD Media Award nomination.”
For a full list of GLAAD Media Award nominations, visit GLAAD.org at:
http://www.glaad.org/mediaawards/21/nominees
Author: Elise Dewsberry
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Artistic Director of New Musicals Inc., Elise has been involved in the development of new works for over forty years: as an actor/singer, as a director, as a dramaturge, and as a writer. While living in Toronto, Elise served as the Assistant Artistic Director of the Muskoka Festival; the Co-Ordinator of the festival’s annual Musical Theatre Writer’s Colony, the Associate Dramaturge of the Canadian Stage Company; the Resident Dramaturge of the Smile Theatre Company; and was the co-founder of Toronto’s Script Lab. Elise spent many years touring Canada with Nine Months – a one-woman musical which she commissioned from writers Carl Ritchie and Stephen Woodjetts. Elise and Carl also co-wrote Any Body Home?, which was produced by the Cordova Bay Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia, and published by Dramatic Publishing. Elise joined ANMT as Associate Artistic Director in 2003; joined Founding Artistic Director John Sparks as Co-Artistic Director in 2010; and became Artistic Director of New Musicals Inc. in 2013. Elise is also the author and evaluator of the Book Lab and the Outlining Lab, offered online through www.writingmusicaltheatre.com, and publishes a monthly blog on the craft of musical theatre available at https://nmi.org/elises-video-blog/.