The 2025 Staged Readings

This year’s developmental music stand presentations will include:

Merlin Returns starring Piff the Magic Dragon (book by John van der Put and West Hyler, Music and Lyrics by Matt Schatz)

The Vegas Headliner and “Magician of the Year” Piff the Magic Dragon is cast as Merlin in a revival of the 1983 Broadway flop, Merlin starring Doug Henning. This laugh-out-loud parody focuses on the backstage drama as Piff and his Vegas sidekicks come into increasing conflict with the Musical Theater stars playing the roles originated by Chita Rivera, Nathan Lane, and Christian Slater. Expect jaw-dropping tricks, over-the-top characters, and an outrageous story that proves Broadway can benefit from some magic right now.

The Break a new musical by Michael Kooman and Chris Dimond

 The Break is a rock musical about a couple who, after ten years together, decide to take a one-month “break’ from each other to date around, and sleep around, and see if a lifetime contract and marriage is their thing. During their 30-day break the two lovers discover significant truths about themselves and their relationships and will speak to all of us who had a long-term relationship that affected our lives but wasn’t “the one” for the rest of our life.

Mariah, or the Passageway a new play by Rachel Bonds

Mariah, or The Passageway centers on a family who gathers for Sadie’s 70th birthday party.  Her son Alex and his girlfriend arrive to surprise his mother, only to find the house is already full with Sadie’s much younger boyfriend, Ben, Alex’s struggling older brother, Nick, and a new tenant, Mariah, with whom Alex had a confusing and intimate relationship with years ago. This new play explores how our bodies struggle to carry psychic wounds, and the danger of leaving those wounds unattended.

My Favorite Sociopath a new play by Aurin Squire

 My Favorite Sociopath centers on three journalism students who are willing to stretch the truth to get the best story. It is a show that explores the way media seeks to divide and enrage audiences in order to get the most eyes on a story and is profoundly relevant now in the social media age. "Sociopath" was commissioned by Audible Theatre

The Drought Girl a new multi-generational play by Lyra Nalan

The Drought Girl follows Nemo, a fourth-grade girl who prefers to play by herself but is constantly teased by her obnoxious tablemate, Stone. Their dynamic changes with the arrival of a strange mythical girl who possesses supernatural gifts and curses. The Drought Girl is one tale about two unlikely friendships, told from three perspectives.