New Musicals with Impact
Culture shifting stories and voices that encompasses BIPOC, transgender, queer, disabled, and other under represented stories and writers.
Wonder Boy
A new musical about a transgender superhero
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jaime Jarrett
When Jackson steals a mysterious drug from his super genius twin sister, he transforms into Wonder Boy, a superhero with unparalleled strength, the ability to fly, and automatic self-healing powers. Jackson must navigate his new identity as a superhero, as well as his identity as a transgender man. As he battles crime, reconnects with his lesbian ex-girlfriend, and begins to lose his twin sister to a mystifying memory loss disease, he must face his masculinity, his vulnerability, what it means to be a superhero, and what it means to be a man.
Francois and the Rebels
A punk-rock retelling of the 1791 Haitian Revolution
Book, music, and lyrics by Jaime Cepero (Smash)
With a pulsing punk-rock score, and a story pulled from historic events full of love, loss, and deception, Francois and the Rebels tells an important and often forgotten black history through the lens of an immersive high energy rock and roll experience.
Half the Sky
The story of an Asian American woman climbing Mount Everest
Book and Lyrics by Isabella Dawis
Music by Tidtaya Sinutoke
Aurelie sets out to fulfill her childhood dream of summiting Everest, in an expedition of hopeful climbers from around the world, led by a teenage Sherpa. As she grapples with the grueling demands of the mountain, Aurelie finds she must also confront her Thai American family's past, and the rift which separates her from her younger sister. Borders between countries and cultures, past and present, and waking and dreaming begin to blur. Half the Sky is a contemporary American musical on a global scale, infused with the sounds of traditional Thai and Himalayan folk music. Half the Sky was commissioned by the 5th Avenue Theatre and has been developed in part with New York Theatre Barn, Musical Theatre Factory, the Weston Playhouse Theatre (Weston-Ghostlight New Musical Award), and the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center.
Walt & Roy
The untold story of the Disney brothers
Book, Music and Lyrics by Richard Allen and Taran Gray (Freedom Riders)
Walt and Roy follows the journey of the Disney brothers, from their roots in Los Angeles in 1923, through producing their first feature length animated film: “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937. The musical chronicles the mental stress of Walt Disney, the special relationship between Walt and Roy, and their genius in creating the “House of Mouse."
Tenn
Based on the early life of Tennessee Williams
Book, Music and Lyrics by Julian Hornik
Tenn follows Williams’ years trapped in St. Louis with a family in collapse, to his formative months living in the Old French Quarter of New Orleans.
Salem
Salem's accused witches are now on trial in a modern day court room with an electro-pop score
Book, Music and Lyrics by Kira Stone
Directed by Sarna Lapine
In Kira Stone’s new musical, Salem, Susannah, Bridget, Miriam, Martha, Rebecca and Mary are held hostage in a modern day courtroom for their collective trial by judge and jury. We have our judge, and you are our jury. As we are taken through their communal trial, we hear their alleged crimes, meet the accusers, and watch the confines of the courtroom crumble as these women try to save themselves and each other. Fusing the rhythms and rhymes of pop and hip-hop music, and the individual stories of the accused women, it is our chance to truly understand one of the darkest stains in the history of our country. We marvel at the mass hysteria, we deliberate, and we ultimately are a part of deciding the fate of these six women. Follow the twists, switchbacks, and real-life discoveries that are made as we speculate: Why did this happen? How did this happen? And, heaven forbid, could it happen again now?
Frankie!
Book, Music and Lyrics by 16-year-old prodigy Elise Marra
Inspired by true events, Frankie! is the story of a teen lesbian struggling with her own coming-of-age while she is forced to stand in for her mentally checked-out mother. When a mysterious illness strikes Frankie, it impels the revival of her dreams. Frankie! is being developed by AKA Studio Productions and New York Theatre Barn. A concept album of Frankie! was released on Broadway Records this past summer with Autumn Hurlbert, Allie Trimm, Jason Gotay, Jason SweetTooth Williams, Delphi Borich and Tony-nominee Caitlin Kinnunen in the title role.
Sueños: Our American Musical
A new Latinx musical that follows three generations of a Mexican-American Family
Book, Music and Lyrics by Jesse Sanchez
Additional Music and Orchestrations by Jeff Chambers
Sueños is a new Latinx musical that follows three generations of a Mexican-American family in their pursuit of the American Dream. This original musical also explores the struggles and sacrifices that an American family makes for the next generation to break the cycle.
Jeanette
The untold story of Jeannette Rankin -- America's first congresswoman
Music and Lyrics by Ari Afsar
Book by Lauren Gunderson
A pop musical based on the true story of America’s first congresswoman, Jeannette electrifies the life and history of suffrage activist, social worker and Montanan, Jeannette Rankin. Elected to Congress in 1916—three years before women are granted the right to vote—Jeannette finds herself to be the only female voice within the halls of power to vote on women’s suffrage. Written by America's most produced playwright Lauren M. Gunderson and pop sensation Ari Afsar, Jeannette heralds one person’s radical voice in America’s ongoing journey toward equal rights for all.
For Tonight, a new musical
A love story between a Romani woman and a Welsh man defying prejudices and racism during the 1840’s.
Written by: Shenelle Salcido, Whitney Rhodes and Spencer Williams
When their parents die of a mysterious illness in their small Welsh village, surviving siblings Thomas, Haydon, and Nettie are forced to fend for themselves. Inspired by the Romani who once shared their home, Haydon heads off to Liverpool, guitar in hand, to find what he's been missing. There he meets a Romani woman, Mirela, who speaks to his wandering soul.
This enchanting story, inspired by the author’s great-great-great grandfather’s journals, is magically recounted by a band of Romani musicians. It challenges prejudices, family relationships, and what it means to embrace the unknown. Through a riveting indie-rock/folk score, "For Tonight" explores the indelible power of home.
