(PRINCETON, NJ) — McCarter Theatre Center announced the workshop of its newest commission, I and You: A Musical, a musical adaptation of the acclaimed play by Lauren Gunderson, one of America's most produced playwrights. The closed-session workshop, directed by McCarter's Artistic Director Sarah Rasmussen, is now in process through March 15th and features the celebrated talents of Gunderson (book) and composer Ari Afsar (music & lyrics). Broadway's Casey Likes (Back to the Future The Musical) and Television's Salena Qureshi (The Society on Netflix, Madame Secretary on CBS) star as Anthony and Caroline.
I and You: A Musical captures the spark and zeal of Gunderson’s popular play of the same title, setting the teenage angst and aspirations of its protagonists, Caroline and Anthony, against the timeless poetry of Walt Whitman. Integrating the characters’ personal musical preferences—Anthony’s for indie jazz reminiscent of Leon Bridges and Caroline’s towards a Billie Eilish/Olivia Rodrigo vibe—the musical skillfully blends introspective and exuberant songs. This narrative fusion explores the profound depths of human connection, presenting an intimate yet epic exploration of life's complexities.
I and You: A Musical is being developed with the support of the BOLD Foundation and Broadway Licensing Group. This commission further establishes McCarter’s longstanding reputation as a champion and forming ground for new work.
“Having directed the premiere of the play I and You in 2013, I am so thrilled revisit this now iconic and beloved narrative with the brilliant talents of Ari Afsar and Lauren Gunderson. Just like its source play, I and You: A Musical will move audiences for generations to come. It’s in McCarter's DNA to boldly foster new work that will shape our field. It's a joy and honor to be part bringing this project to life," shared Sarah Rasmussen.
The rest of the creative team includes Sujin Kim-Ramsey (music director), Danielle Ranno (stage manager), Julie Felise Dubiner (dramaturg), Jaimee Harmon-Taboni (BOLD artistic assistant), with casting by Daryl Eisenberg.
Lauren Gunderson has topped American Theatre Magazine’s list of America's most produced playwrights on multiple occasions for over a decade. Her plays are produced across the world, including I and You, The Book of Will, Silent Sky, The Taming, The Half-Life of Marie Curie (available on Audible), The Catastrophist and the Miss Bennet trilogy. Her musicals include Earthrise and Dr Wonderful for The Kennedy Center, Rosie Revere Engineer And Friends for TheatreWorks USA, Justice and the upcoming Sinister. Her musical adaptation of The Time Traveler’s Wife opened on London’s West End in 2023.
Joining her in this venture is Ari Afsar, an ethnomusicology graduate from UCLA, whose multifaceted career encompasses roles as a singer, songwriter, and storyteller. Afsar's impressive resume includes opening for notable figures like Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton, originating the role of Eliza in Chicago's production of Hamilton, and most recently she co-wrote a song for Shawn Mendes with Pasek & Paul for a Sony feature film, Lyle Lyle Crocodile. Ari and Lauren co-wrote their first musical We Won’t Sleep, which was developed at the O’Neill National Musical Theater Conference in 2019. The musical’s EP - We Won’t Sleep -is available from SONY Masterworks Broadway.
McCarter Theatre Center (Sarah Rasmussen, Artistic Director and Martin Miller, Executive Director) is one of the country's flagship theatres and a vibrant center for community and for the performing arts. Located on the campus of Princeton University, the company is an independent nonprofit, serving as a nationally renowned, multi-disciplinary creative hub of arts and ideas, offering theatre, music, dance, spoken word, and educational programs for all ages. A two-time Tony Award winner, McCarter’s legacy of artistic excellence traces back to the theatre’s first performances in 1930. Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, Kaufmann & Hart’s You Can’t Take It with You, and William Inge’s Bus Stop all had their premieres on the McCarter stage, paving the way for a long history of collaborations with playwrights to launch remarkable works that have gone on to tens of thousands of performances reaching millions of audience members around the world.
The company is equally revered for presenting global artists on its stages, including Alvin Ailey, Yo-Yo Ma, Samara Joy, Hasan Minhaj, Jon Stewart, Caetano Veloso, Rhiannon Giddens, Patti Smith, Esperanza Spalding, Lake Street Dive, and Herbie Hancock, among many others. Of the 100,000 community members who directly participate in the company’s work every year, more than 5,000 are students taking part in McCarter’s robust educational offerings in Princeton, Trenton, and in schools throughout the region. McCarter leads with values of “justice and joy, and beauty in belonging,” creating stories and experiences that enliven minds, expand imaginations, and engage communities.
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