In this episode, we continue our conversation with Kathleen Wrinn, the founding Artistic Director of the New Works/New Voices initiative at Syracuse University that develops new musicals.

We explore in greater detail how the program has developed Lighthouse, a musical with book, lyrics & story by abs wilson, and music and story by Veronica Mansour.

We also discuss Kathleen’s forthcoming book, Developing New Musicals in University Theatre Programs: A Practical Guide, co-authored with Alisa Hauser. 

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Runaway Girl” and “Bus Stop” performed by Veronica Mansour.

Connect with Kathleen Wrinn:

Website: https://www.kathleenwrinn.com/

Instagram: @inittowrinnit

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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This episode features a conversation with Kathleen Wrinn, the founding Artistic Director of the New Works/New Voices initiative that develops new musicals at Syracuse University. We discuss how Magia, the musical featured in our previous episodes, will be developed at New Works/New Voices this year. We also explore how the program has previously developed Lighthouse, a musical with book, lyrics & story by abs wilson, and music and story by Veronica Mansour.

This episode features the song “Lighthouse” performed by Veronica Mansour.

Connect with Kathleen Wrinn:

Website: https://www.kathleenwrinn.com/

Instagram: @inittowrinnit

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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In this episode we continue our conversation with Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão about their new musical, Magia.

With book, music, and lyrics by Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão, Magia (magic) follows Leilani, a teen girl who attempts to save her ailing father by stealing a wish from the magical island, Tekoha. With a Latin-Caribbean fusion score, Magia asks the question “What is real magic and how can we access it in a society that accepts the status quo?” Magia is a welcoming celebration of Afro-Latino-Caribbean culture and experiences in an imaginative fantasy musical with spices from the countries that represent the writers: The Bahamas and Brazil.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Lights on the Other Side” performed by Tamieyah Johnson, as well as “Dress Like Them” performed by Nathan Leitão and Letitia Bullard.

Connect with Letita Bullard:

Instagram: @letitiab242

Connect with Nathan Leitão:

Instagram: @nathan.leitao

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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This episode features a conversation with Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão about their new musical, Magia.

With book, music, and lyrics by Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão, Magia (magic) follows Leilani, a teen girl who attempts to save her ailing father by stealing a wish from the magical island, Tekoha. With a Latin-Caribbean fusion score, Magia asks the question “What is real magic and how can we access it in a society that accepts the status quo?” Magia is a welcoming celebration of Afro-Latino-Caribbean culture and experiences in an imaginative fantasy musical with spices from the countries that represent the writers: The Bahamas and Brazil.

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Mama, Tell Me” performed by Letitia Bullard, Nathan Leitão, and Tamieyah Johnson and “Mangoes” performed by Letitia Bullard and Nathan Leitão.

Connect with Letita Bullard:

Instagram: @letitiab242

Connect with Nathan Leitão:

Instagram: @nathan.leitao

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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In this episode, we continue our conversation with Sharone Sayegh and Danny J Rooney about their new musical, The Game Boy.

The Game Boy follows the story of Omari, a Middle Eastern high school gamer who struggles to fit in with his all-American peers, and wishes he could be more like the majorly cool heroes behind the screen. When he stumbles upon a world-warping-wormhole in his school’s bathroom stall and gets flushed down the pipes, Omari finds himself in an 8-bit alternate universe having to face his real-world obstacles manifested as gnarly video game foes, in order to beat the game and save the Kingdom. Part “Super Mario,” part Spaceballs, part The NeverEnding Story, The Game Boy is taking musicals to the next level!

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Level Up” performed by Sharone Sayegh, Danny J Rooney, Jeigh Madjus, Emily Goglia, John Wascavage, and Natalie Gallo as well as “Control” performed by Jeigh Madjus and Autumn Hurlbert.

Connect with Sharone Sayegh:

Instagram: @sharonesayegh

Website: https://sharonesayegh.com/

Connect with Danny J Rooney

Instagram: @droons

Website: https://www.dannyjrooney.com

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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

This episode features a conversation with Sharone Sayegh and Danny J Rooney about their new musical, The Game Boy.

The Game Boy follows the story of Omari, a Middle Eastern high school gamer who struggles to fit in with his all-American peers, and wishes he could be more like the majorly cool heroes behind the screen. When he stumbles upon a world-warping-wormhole in his school’s bathroom stall and gets flushed down the pipes, Omari finds himself in an 8-bit alternate universe having to face his real-world obstacles manifested as gnarly video game foes, in order to beat the game and save the Kingdom. Part “Super Mario,” part Spaceballs, part The NeverEnding Story, The Game Boy is taking musicals to the next level!

This episode features demo recordings of the songs “Maiden in Distress” performed by Sharone Sayegh and Autumn Hurlbert, and “My Turn to Play” performed by Jamen Nanthakumar.

Connect with Sharone Sayegh:

Instagram: @sharonesayegh

Website: https://sharonesayegh.com/

Connect with Danny J Rooney

Instagram: @droons

Website: https://www.dannyjrooney.com

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Mike Ross and Dylan MarcAurele about their new musical, Lewis Loves Clark

Lewis Loves Clark is a funny, fast-paced epic about the famous Corps of Discovery expedition. Combining bluegrass, folk and pop, this tragicomedy follows Meriwether Lewis (a depressed closeted alcoholic), William Clark (just breathtakingly oblivious), Sacagawea (permanently exasperated), and York (would rather be birdwatching) as they grapple with the not-so-great unknown.

This episode features demo recordings of “Drunk, Sober” and “I Could Go Either Way” performed by Dylan MarcAurele.

Connect with Mike Ross:

Instagram: @mikerosswrites

Website: https://mikerosswrites.com/

Connect with Dylan MarcAurele:

Instagram: @dylanmarcaurele

Website: https://www.dylanmarcaurele.com/

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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

This episode features a conversation with Mike Ross and Dylan MarcAurele about their new musical, Lewis Loves Clark.

Lewis Loves Clark is a funny, fast-paced epic about the famous Corps of Discovery expedition. Combining bluegrass, folk and pop, this tragicomedy follows Meriwether Lewis (a depressed closeted alcoholic), William Clark (just breathtakingly oblivious), Sacagawea (permanently exasperated), and York (would rather be birdwatching) as they grapple with the not-so-great unknown.

This episode features demo recordings of “But Wait, There’s More” performed by Dylan MarcAurele and “Sacagawea’s Lullaby” performed by Kyra Atekwana.

Connect with Mike Ross:

Instagram: @mikerosswrites

Website: https://mikerosswrites.com/

Connect with Dylan MarcAurele:

Instagram: @dylanmarcaurele

Website: https://www.dylanmarcaurele.com/

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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

In the second episode of Backstage Pass Season 2, we continue our conversation with Tony and Pulitzer Prize Award Winner Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) and Anna K Jacobs (POP!) about their musical Teeth. We also play a game we designed just for these writers, where we decide which musical theatre characters should be armed with vagina dentata.

"Teeth" is a musical that follows Dawn O'Keefe, a charismatic leader of a Christian youth group called the Promise Keeper Girls, who grapples with her own sexual desires while suppressing them due to her strict religious upbringing; when violated, she discovers a shocking secret power where her body physically fights back against sexual assault, essentially giving her "teeth" against her attackers; the show explores themes of religious oppression, female sexuality, and bodily autonomy, based on the cult film of the same name, with music by Anna K. Jacobs and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson.

This episode features the songs “It’s Always the Woman” performed by Alyse Alan Louis and “Dentata” performed by the cast of Teeth.

Connect with Teeth:

Website: https://teeththemusical.com/

Connect with Michael R. Jackson:

Instagram: @thelivingmichaeljackson

Website: https://www.thelivingmichaeljackson.com/

Connect with Anna K. Jacobs:

Instagram: @theannakjacobs

Website: https://www.annakjacobs.com/

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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

Welcome to Backstage Pass Season 2! We’re premiering our second season with a special double release that features our conversation with Tony and Pulitzer Prize Winner Michael R. Jackson (A Strange Loop) and Anna K. Jacobs (POP!) about their musical Teeth. Check out Episode 2 for the second part of our conversation.

"Teeth" is a musical that follows Dawn O'Keefe, a charismatic leader of a Christian youth group called the Promise Keeper Girls, who grapples with her own sexual desires while suppressing them due to her strict religious upbringing; when violated, she discovers a shocking secret power where her body physically fights back against sexual assault, essentially giving her "teeth" against her attackers; the show explores themes of religious oppression, female sexuality, and bodily autonomy, based on the cult film of the same name, with music by Anna K. Jacobs and lyrics by Michael R. Jackson.

This episode features the songs “Precious Gift” performed by Alyse Alan Louis and the Promise Keeper Girls, “Modest is Hottest” performed by Jason Gotay and Alyse Alan Louis, and “Shame in My Body” performed by Alyse Alan Louis. 

Connect with Teeth:

Website: https://teeththemusical.com/

Connect with Michael R. Jackson:

Instagram: @thelivingmichaeljackson

Website: https://www.thelivingmichaeljackson.com/

Connect with Anna K. Jacobs:

Instagram: @theannakjacobs

Website: https://www.annakjacobs.com/

Connect with New York Theatre Barn:

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