Backstage Pass

This episode features a conversation with S. Todd Townsend, Kim Kilby, and Luke McLemore about their musical Big Quarterly.

The director/choreographer of the show, Jōvan Dansberry, served as a very special guest co-host.

As New York Theatre Barn prepares to launch its milestone 20th season in 2027, we’re going to kick off the celebration with a benefit concert performance of Big Quarterly, on Monday, November 16 at 7:00 PM, at The Green Room 42 in NYC.

Big Quarterly, a hip-hop gospel musical, spotlights the legacy of Peter Spencer – formerly enslaved, he rose to found the nation’s first wholly

independent Black church and sparked the Big Quarterly–a joyful reunion for freedom in Delaware that exists to this day. For those not yet free, Big

Quarterly was a chance to secure passage on the Underground Railroad.

Perpetually haunted by deep childhood wounds in the face of outer powers, Peter’s private battle threatens to unravel his life’s great mission. Through the grace of God, he discovers the underground family secrets that provide him a path to truly be free.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Rapsody” performed by Corey Harvey and “Holy Ghost” performed by S. Todd Townsend and Al Motley.

Connect with Big Quarterly:

Website: https://bigquarterly.com/

Instagram: @bigquarterly

Connect with S.Todd Townsend:

Instagram: @getupinlife

Connect with Kim Kilby

Instagram: @kilbycreativeworks

Connect with Luke McLeMore

Instagram: @lukemmclemore

Connect with Jōvan Dansberry

Website: https://www.jovandansberry.com/

Instagram: @jovan_dansberry

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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In this episode we continue our conversation with Kevin Fogarty about his musical, Southern Harmony: A Murder Ballad.

Bernie Tiede was a model citizen.  He was the star tenor in the church choir, director of the community theater, a trusted friend, and everyone’s favorite funeral director and mortician. Marjorie Nugent was a wealthy widow, estranged from her entire family, conservative in her lending practices, accustomed to always having the final say, and had a reputation for being less than warm and welcoming.  They were an unlikely pair.  Their arrangement was unconventional.  There were bound to be problems.  But the murder was just the beginning.

When an ambitious, no nonsense district attorney takes what he thinks will be an open and shut case, an East Texas town has to rethink everything they know about right and wrong to make sense of the situation.  Mixing traditional musical theater with southern gospel and Texas folk influences, the line between good and evil runs right through the heart of Texas in this dark true- crime musical comedy.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “It’s Gonna Be Fine” performed by Daniel Yearwood and Todd Buonopane and “The New Mrs. Nugent” performed by Todd Buonopane.

Connect with Kevin Fogarty:

Instagram: @kfogue

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Kevin Fogarty about his musical, Southern Harmony: A Murder Ballad.

Bernie Tiede was a model citizen.  He was the star tenor in the church choir, director of the community theater, a trusted friend, and everyone’s favorite funeral director and mortician. Marjorie Nugent was a wealthy widow, estranged from her entire family, conservative in her lending practices, accustomed to always having the final say, and had a reputation for being less than warm and welcoming.  They were an unlikely pair.  Their arrangement was unconventional.  There were bound to be problems.  But the murder was just the beginning.

When an ambitious, no nonsense district attorney takes what he think will be an open and shut case, an East Texas town has to rethink everything they know about right and wrong to make sense of the situation.  Mixing traditional musical theater with southern gospel and Texas folk influences, the line between good and evil runs right through the heart of Texas in this dark true- crime musical comedy.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “People Person” performed by Todd Buonopane, as well as “Tristan Da Cuhna” performed by Todd Buonopane and Michelle Jennings.

Connect with Kevin Fogarty:

Instagram: @kfogue

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we continue our conversation with Justino Tesoro, Jesse Ayala, and Katie Emerson about Marlise! The Musical.

It’s 1954, and Hollywood star Marlise Mattox has been framed for murder, live on television at the Oscars. The only person who believes she is innocent is Arnold Berman, an obsessive superfan and studio prop-room assistant. After bailing Marlise out of jail, Arnold pulls her into a madcap investigation through backlots, biblical epics, and film-noir shadows. Along the way: flipping Pharaohs, biblical tap numbers, buried Hollywood secrets, and a robot on skates.

Equal parts love letter to and loving spoof of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Marlise! follows one fallen movie star and her greatest fan as they attempt to solve a murder, and film her comeback at the same time.

This episode features a demo recording of the song “Moses! Moses!” performed by Justino Tesoro.

