New Works Series
New York Theatre Barn’s award-winning New Works Series is an open house showcasing excerpts from original musicals in development to a live and virtual global audience. Artistic Director Joe Barros also speaks in community with musical theatre writers and their creative teams about the musicals of tomorrow. We believe that lifting up, sharing, and investigating the work while in process is a crucial part of creating musical theatre.
The series has supported hundreds of notable original musicals, most recently including: Spectrum, Wunderkind, The Game Boy, Durra Leung’s Lullabies for Motherf*ckers Vol 1, Lighthouse, Absolute Zero, Coming Soon: A New Rock Musical, Saint Sebastian, The End of All Flesh, Sunken Cathedral, and How to You: A Musical Guide to Black Boyhood.
This program was recognized by the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) and the National Alliance for Musical Theatre’s Innovation & Exploration Fund.
Photos by Kayleen Bertrand.
Fall 2024
Check out the latest shows from our Fall 2024 program.
MAGIA
Book, Music, and Lyrics by
Letitia Bullard & Nathan Leitão
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. The presentation will be directed by Harmony Harris (Mad Hatter, Millennials Are Killing Musicals), with music direction by Roberto Gonzalez, and features performances by Raven Chareal (Mad Hatter), Nya Noemi (El Otro Oz), Jarvis D. Matthews, and Danny Lemache.
PLANE GIRL
Book, Music, and Lyrics by
Hayley Goldenberg, Canaan J. Harris and Julia Sonya Koyfman
Plane Girl is a musical comedy with an all women+ cast written by Hayley Goldenberg, Canaan J. Harris, and Julia Sonya Koyfman. Previously featured in New York Theatre Barn’s Choreography Lab, the original musical follows sixteen year old aspiring pilot and Amelia Earhart fanatic, Jeri Robertson. When Jeri’s mysterious new girlfriend Celeste beckons Jeri to take off on an adventure to explore the world, Jeri makes the dangerous (and illegal) choice to take off after her - literally. Plane Girl is about the sacrifices we make for love and explores themes of girlhood, motherhood, and what it takes to embrace who you are with all of your flaws. The presentation will be directed by Autumn Angelettie (Home), with music direction by Canaan J. Harris, and features performances by Mia Gerachis (Sweeney Todd), Claire Kwon (Maybe Happy Ending), Jessie MacBeth (Xena: Warrior Musical), and Katryna Marttala.
Past, but still present.
Since 2007, New York Theatre Barn has been at the forefront of new work development. Explore past shows below.