AN AMERICAN MUSICAL
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

[This page will grow as questions emerge.]

TOPICS
  ABOUT THE SHOW
POLITICS, VALUES & MISSION ALIGNMENT
FUNDING & BUDGET
APPLICATION PROCESS

ABOUT THE SHOW

Q: What is the show about?
A: An American Musical is a contemporary, full-length musical for ten singer-actors set in a small New England diner on Election Day. Through the intersecting lives of ordinary people the show explores fear, hope, responsibility, and belonging during a moment of civic uncertainty. At its core, the show asks a single, urgent question: What does it mean to be an American?

Q: Can we use fewer than ten actors by doubling roles, or expand the cast to include more performers?
A: The ten principal actor-singer roles are fixed and cannot be reduced or doubled. Each character is essential to the story and musical structure, so the show must be performed with all ten. That said, the production can be expanded. If your stage and budget allow, adding a “chorus line” of eight or more singer-dancers can significantly enhance the energy and theatrical impact of the show, especially in large musical numbers. A larger ensemble also opens the door for richer choreography and creates more opportunities for participation, with dancers who sing complementing the principal cast, and strong singer-actors anchoring the storytelling.

Q: What is the goal of the show?

A: As with any musical the primary goal is to engage and entertain the audience. Just as important is the goal to motivate personal reflection and community conversations that will inspire peaceful action in defense of democratic norms.

Q: How many performances are required?
A: For a full production, three performances are recommended, though you should plan for at least two. When feasible, we also recommend scheduling a matinee to accommodate audience members who may be unable to attend evening performances. For staged readings (with music) and workshops (with music), one or more performances are recommended, depending on your goals, venue availability, and anticipated audience.

Q: Who is the intended audience for the show?
A: The show is intended for adults and mature teens interested in theater that engages thoughtfully with contemporary life and civic identity. It is designed to be accessible without being simplistic.

Q: What is the tone and style of the show?
A: The show is grounded, human, and emotionally direct. While it includes moments of warmth and humor, its overall tone is serious and reflective rather than satirical. The storytelling is character-driven, with music serving emotional truth rather than spectacle.

Q: What is the music like?
A:  The score is a contemporary blend of Country, Rock, and Pop creating an “Americana” sound that feels both familiar and freshly alive. The show features sixteen songs that are accessible and engaging, with strong melodic appeal and an ensemble-driven energy. Just as important, the music is always in service to the story: every song advances character, deepens the dramatic stakes, or moves the plot forward, never stepping outside the world of the play simply to “perform.”

Q: Are live musicians required, or are accompaniment tracks available?
A:  The score is written for four professional-level musicians (piano, keyboards, bass, and drums), though for staged readings and workshops, piano accompaniment alone is sufficient. Live musicians are always preferred whenever possible, but we recognize that hiring a full band may not be feasible for every organization. In those cases, fully mastered, professional-quality accompaniment tracks are available in WAV format. If tracks are used, a high-quality sound system will be required for performance, and grant funding may be used to cover sound equipment rental if needed.

Q: Do singers need to be amplified?
A: It depends on the size and acoustics of the venue. In smaller settings (such as a black box theater, church, or intimate performance space), vocal amplification may not be necessary. As audience capacity increases, the need for amplification becomes more likely. If amplification is used, we recommend at least four microphones (to support SATB vocal balance), along with a sound engineer to mix live. This is also strongly recommended if you plan to create a high-quality audio recording of the performance.

Q: Can we video record performances?
A: Absolutely. In fact, we ask you to video record performances and share the best recording with us for our archives and possibly marketing. This can be as simple as setting up a phone or camera at the back of the theater and letting it run. That said, for the strongest results, we highly recommend using a professional videographer—ideally someone who can also provide editing for a polished final product. You should also have all on-camera participants sign a standard video release form prior to recording.

Q: What personnel do we need to have in place?

A: Grantees will need: ten actor-singers (5 women, 5 men) all of whom have featured vocal material. (GO HERE for a complete list of acting roles and GO HERE for character descriptions.) Larger casts can include an optional SATB Chorus Line. In addition, key leadership roles include: Producer(s), Director, Music Director, Choreographer, Stage Manager, Lighting and Sound. All positions are essential to the artistic quality of the work and its ability to reach and engage the community.

Q: What level of experience and skill are expected of singers?
A: The musical score calls for singers (who can act) with solid experience, strong musicianship, and a genuine love of working collaboratively in an ensemble. The music of our show blends rock, country, and pop, so performers should feel comfortable singing in those styles. Singers will be asked to handle both solo material and harmonies within an SATB ensemble; every role includes at least one solo song.

Q: Should performances include audience talkbacks?
A: Talkbacks and post-show conversations are strong recommended and are an important part of every performance and central to the mission of the show to spark public dialogue. Participation in these conversations is always voluntary, and the format will be shaped to respect both the audience and the company.

