The Upper East Side’s York Theater – known for lovingly staging and reviving long lost gems of musical theater for over fifty years – is back in winning fashion with New2NY, a series featuring four new musicals never before seen in New York. These plays are minimally staged in the Musicals in Mufti style – costumes and set design are intentionally casual, actors get mere days to rehearse and performances often take place with script in hand – a unique format which, when done right, sparks an undeniable sense of spontaneity, innovation and adventure.

The current production, Twist of Fate, plays until September 15th and seems to have particular Broadway-bound potential – with intriguing plot twists, a gripping score and three strong leads, this musical punches way above its weight and is as exciting as any major Broadway musical today. Twist of Fate tells the story of Dominique, a Romani woman who, when arrested by the LAPD for fortunetelling, decides to fight for her first amendment rights instead of skipping town as she’s done many times before. Lianne Marie Dobbs who portrays Dominique is a charismatic lead and a vocal virtuoso; Maya Lagerstam as her teen daughter is thoroughly believable and a versatile singer in her own right; and Ben Jones as Dominique’s lawyer-slash-love-interest does a strong job personifying his character’s journey from a cynical, risk-averse attorney to a passionate defender of human rights who’s willing to take a bet on love and the road less traveled…. With exciting music by Rob Abel, brilliant book and lyrics by Lissa Levin and a fast paced, warm-hearted treatment by director/choreographer Bill Castellino, Twist of Fate is a major win and tons of fun.

From September 21-29, New2NY takes on a classic work in Monte Cristo, based on the classic novel by Alexandre Dumas, transforming the greatest revenge story of all time into a thrilling new musical for our time. Set at 1815 France, it recounts the tale of Edmund Dantes, a sailor who is falsely accused of conspiring to help Napoleon return to power. Unknown to his fiancé, Mercedes, Edmund is arrested and consigned to the dungeons of the Chateau d’If until he finally escapes some 18 years later, only to discover that Mercedes has long ago married one of the very men responsible for his imprisonment. Monte Cristo will be directed by Peter Flynn (Smart Blonde) with choreography by Marcos Santana (In the Heights – Helen Hayes Award nominee) and music direction and orchestrations by David Hancock Turner (Desperate Measures).

Closing the series will be InunDATEd (October 4-13,) a new musical with book by Alice Scovell (The Rewards of Being Frank, Kindred Spirits) and music and lyrics by Christine Lavin (winner of five ASCAP composer awards). They say “it only takes one,” but it’s tough to find him in New York City, even in the age of dating apps. Just ask Lucy, a singer-songwriter whose self-imposed mission is to meet every guy with a shred of potential. It seems she’ll have to slog through 999,999 guys to get to her one-in-a-million. At least she has material for her songs.

For those looking to discover the next generation of breakthrough writers and performers, this collection is essential. York’s Artistic Director James Morgan has assembled in New2NY a series of stirring and thoughtful musicals, which promises to be the most fun you’ve had in a theater for a long time.

Get your tickets here