Connect with Marlise! The Musical:

Website: https://www.marlisemusical.com/

Instagram: @marlisemusical

Connect with Justino Tesoro:

Website: https://www.justinotesoro.com/

Instagram: @justino_tesoro

Connect with Jesse Ayala:

Website: https://www.jesseayala.com

Instagram: @jesseayalajr

Connect with Katie Emerson:

Website: https://katieemerson.org/ 

Instagram: @itskatieemerson 

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Justino Tesoro and Jesse Ayala about their new show, Marlise! The Musical! We also had a very special guest: Katie Emerson who plays Marlise herself.

It’s 1954, and Hollywood star Marlise Mattox has been framed for murder, live on television at the Oscars. The only person who believes she is innocent is Arnold Berman, an obsessive superfan and studio prop-room assistant. After bailing Marlise out of jail, Arnold pulls her into a madcap investigation through backlots, biblical epics, and film-noir shadows. Along the way: flipping Pharaohs, biblical tap numbers, buried Hollywood secrets, and a robot on skates.

Equal parts love letter to and loving spoof of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Marlise! follows one fallen movie star and her greatest fan as they attempt to solve a murder, and film her comeback at the same time.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “The Greatest Movie” performed by Justino Tesoro, Brandon Scott Grayson, and Isa Peña, as well as “Marlise’s Lament” performed by Justino Tesoro.

Connect with Marlise! The Musical!:

Website: https://www.marlisemusical.com/

Instagram: @marlisemusical

Connect with Justino Tesoro:

Website: https://www.justinotesoro.com/

Instagram: @justino_tesoro

Connect with Jesse Ayala:

Website: https://www.jesseayala.com

Instagram: @jesseayalajr

Connect with Katie Emerson:

Website: https://katieemerson.org/ 

Instagram: @itskatieemerson 

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we continue our conversation with Jessica Francis Fichter and Colleen Francis about their new musical: Dandelion.

DANDELION tells the poignant and uplifting story of Jane, a young woman who faces profound questions of responsibility and sacrifice when she must decide between attending college in pursuit of her lifelong dream, or staying home to care for her mother — who is struggling with severe mental illness and addiction.

Jane navigates the ups and downs of her senior year of high school while her father tries to lighten the mood with his trademark dad jokes, her brother urges her to assert her own autonomy, and her goofy best friend Gabbie is always by her side to offer emotional support and wacky antics. At the same time, Lilah faces her own inner demons — personified onstage as the Voices — as she loses herself amid a sea of doctors’ appointments, prescriptions, and hallucinatory episodes.

When Jane leaves for a “Welcome Weekend” event at North College, Lilah’s illness reaches a self-destructive turning point, forcing Jane to question whether her mother will be able to live alone safely without Jane, her little “Dandelion.” As family tensions and mounting pressures only worsen, and Lilah continually begs her to stay, Jane has to make the impossible decision to leave in the hopes of making her dreams — and Lilah’s — come true.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Start Again” performed by Kevin Perdido, as well as “Dandelion” performed by Hannah Bonnet and Sadie Wiskes.

Connect with Dandelion:

Website: ⁠www.dandelionmusical.com ⁠

Instagram: ⁠@dandelionmusical⁠

Connect with Jessica Francis Fichter:

Website: ⁠www.jessicafrancisfichter.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠@jessicafichter1⁠

Connect with Colleen Francis:

Website: ⁠www.itsmefrankyc.com/colleenfrancis⁠

Instagram: ⁠@colleenfrancismusic⁠

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Jessica Francis Fichter and Colleen Francis about their new musical, Dandelion.

DANDELION tells the poignant and uplifting story of Jane, a young woman who faces profound questions of responsibility and sacrifice when she must decide between attending college in pursuit of her lifelong dream, or staying home to care for her mother — who is struggling with severe mental illness and addiction.

Jane navigates the ups and downs of her senior year of high school while her father tries to lighten the mood with his trademark dad jokes, her brother urges her to assert her own autonomy, and her goofy best friend Gabbie is always by her side to offer emotional support and wacky antics. At the same time, Lilah faces her own inner demons — personified onstage as the Voices — as she loses herself amid a sea of doctors’ appointments, prescriptions, and hallucinatory episodes.

When Jane leaves for a “Welcome Weekend” event at North College, Lilah’s illness reaches a self-destructive turning point, forcing Jane to question whether her mother will be able to live alone safely without Jane, her little “Dandelion.” As family tensions and mounting pressures only worsen, and Lilah continually begs her to stay, Jane has to make the impossible decision to leave in the hopes of making her dreams — and Lilah’s — come true.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “North” performed by Lianah Sta. Anna and Hannah Bonnett, as well as “Go Where You Grow” performed by Sadie Wiskes and Jessica Phillips.