Q: What  does  it mean "to be an American?"
A: The show suggests that the answer is both universal and deeply personal. Act I, “Freedom and Voice,” explores the universal meaning of American identity as each of the ten principal characters reveals, through dialogue and song, their lived experience of democracy, freedom, responsibility, and belonging. Act II, “Fear, Courage & Connection,” turns inward and becomes more intimate, following Lucy as she confronts the meaning of citizenship in a time of rising authoritarian and autocratic ideology. Together, the two acts ask the audience to consider not only what America claims to be, but what it demands of us, and what it means to belong.

POLITICS, VALUES & MISSION ALIGNMENT

Q: Does the show take a partisan political position?
A: No! An American Musical is not aligned with a political party or candidate. It focuses on the human experience of living in a democracy and how ordinary people respond to fear, division, responsibility, and belonging.

Q: What values do you look for in grantees?
A: We are encouraging applications from theater folks who feel a deep and urgent concern about the erosion of freedoms and democratic norms, and who are alarmed by what is increasingly visible in our streets and echoed in the national outcry. This project is rooted in peaceful, creative resistance through music and theater. Grantees do not need to share identical views, but they must be willing to engage honestly with themes of democracy, civic responsibility, and social courage.

Q: What level of political or public exposure should grantees expect?
A: Grantees should be comfortable being associated with a work that openly engages with civic themes. While the show is not partisan, it is public-facing and values-driven, and that visibility is part of the commitment.

FUNDING & BUDGET

Q: Where does funding come from?
A: All non-personnel expenses for this production will be covered out of pocket by the composer. 

Q: How expensive is it for a community theater to produce this show?
A: An American Musical was written with community theatre in mind and its proud tradition of volunteerism, ingenuity, and shared community effort. The production was intentionally designed to be as affordable as possible, keeping required expenses low and relying on resources most groups already have access to. Costumes can come from actors’ own closets or local thrift stores. There are no major sets to build, and only one essential set piece: the diner’s lunch counter. Props are simple, everyday items easily found in most homes. In short, this is a full-scale musical that can be produced with minimal physical production costs.

Q:  How much of our budget could be covered by the grant?
A:  The grant program is designed to provide the level of support a theater group truly needs, support that might not otherwise be possible. Applicants may request funding to cover up to 100% of their total production budget. That said, because grant funds are limited, we encourage groups to request only what is genuinely necessary. The more funding requested by any one applicant, the fewer theater groups we may be able to support overall. In short: please ask for what you need, and no more.

Q: Is there a limit on how much we can ask for?
A: Community theater budgets vary widely depending on the size of the community, venue costs, production needs, and audience capacity. Our research suggests that many volunteer-based community theatre productions fall in the range of approximately $3,000 to $10,000, though some cost less and others cost significantly more. To ensure we can potentially support more than one production, we recommend a maximum request of $10,000 per production. Applicants are encouraged to be thoughtful, realistic, and judicious.

Q: Can we still sell tickets (or use other fundraising sources), and what happens to the money?
A: Yes. Because production expenses are minimal for volunteer-based organizations Grantees may choose to offer performances free to the public. However, you are also welcome to charge your usual ticket price and pursue additional fundraising opportunities. Any revenue generated may be retained by your organization provided it supports the ongoing work of the theater group and is not used for individual compensation. That said, if your production generates a surplus through ticket sales or fundraising, we would be deeply grateful if you would consider contributing a portion back to us so we can continue building resources to sustain and expand this grant program for other theaters in the future.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Q: What is the application process for the grant?
A: The grant program uses a two-round application process. Round 1 is a brief Expression of Interest, designed as a simple first step. You will be asked for basic contact information and a short description of your organization and mission. Round 2 is a more comprehensive full application. This stage requires additional detail and may take some time to complete.

Q: Is there a deadline for submitting an Expression of Interest or completing the full Round 2 application?
A: There is no fixed deadline for either round. That said, organizations whose mission aligns closely with ours will be invited to Round 2 promptly, and we will then encourage those applicants to complete and submit the full application as soon as possible. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis by a committee of at least three practicing playwrights, and grants will be awarded to qualified groups in the order applications are received. In other words: the early bird catches the worm.

Q: Will we need to sign a contract or formal agreement to produce the show?
A: Yes. As with any theatrical work, grantees will be required to sign a standard licensing agreement prior to production. This agreement outlines the terms of use for the script and score, including performance permissions, rehearsal and performance dates, crediting requirements, and protections for the integrity of the work. A separate grant agreement may also be required to clarify the approved budget, how funds may be used, and any reporting expectations (such as submitting a short summary and sharing performance documentation). The process is straightforward and designed to protect both your organization and the creators of the work.