Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe performs its first musical when Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell's [title of show] comes to the stage

Performances run April 18-21 at the Blinn-Bryan Student Center

April 9, 2024

Get an inside look at how a show becomes a show when the Blinn-Bryan Theatre Troupe (BBTT) concludes its season by staging the musical [title of show]. With music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and the book by Hunter Bell, [title of show] will be the BBTT’s first performance of a musical.

“[title of show] is a musical about two guys writing a musical about two guys writing a musical. It is very theatrical, very meta-based,” director and Theatre Arts Instructor Evleen Nasir said. “We’re starting off small, but this story is really about being small and going with your dreams and we’re embracing that feel. I would like the audience to come watch this production and leave with more empathy for creativity and more empathy for people who do that creative work.”

Nominated for a 2009 Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical, [title of show] follows two struggling writers, Jeff and Hunter, on their journey to write a new musical in just three weeks. After hearing about a musical theatre festival, the pair enlist the help of their friends, Heidi and Susan, to create something new, ultimately deciding to write about what to write about. Spanning the entire creative process, [title of show] is a comedy that celebrates collaboration and artistic dreams. The show is a love letter to musical theatre, capturing the humor and reality that audiences generally never get to experience.

“I hope the audience walks away with a good song stuck in their head,” said Augustus Cosby, who plays Jeff. “I think this show being so open makes it very cozy and friendly. I think the audience will be comforted and brought in because they’ll get that behind-the-scenes experience.”

Abigail Boyd, who plays Susan, is excited to be playing a character with real opinions and struggles the audience can identify with.

“Susan is open, honest, blunt, and is always there to be the comic relief. She used to be an actor, but currently she is an office manager,” Boyd said. “The characters all feel very real because they are real people, like Susan and her office job, and I hope the audience feels like they can relate to at least one of the characters on stage.”

Other cast members include Fabián Santana as Hunter and Lizette Velez as Heidi. Production team members are Karenza McRae, stage manager; Rachel Smeltzer, assistant stage manager; Cynthia Bradford, musical director; Greg Wise, producer and tech direction; Destiny Impinephro, properties designer; Tyler Cowley, light board operator; Seth Cook, sound; Dr. Evleen Nasir, costumes; Caylin Darnell, house manager; Christopher Rodriguez and Mackenzie Owens, run crew; Tobias Acosta, light crew; Matthew Burhus, paint crew; and Jordan Ingram, box office.

Performances run at the Blinn-Bryan Student Center (Building F, map ) Thursday through Saturday, April 18-20, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 21, at 2 p.m. Tickets are available at www.blinn.edu/boxoffice.

The show contains mature language and is recommended for ages 17 and up.

To learn more about the BBTT, contact Greg Wise at greg.wise@blinn.edu. For more information about Blinn’s Theatre Arts Program, visit www.blinn.edu/theatre.