Connect with Dandelion:

Website: www.dandelionmusical.com 

Instagram: @dandelionmusical

Connect with Jessica Francis Fichter:

Website: www.jessicafrancisfichter.com

Instagram: @jessicafichter1

Connect with Colleen Francis:

Website: www.itsmefrankyc.com/colleenfrancis

Instagram: @colleenfrancismusic

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we continue our conversation with Chery Stern and Bettina Covo about their new musical: Rita: More Than a Memory.

Told through the lens of Rita’s struggle with advancing Alzheimer’s disease, Rita: More Than A Memory explores the fragile intersection between memory, identity, fame, love, and loss. Conceived and written by Bettina Covo (music/lyrics/book) with Cheryl Stern (book/additional lyrics) this show authentically explores the toll this misunderstood disease took on Hayworth’s life and career, while exposing how the film industry systematically erased her vibrant Spanish heritage. Co-directed/choreographed by Joe Barros and Hector Flores Jr., with music supervision/arrangements/orchestrations by Tom Kochan, the original musical was showcased through New York Theater Barn in a week-long residency featuring an entirely Latiné ensemble.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Love Goddess” performed by Brian Silliman, as well as “They Go to Bed With Gilda” performed by Claudia Mulet, Karmine Alers, Gabby Boera, and the company of the New York Theatre Barn’s residency for Rita: More Than a Memory.

Connect with Cheryl Stern:

Website: https://www.cherylstern.com/

Instagram: @cherylsternlive

Connect with Bettina Covo:

Website: https://www.headystuffproductions.com

Instagram: @bettinacovo

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode features a conversation with Cheryl Stern and Bettina Covo about their new musical, Rita: More Than a Memory.

Told through the lens of Rita’s struggle with advancing Alzheimer’s disease, Rita: More Than A Memory explores the fragile intersection between memory, identity, fame, love, and loss. Conceived and written by Bettina Covo (music/lyrics/book) with Cheryl Stern (book/additional lyrics) this show authentically explores the toll this misunderstood disease took on Hayworth’s life and career, while exposing how the film industry systematically erased her vibrant Spanish heritage. Co-directed/choreographed by Joe Barros and Hector Flores Jr., with music supervision/arrangements/orchestrations by Tom Kochan, the original musical was showcased through New York Theater Barn in a week-long residency featuring an entirely Latiné ensemble.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Dance with My Father” performed by Karmine Alers, Gabby Boera, and Louis Villabon, as well as “Colors of Me” performed by Trisha Jeffrey, Sandra Marante, and Bettina Covo.

To donate to the further development of Rita: More Than a Memory, please contact Kate Trammell at [email protected].

Connect with Cheryl Stern:

Website: https://www.cherylstern.com/

Instagram: @cherylsternlive

Connect with Bettina Covo:

Website: https://www.headystuffproductions.com

Instagram: @bettinacovo

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Twitter: @nytheatrebarn

Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn 

Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn

nytheatrebarn.org 

Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs

Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we continue our conversation with Emma Ashford about her new musical: Miss America.

MISS AMERICA, a dystopian musical tragicomedy, tells the story of Eve - a driven, idealistic, and accidentally pregnant Indiana 17-year-old on the eve of her freshman year at college. After a failed illegal abortion attempt, Eve ends up at the New Life Center: a pilot prison created by the McGowan administration, which has codified abortion as murder. Over the next 8 months, Eve, alongside her fellow inmates, must reckon with parenthood, purpose, and the gendered expectations that confine all of us. With comedy, heart, and a sweeping score of pop/rock and pastiche, this uniquely American coming-of-age musical nods to hits such as Orange is The New Black and The Handmaid's Tale as it confronts what the reproductive laws of today could mean for us tomorrow. 

This episode features recordings of the songs “Not Today” performed by Emma Ashford, and “Miss America” performed by Alysa Finnegan, Nina White, and Emma Ashford.

If you’d like to learn more about the topics in Miss America and support some fantastic organizations, here is some info from Emma below!

Please visit https://www.pregnancyjusticeus.org/  if you’d like to learn more about pregnancy criminalization in the United States and how you can support pregnant people in need right now. 

https://www.restoreher.us/ advocates for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women whose pregnancies, children, and lives have been impacted by improper care while serving time (i.e. shackling, solitary confinement, etc). They advocate to protect the dignity, safety, health, and rights of all women directly impacted by incarceration, convictions, and/or trauma.

To stay updated on the show, follow Emma on instagram @emmmaashh, and check out her website: emma-ashford.com

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

Twitter: @nytheatrebarn

Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn 

Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn

nytheatrebarn.org 

Pauls’s personal instagram: @paulsmacs

Teresa’s personal instagram: @terijoyeaux

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices