new musicals Archives ⋆ Brett Ryback

BIPOC Musical Theater Writers

The Off-Broadway cast of “A Strange Loop”

Because of some of my posts about race and musical theater, every now and then I get asked to recommend BIPOC Musical Theater Writers or shows written by BIPOC writers. Usually these are from white educators looking to expand their curriculum, or white writers looking for collaboration opportunities.

I thought I’d post some names I’ve recommended as well as links to their sites (if they have one). If you’re looking for Composers, Lyricist, and Bookwriters of color — this is a good place to start.

But this is not a comprehensive list by any means. I encourage anyone who is looking to work with or write about writers of color to do their research, engage with their network, and don’t stop looking if at first you’re unsuccessful.

Deadline Announces “In Strange Woods” Partnership

Deadline announced today that my co-writers Jeff Luppino-Esposito, Matt Sav, and I are partnering with podcast production company Atypical Artists to bring you a Serial-meets-Broadway-style scripted podcast series: In Strange Woods.

In Strange Woods tells the coming-of-age story of Peregrine Wells, an 18-year-old girl in Minnesota’s north woods, reeling from the death of her older brother. I will also act as narrator, spinning a fictional mystery that weaves together investigation and taped interview with a folk-pop score.

We are so unbelievably excited to partner with this incredible company of talented, ambitious, and fresh voices. We can’t wait to share In Strange Woods with the world!

PASSING THROUGH to Premiere at Goodspeed

Goodspeed Musicals announced last night that Passing Through will receive its world premiere at their Norma Terris Theatre in July 2019. According to their press release, the show was “the inspiring hit musical of Goodspeed’s 2018 Festival of New Musicals.”

It was also developed over the course of two winters by Goodspeed’s Johnny Mercer’s Writers Colony. It’s a homegrown musical that my collaborator Eric Ulloa and I are very excited to see premiere at the company that helped bring it to life.

Set amidst the rich sounds and diverse tapestry of the American landscape, Passing Through tells the incredible true story of a young man who journeys on foot from Pennsylvania to California, collecting stories as he goes. But when his trek brings to light an unresolved family crisis, he must use the lessons he’s gathered to finally confront his past. It’s a brand new American musical about the healing power of fellowship and forgiveness.

Read more about Goodspeed’s 2019 Season here.

NATE THE GREAT to Play at SCR

South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, CA, announced in American Theatre that Nate the Great will open their 2018-2019 TYA season.

Nate the Great will play on the Julianne Argyros Stage from November 2 – 18th. It is co-commissioned by South Coast Rep and First Stage Milwaukee. Nate the Great will also play at First Stage at the beginning of their 2018/19 Season.

NATE THE GREAT to Premiere at First Stage

Milwaukee’s premiere children’s theatre, First Stage, announced today that ‘Nate the Great’ will open it’s 2018/19 Season! The musical features book & lyrics by John Maclay and music & lyrics by yours truly.

This world premiere adaptation of Marjorie Weinman Sharmat’s novel about an elementary school detective will play from October 12 – November 11th at the Todd Wehr Theatre.

Join just detective Nate the Great on his new case. His friend Annie has just painted a picture, and now it’s gone missing! Armed with an appetite for justice and for pancakes, Nate vows to solve this baffling elementary school mystery.

Tickets and more information available here.

PASSING THROUGH Plays Goodspeed Festival

My newest musical, Passing Through, with a book by Eric Ulloa and based on the memoir “Walking to Listen” by Andrew Forsthoefel will be presented at Goodspeed’s 13th Annual Festival of New Musicals in January.

We’re super excited to hear the piece aloud with a cast of actors and have it play in front of audiences. It’s a big opportunity, and we couldn’t be happier.

Under the leadership of Executive Director, Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the preservation, development and advancement of musical theatre and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement). Passing Through was developed over the course of two years at Goodspeed’s Johnny Mercer Writers Colony, and the Rhinebeck Writer’s Retreat.

Tickets are available here and are very cheap if you’re interested in coming up for the weekend or even the day. Our presentation is on Sunday January 14th at 1pm.

Click below to listen to “Cut You Out” – a song from the show.

LOOK: Photos and Reaction to JOE SCHMOE

Earlier this month, Indiana University presented four workshop performances of Joe Schmoe Saves the World. The piece was provocative, empowering, and very well-received by a diverse audience of different ages and backgrounds.

Here’s some press response from the show: Continue reading LOOK: Photos and Reaction to JOE SCHMOE

WATCH: New Song from Passing Through

Last Monday I hosted Musi-CAL, a bimonthly concert celebrating new works of Musical Theatre in Los Angeles. I premiered a new song from my musical-in-development Passing Through. It turned out to be perfect timing, as it was announced last week in the New York Times that my book writer Eric Ulloa and I were accepted to the Rhinebeck Writer’s Retreat to continue working on the piece this summer.

The song is sung by a 73-year-old ranch hand, Dennis, in New Mexico. Our main character, Andrew, is taken in by him for the night and begins to open up with Dennis about his conflict with his dad. In a very fatherly way, the old ranch hand shares his experience with Andrew, offering him a little perspective.

Tell Me What You Want, What You Really, Really Want

I saw a couple new plays over the last few weeks, and it got me thinking about structure.

There seems to be a trend with young playwrights that rejects the “restraints” of traditional structure. With nothing worthwhile to replace it, however, rejecting traditional structure feels like a rejection of any structure at all. The resulting play feels like a meditation on a theme at best and a plot with no climax or catharsis at worst.

There are two general kinds of structure that I’d like to distinguish: Flow and Story. Continue reading Tell Me What You Want, What You Really, Really Want

On Cultural Appropriation

A photo by Aidan Meyer. unsplash.com/photos/Q9GlzfhYgGk

About a year ago now, I wrote an article on my blog called Race and the New Generation of Musical Theatre Writers. In the article, I called out to my white colleagues to ‘stretch’ their worldview to a point where they were able to see that our communities are not just populated by white people; to step outside of our unconscious biases and take an active part in truly ‘holding up the mirror.’

This recent Op-Ed in the NY Times by Kaitlyn Greenidge struck me as an interesting extension of that call to arms. It asks the question, “Who Gets to Write What?” and examines the tightrope of cultural appropriation.