The disaster marathon of 1904

A New Musical

Book Written by Tyler Joseph Ellis
Music & Lyrics by Daniel Mertzlufft & Jacob Ryan Smith

ABOUT THE DISASTER MARATHON OF 1904

On August 30th, 1904, a group of hopeful runners approached the Olympic starting line in St. Louis, Missouri, eager to take gold in the most lauded athletic event: the marathon.

What transpired was 26.2 miles of complete and utter chaos.

Based on shockingly true events, The Disaster Marathon of 1904 follows six of the athletes in this infamous race. Meet us in St. Louis as we embark on a hilarious and sole-ful musical journey of cheating, rotten fruit, and rat poison.

THE CREATORS

  • Tyler Joseph Ellis

    Book

    Tyler Joseph Ellis (book) is an is an actor, writer, and content creator based in New York City. You may know him from his comedy videos on Instagram and TikTok, his appearances on such television shows as The Sex Lives of College Girls and That '90s Show, or from his recent ads for H&R Block. Or you don't know him at all! And that's perfect! Tyler is a graduate of the USC School of Dramatic Arts. @‌tylerjosephellis. tylerjosephellis.com.

  • Daniel Mertzlufft

    Music & Lyrics

    Daniel Mertzlufft is a NYC based composer/arranger most known for his viral sensations The Thanksgiving Musical on The Late Late Show with James Corden, launching the TikTok Ratatouille musical movement, and was the Executive Producer, Composer and Music Supervisor for For You, Paige­, the first ever TikTok commissioned musical. Daniel also served as Music Supervisor, composer and arranger for Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical, a live streamed concert that raised over $2 million for The Actor’s Fund, as well as the Music Supervisor for Dylan Mulvaney's Day 365 Of Girlhood. He is also known for his viral song “In My Head,” written with Jacob Ryan Smith and performed by Andrew Barth Feldman and Joe Serafini, which has been praised for its portrayal of joyful, young, queer love.

    Original works include: Grumpy Monkey: The Musical, Fashion Show, Breathe, and Dot and the Kangaroo JR, commissioned by MTI Australaisa and iTheatrics.

  • Jacob Ryan Smith

    Music & Lyrics

    Jacob Ryan Smith is a writer/performer living in New York, originally hailing from Atlanta, GA. Some of his writing credits include LIKE FATHER, (Book, Music, Lyrics),  MR. SIPPLE (Book, Music, Lyrics), INTO THE BURROW: A PETER RABBIT TALE (2023 Alliance Theater Commission, Music & Lyrics), and PAINLESS: THE OPIOID MUSICAL (Book, Music, Lyrics). His original compositions have been featured on Disney+ (HAMSTER & GRETEL, co-written with Dan Povenmire), The Today Show, NPR, Out Magazine, and many other publications. He loves to dive into other mediums with his music as well, including ballet (MARLEY WAS DEAD, TO BEGIN WITH. Commissioned by Terminus Modern Ballet and produced in 2020), and choral work (SHELTER ME: AN ORATORIO ON HOMELESSNESS - c_ommissioned by The Dallas Street Choir and to be produced in 2024)._ His theatrical pop single "In My Head," which he wrote with his writing partner Daniel Mertzlufft, has accumulated millions of streams on Spotify. Jacob is also a working performer, most recently being in the Off-Broadway cast of LIZARD BOY and originating the role of Adam in RELAPSE: THE MUSICAL Off-Broadway_._ He also won a 2023 Suzi Bass Award for his performance as Gabe in NEXT TO NORMAL at the Jennie T Anderson Theater_._ He holds a BFA in Musical Theater Performance and a Minor in Composition from The University of Michigan.