“Newport,” A New Musical, Debuts At Pridefest 2026

Media Contact: Mark Buneo: -973-647-7255. mvbuneo@verizon.net.

NEWPORT, RI— A singular, transcendent moment in theater is set to unfold as “Newport,” a new musical, debuts at the Newport Pride Festival & Parade.

Presented by Newport Pride, Pridefest takes place on Saturday, June 27; the parade kicks off at 11 a.m., with the festival to follow from noon to 5 p.m. at the Great Friends Meeting House, located at 21 Farewell Street in Newport, RI.

The festival will feature excerpts of “Newport,” a new musical based on extraordinary, real-life events which occurred in 1919 Newport. The ‘Newport Sex Scandal’ was an investigation conducted by the United States Navy to seek out and uncover what they believed was a secret, homosexual society lurking within the confines of the Newport Naval base. The Navy used controversial entrapment methods by recruiting enlisted sailors to infiltrate this society, engage in illicit acts, and report those acts to their superiors.

A subsequent trial would lead to court-martials which brought attention to the fact that the “society” reached out beyond the confines of the Navy and into the heart of the Newport community. “Newport” uses this backdrop to create a compelling interpretation of America’s lesser-known and most intriguing scandals.

“Newport” depicts a jubilant post-war homecoming that erupts into a web of secrets, uninhibited revelry and betrayal — and represents a turning point for all that’s to follow in the decades ahead. The show asks the burning question: What do we owe to others — and what truth do we owe ourselves? It’s a story rich with joy, burning desire, fear and yearning — a story about the courage to seek truth and follow deep-seated dreams at a time when that uncertain path could have devastating consequences.

“Newport” echoes with a rallying cry for change — a vibrant, life-affirming story of hope, love and hushed whispers growing strong and proud as the confines of repressed society are shattered forever. With book and lyrics by Richard Byrne and a score by Stephen Baranski, the show’s Pride preview will feature a selection of new, heartrending and vibrant music and an assemblage of talented performers who bring insight and humanity to a time in history long cloaked in secrecy and silence — with a message more relevant today than ever before.

“While the LGBTQ+ community has seen greater acceptance in past years — a cause for celebration — I don’t know if the younger generation truly understands the decades of torment that so many brave men and women have endured just to reach this moment in time. I hope this show can brighten the future by shining a light on this dark period in our collective past,” Byrne said.

BIOS

Stephen Baranski: Baranski served as a pianist on Broadway for “Phantom of the Opera” and off-Broadway for theSullivan Street production of “The Fantasticks”. He accompanied the New York City-based ensemble the West Side Singers.Other representative regional and summer stock theaters include Theatre by the Sea and Colonial Theater. For his development and application of technology-based innovation in learning, Baranski received the Connecticut Distance Learning Consortium's Teacher Innovation Award. He received his Ph.D. from New York University and holds a M.M. from the Manhattan School of Music. ”Newport” is his triumphant breakout endeavor as a writer/lyricist.

Richard Byrne: A veteran of the stand-up comedy scene in New York for more than 30 years, Byrne also has an extensive theatrical background. Byrne appeared in numerous theatrical productions regionally and in New York City. His television credits include “Law & Order”, “The Sopranos” and “Sex & the City” as well as the feature films, “Goodbye Baby” and “First Rites”. He received a BA in Speech and Theater from Wagner College.

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