World Premiere Musicals (selected)
Video captures of select musical productions available on request.
Nobody Loves You
book and lyrics by Itamar Moses, music and lyrics by Gaby Alter
Produced by Second Stage Theatre
June 2013 - August 2013
Produced by The Old Globe
May 2012 - June 2012
A romantic comedy about the search for meaningful relationships in a culture dominated by the quest for popularity. When Jeff, a philosophy grad student, goes on a reality TV dating show to win back his ex, he instead finds a girl who might be the love of his life. But will she fall for him once he is seduced by the adulation of his fans?
Over the course of the show's development, I directed Nobody Loves You in its New York premiere at Second Stage; at the NAMT festival of New Musicals; at the Old Globe (world premiere production); in Goodspeed Musicals' Festival of New Artists; and at the Cape Cod Theatre Project.
The Old Globe production was nominated for four Craig Noel Awards, including Best New Musical and Best Director.
Nobody Loves You was the Best New Musical of 2012, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Production photos:
Second Stage production:
Photos by Joan Marcus, Lighting Design by Benjamin Stanton, Costume Design by Jessica Pabst, and Set Design by Mark Wendland.
Old Globe production:
Photos by Henry DiRocco, Lighting Design by Tyler Micoleau, Set Design by Michael Schwiekardt, Costume Design by Emily Pepper.
MEDIA:
Here is a video of Rory O'Malley singing "The Twitter Song" as part of the New York Times's In Performance series.
Here is a promo video of the song "Confessional."
Dory Fantasmagory
Music by Russ Kaplan
Lyrics by Sara Wordsworth
Book by Russ Kaplan and Sara Wordsworth
Produced by New York City Children’s Theatre
March 20 - April 10, 2022
Based on the book Dory Fantasmagory by Abby Hanlon with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc.
I directed this world premiere musical based on the hit children’s book series about Dory, a mischievous 6-year-old who just doesn’t want to grow up. Her older brother and sister wish she’d stop acting like a baby, but when her siblings need her, it’s Dory’s imagination and bravery that will save the day.
Photos courtesy of Shintaro Ueyama of Triangle NY for New York City Children’s Theater, 2022.
Music Direction by Robert Frost
Production Stage Manager Tyler Danhaus
Featuring: Jean Christian Barry, Ryan Dunn, Aguel Lual, Hannah Mount and Bailey Seeker
Set Design by Jack Mehler
Lighting Design by Brian Aldous
Costume Design by Leslie Bernstein
Sound Design by Megan Culley
ms. estrada
By the Q Brothers Collective
Produced by The Flea theater
March 2018 – April 2018 (extended twice!)
I directed the world premiere of ms. estrada, a hip hop adaptation of Lysistrata, at the Flea's brand new, amazing theater.
While in many ways, ms. estrada is the type of project I often direct, a world premiere of a funny new musical, with a feminist bent, it was also my very first foray into hip hop!
The show is incredibly funny as it grapples with what it takes to change the world. Or, at least the world of one fictional university where the patriarchy has a stranglehold. In the words of our blurb: “The boys at Acropolis U are too preoccupied with the Greek Games to treat their ladies right. But fierce feminist goddess Liz Estrada rallies her besties to take a stand – and campus chaos ensues. A Hip-Hop remix of Aristophanes’ classic comedy, ms. estrada may well be the Girl Anthem of 2018.”
Photos by Hunter Canning, Set Design by John McDermott, Lighting Design by Oona Curley, and Costume Design by Robin Shane.
Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Cheryl Kemeny
Produced by Simpson Longthorne Theatricals at the New York Musical Theatre Festival.
July 2014
A thousand footsteps…one believer…
She won't quit and she won't stay quiet! It's the turn of the century and aging Mary Harris 'Mother' Jones is on a tireless crusade for justice as she leads ragged mill children on a march to end child labor. Inspiring, heartbreaking and hopeful, this musical follows 'the most dangerous woman in America' delivering an uplifting message of human dignity that transcends time.
Best Actress, Lynne Wintersteller
Best Director, Honorable Mention
