People’s Light is committed to be a leader in the incubation and production of new music driven theatre. This emerges from a passion among our artists for jazz, folk, rock, and other styles of music, as well as a clear excitement from audiences for productions that feature music as a prominent aspect of its storytelling.

Recent World and Regional Premiere productions include:

Lights Out: Nat “King” Cole, a powerful exploration of race in America through the experience of the iconic singer as he anticipated the final broadcast of his NBC variety show. Conceived and created by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, Lights Out is a fever dream that probes beneath Cole’s elegant veneer as he questions whether to exit with grace or “burn it all down”. As a result, the production asks the audience to encounter classics like “Unforgettable”, “Straighten Up and Fly Right”, “The Christmas Song”, and “The Party’s Over” through a completely new lens. Our award-winning World Premiere of Lights Out featured Dulé Hill and Daniel J. Watts as Cole and Sammy Davis Jr.. Both performers reprised their roles in a subsequent sold out production at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles.

Such Things As Vampires by Zak Berkman, Stuart Carden, Jessie Fisher, and Mary Tuomanen. Inspired by the story of Dracula, this feminist exploration of love, fear, and the supernatural included 10 original folk, punk, and art-rock influenced songs that were awarded the 2019 Barrymore for Outstanding Original Music.

Nina Simone: Four Women by Christina Ham is a contemplation on colorism and Black womanhood that features popular hits and iconic Civil Rights anthems from the "High Priestess of Soul". Inspired by Simone’s song Four Women, Ham's play imagines a chance encounter between the legendary songstress and a trio of women at the site of the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing, the event that shifted Simone's career from artist to activist.

Christina Ham along with the creative team for Vampires were all part of the Harmony Lab program at People’s Light. This program provides new teams of theatre makers, singer/songwriters, and music experts the space and resources to conceive of a new project together, start its development, and connect with others in the field. Affiliated artists include David Bradley, Jonatha Brooke, Katie Deal, Angel Desai, Bill Fennelly, and Jacqueline Goldfinger.

New projects in development include:

David and Sherry Lutken’s The Blue Ridge Nightingale is a sweeping story about an isolated Appalachian community forever changed by the arrival of a Song Collector who wants to share their music with all of America.

Zak Berkman’s new stage adaptation of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol interweaves new arrangements and remixes of traditional 19^th Century British Carols with original songs. Berkman conceived and composed the music in collaboration with Mitch Chakour, whose six decades in the music industry includes a storied tenure as Joe Cocker’s music director and bandmate.

Bayard Rustin Inside Ashland by Resident Director Steve H Broadnax III in collaboration with Tony Award Winner Jason Michael Webb. Chief organizer of the 1963 March on Washington and openly gay Civil Rights activist, Bayard Rustin was nearly written out of the history books. This world premiere play soars with African-American spirituals and offers a glimpse into a transformative moment for young Rustin—his 1944 prison sentence in Ashland, Kentucky. While incarcerated and targeted for his sexuality, Rustin puts his faith in nonviolent resistance to the test, illuminating what it means to be branded a "troublemaker" within a system stacked against you.

In addition to Lights Out, People’s Light continues to support numerous music driven theatre projects, many of which emerged from our Harmony Lab program. This program provides new teams of theatremakers, singer/songwriters, and music experts the space and resources to conceive of a new project together, start its development, and connect with others in the field.

Our first world premiere to come out of the Harmony Lab program was Such Things As Vampires by Zak Berkman, Stuart Carden, Jessie Fisher, and Mary Tuomanen. Inspired by the story of Dracula, this feminist exploration of love, fear, and the supernatural included 10 original folk, punk, and art-rock influenced songs that were awarded the 2019 Barrymore for Outstanding Original Music.

Currently in development is David and Sherry Lutken’s The Blue Ridge Nightingale, a sweeping story about an isolated Appalachian community forever changed by the arrival of a Song Collector who wants to share their music with all of America.