An American Musical was created in direct response to our current political moment and the systematic erosion of democratic norms. We can’t predict the future, but we can reasonably hypothesize two possible outcomes following the November elections: 1. The House and Senate reclaim their constitutional responsibilities and begin the long process of restoring democratic governance; or 2. Authoritarian forces prevail, and many of the freedoms we take for granted (academic freedom, freedom of expression, artistic inquiry) are further diminished or disappear altogether. If the former occurs, we may yet find ourselves on a slow path toward recovery personally, institutionally, and nationally and works like this will be needed. If the latter occurs, they will be even more needed!

That recovery will take time. So many norms have been shattered and traditions discarded that it may become difficult to remember what a functioning democracy actually felt like: not perfect, certainly problematic, but real. That is where this work comes in. An American Musical is a theatrical reminder of what it means to be an American, and of our individual and collective responsibility to peacefully support and defend our constitutional republic. At its core, the piece is an educational enterprise, anchored in theatrical storytelling and musical performance.