Marrying Meg needs something Green

Marrying Meg a new Scottish musical at The New York Musical Theatre Festival will premiere Tuesday, September 29th to a fresh new audience, but it looks like no creator. It so happens their author Mark Robertson (Book, Music & Lyrics) can't afford to fly out here to see his own show. He is self-producing, and all the money he has been able to raise has been dedicated to the production. He is the only foreign writer accepted in the festival this year, and he has been working on this for 17 years.

Mark Robertson as "Thomas The Rhymer" in The Lass wi the Muckle Mou (1982)

 play that inspired Marrying Meg.

We at The Fab Marquee were compelled by his heart-wrenching letter (below). We hear most of the production team is working pro bono on this project, but it is not enough. The plane ticket from Scotland to NYC is close to $2,000 dollars.


With an outstanding Broadway cast, Stephen Berger (The Pajama Game, Into The Woods), Stephen Bienskie (Chess, Cats), Stephanie Youell Binetti (Curtains), Harris Doran (2008 NYMF Award for Excellence: Outstanding Individual Performance for Love Jerry), Kathy Fitzgerald (9 to 5, The Producers), Lisa Howard (9 to 5, South Pacific, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Michael McCormick (Curtains, The Pajama Game, Gypsy, Kiss Me Kate, 1776, Kiss of a Spider Woman), Jim Newman (Curtains, Minelli on Minelli, Sunset Boulevard, The Who’s Tommy), Tory Ross (9 to 5, Cry Baby), and William Ryall (Guys and Dolls, Dr. Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas!, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Chess, How to Succeed In Business Without Trying).


The show opens September 29th, and they would love to have him there.


In these hard economic times I understand it is difficult to donate money, but just posting this on your blog or any kind of social media outreach is an amazing help.


You can donate by visiting this link (http://www.nymf.org/Page.144.Make+a+Donation+Now)



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Dear Friends:


I wonder if you might be able to help me. My Scottish musical comedy MARRYING MEG is to receive its world premiere at this year’s New York Musical Theatre Festival. The show, which I have been writing, on and off, for the last seventeen years (I’m a full-time TV scriptwriter normally), has been a real labour of love for me. It’s a genuine Scottish musical, written by a Scotsman (me!), adapted from a brilliant Scottish play (Alexander Reid’s The Lass wi the Muckle Mou) which is in turn based on two famous folk tales from the Scottish Borders. If nothing else, MARRYING MEG’s Scottish pedigree is secure!


Throughout its extensive development period, MARRYING MEG has reached the finals of three prestigious European musicals competitions, and arrives at this year’s New York Musicals Festival as the only show to have Cameron Mackintosh as one of its official sponsors. Living as I do in the Highlands, I cannot tell you what a thrill it will be finally to see MARRYING MEG staged in its entirety. And in New York of all places! The home of musical theatre!


MARRYING MEG is a fun show with a great big Caledonian heart, and I’m convinced it will appeal to almost anyone with an affinity for things Scottish. I really would like to think I’m bringing a wee bit of Scotland to the Big Apple. I know people say that in order to make your dreams a reality, you have to be willing to beg, borrow and steal. This fall I’m living out my dream. But after borrowing (and even stealing) all I could, I’m now giving begging a try! (Excuse me if I’m not very good at it yet.) Our production is faced with fundraising challenges this year, and while our first weeks of rehearsal have gone incredibly well, the final stretch of our rehearsals is tight. For our first weeks I was able to be with the cast and crew as they rehearsed the show, but now it seems that I will not be able to return to see the actual performances of the production due to cost.


Would you consider making a donation to our show? Every little bit counts, and donations through the website are 100% tax deductible. Plus, donors of $1,000 or more receives two tickets to one of our performances. (Now isn’t that reward enough?) We're also hosting a fundraising party on Thursday, 24 September from 7pm-10pm at Shoolbred's in NYC. Get details on Meg's Engagement Party here.


More information about the amazing cast and creative team, as well as clips from the show can be found at www.nymf.org/marryingmeg. Please also consider coming to see the show that I am so very proud of. Schedule and ticket information are below. With your support, Meg hopes that many a mickle maks a muckle!


With gratitude,
Mark Robertson