Nationally-Known Improv Musician Pete Guertin Inspires Brave New Workshop Album Release

Minneapolis, Minn, December 6, 2002 --- The Brave New Workshop (BNW) Comedy Theatre, founded by Dudley Riggs in 1958, is pleased to announce the release of the company's first album featuring the talents of long-time musical director, and well-known improv musician, Peter Guertin. Vocals were recorded by Brave New Workshop performers Julie Grover, Caleb McEwen, Katy McEwen, Jim Robinson, and Shanan Wexler, as well as co-owner John Sweeney. The album, entitled Songs of the Brave New Workshop, Best of Volume 1, consists of seventeen satirical and hilarious songs that have come to distinguish the theatre's shows. Songs on the album were selected from BNW main stage shows spanning the last four years and were originally written by cast members performing in the shows.

As the resident musical genius at the Brave New Workshop, Guertin has masterminded the music behind more than 30 BNW shows with his amazing ability to humorously convey a satirical point through music. Whether as background to support the point or to set the tone of the scene or as an independent musical sketch, Guertin's music springs forth from an amazing repertoire of musical styles, instrumentations, and an uncanny understanding of improvisation and comedy.

Well-known in the Twin Cities theatre and music communities, as well as through work on many film and industrial videos, Guertin's reputation is ever-growing nationally as one the country's best improvisational musicians. According to John Sweeney, co-owner and executive producer of the Brave New Workshop, "Pete is a remarkable musician. For example, you get an idea for some lyrics and you talk to Pete. You discuss the kind of style you're thinking and maybe even give him an example of a song similar to what you want. Pete doesn't say much. The next day in rehearsal, Pete asks if you'd like to hear what he's been working on for your idea. He then plays a complete piece of music that has taken your ridiculously vague idea and turned it into a piece of art. I don't know how he does it. But I do know that I have heard most of the great improvisational musicians in the country and Pete is the best." Actors everywhere echo Sweeney's sentiments, including every member of BNW casts since 1989 when Guertin started there.

You can see Guertin at the Brave New Workshop where he is currently providing musical direction to the theatre's holiday show, My Big Fat Lutheran Christmas. Two of the show's songs are performed on the album as well, including "The Twelve Days of Christmas," and "Steaming Pile of Christmas Cheer."

Songs of the Brave New Workshop, Best of Volume 1 is for sale at the theatre, online at the BNW web site (www.bravenewworkshop.com), and in local retail music stores. A distribution agreement has been reached with Navarre Corporation, a leading distributor of proprietary and non-propriety home entertainment software, music, and DVD, which will result in the album's availability at Sam Goody stores as early as next week. In addition, agreements are in the works with Best Buy Company and Target Corporation, and have been reached with local music mainstays Electric Fetus, Down in the Valley and others.

For more information, visit the Brave New Workshop's web site at www.bravenewworkshop.com or call 612-332-6620.

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