Here and Their
Book by Jasmine Joshua
Music and Lyrics by Heather Ragusa
As of 2023, HERE AND THEIR is headed for further development at the JMF Goodspeed Writer’s Grove in East Haddam, CT.
HERE AND THEIR was part of the 5th Avenue Theatre’s First Draft: Raise Your Voice new musical development program. Designed to create early opportunities for new voices in the musical theater landscape, First Draft in its inaugural cycle solicited musical pitches from women, gender queer, trans, and non-binary writers. From 80 submissions, ultimately four were selected to receive a first draft commission from The 5th which in addition to a stipend, granted the writers a writer’s retreat in Seattle with dramaturgical support and a final 29-hour reading in New York with a professional cast and creative team that included direction by Hunter Bird and Music Direction by Matt Hinkley. In 2022, HERE AND THEIR was workshopped at Seattle Repertory Theatre directed by Eddie De Hais with music direction by Angela Chan, which followed a virtual workshop in 2021 at SRT with support from NAMT, directed by Desdemona Chiang with music direction by Matt Hinkley. Over the Summer, writers Jasmine Joshua and Heather Ragusa were invited to work on HERE AND THEIR at the Rhinebeck Writer’s Retreat.
Synopsis:
HERE AND THEIR chronicles gender self-discovery and intergenerational queerness, with a side of punk rock. In a small town in Big Sky Country, Sam O'Malley uncovers an old family photo depicting an aunt that Sam has never heard of before. In an attempt to find this estranged relative through traditional means (Google), Sam discovers Aunt Meredith is '80s lesbian punk rock icon, Vikki Vektor. After tumbling down the internet rabbit hole, Sam also realizes they are nonbinary (what even is that?) and ends up with more questions than answers. But maybe Aunt Meredith can help, if only they can find her.It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
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