new musicals have a new home at the ferguson center
THE MUSICALS
Gifted
A Black teenager, Marcus, who discovers that he can stop time, gains entry into the superpowered high school, Wilford School for the Elite.
Breakup
When Kate's seemingly perfect life is shattered after her fiance breaks up their engagement just weeks before their wedding, she thinks she can take a crash course through the five stages of grief.
THE FIRST AND FINAL PERFORMANCE OF THE WILD WEST’S GREATEST HEROINE
Annie Oakley, Calamity Jane, Millie-Christine McKoy, and other famous and infamous women who stood at the nexus of nation building and entertainment during the era of Westward Expansion reclaim the stage to tell their own narratives.
Salem
Outlandish conspiracy theories; misinformation spreading like wildfire; and an infamously controversial trial in the early 90’s.
Yep, this is 17th century New England.
Moonfaker
When no one wants in on the mission, Dougie is forced to assemble a team of total misfits and outcasts to envision, execute, and fake one of the greatest moments in American history.
Booth
Booth made his grab for the spotlight and has become a pariah, not a hero.
THE DISASTER MARATHON OF 1904
Based on shockingly true events, The Disaster Marathon of 1904 follows six of the athletes in this infamous race.
The Improvised Broadway Musical
All of the music and lyrics are completely improvised with a live band right before your eyes.
Private Jones: A New Musical
Private Jones is an unexpectedly funny and gripping musical adventure about service, friendship, and the cost of war.
RISE, THE STORY OF DIETRICH BONHOEFFER
One man’s epic journey to overcome the forces of evil in the name of good.
Untitled WWII Rock Opera
A new emo-rock opera recounting the true story of The White Rose, an anti-Nazi resistance group formed by a band of German university students in 1942.
Stu for Silverton
a new musical
Stu’s story is one of being entirely yourself and believing in the power of change – in cities big and small.
Wake You Up
A new musical
A new musical that examines the loss we must endure in this life and how to carry each other through it.
Against women and music!
A new musical of reluctance to marry leading to terrorizing events in the household.
True north: a magical new holidah musical
Told through the lens of a child on the spectrum, we learn about unwavering hope and holiday magic.
THE ALEXIS MYLES PROJECT
NYC-based artist Alexis’ Myles joins The Lab’s Writer’s Retreat to begin work on a deeply personal show.
destination wonderful
Destination Wonderful is a pop-verbatim musical that follows a group of salespeople attending a mandatory conference hosted by a multi-level marketing organization.
Rose
With story-telling by three magical dolls, ROSE tells a queer, feminist story about sisterly tension, love, and change.
Perfect Summer Evening
This tale of love and loss explores the fragility and importance of life itself and how we can make the most of our limited time.
MADAM PRESIDENT: AN OPTIMISTIC NEW MUSICAL
Follow Amy, author of a best-selling feminist coffee-table book, as she meets women who’ve blazed a trail.
#RESIST
THE MUSICAL
When the election results come in, Big City residents turn to social media to unleash their rage.
like the wind: a new musical
Like the Wind follows Bennie and Cai, two queer teenagers running away from a conversion therapy facility..
Collisions
A concept album
Collisions explores the boundaries of near-misses and perfect explosions through a small vocal and musical ensemble.
The Golden Record
The Golden Record is a theatricalized concept album that extends beyond the reach of humanity as it tells the story of earth's first interstellar message.
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THE IMPROVISED MUSICAL
A company of actors, singers, dancers, and musicians creates a new show every night.
THE CARLISLE PROJECT
A song cycle about the harrowing history of indigenous assimilation at the Carlisle Indian School.
we aren’t kids anymore
We Aren't Kids Anymore explores the collision of artistic expression and the realities of growing up.
Loch Ness
A New Musical
Loch Ness is an epic quest to reunite with the family they’ve lost in this larger-than-life musical adventure.
The violet hour: an original concept album
An original concept album recorded during the pandemic with an all-star Broadway cast.
CLARA SCHUMANN PROJECT
Shoshana Shattenkirk is developing her work about a gifted but forgotten 19th-Century female composer.
FEVER DREAMS PROJECT
Fever Dreams explores shared themes from the yellow fever, Spanish flu, and Covid-19 pandemics.
The NEW MUSICALS LAB is CREATING SPACE FOR NEW MUSICALS IN AMERICA WITH ARTISTS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE
Eric Price & Will Reynolds, Creators of The Violet Hour
THE NEW MUSICALS LAB IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY’S FERGUSON CENTER FOR THE ARTS
Christopher Newport University’s primary purpose is to form good citizens and leaders. Faculty and administrators want students to choose to live lives of meaning and consequence and purpose.
Follow our journey
