PRISM: A Festival of New Queer Musicals

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THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA By Thani Brant Directed by Megumi Nakamura Music Directed by Déa Thatcher One night in two timelines millennia apart, a young writer and the mythical gorgon Medusa pray for a new world where they can live authentically in freedom and safety. Their twin prayers thin the veil that separates space and time, pulling them together on a years-long journey to help each other break free of ancient cycles of violence. THE LAUGH OF THE MEDUSA is a trans coming-of-age musical with a folk-rock score that speaks urgently to the power of artists to forge the path to a better world. THE RUMSPRINGA PROJECT Conceived & Directed by Machel Ross Music & Lyrics by Nina Ross and Ellen Winter Book by Bubba Weiler A music-theatre kaleidoscope of queer coming-of-age stories in America inspired by the Amish tradition, “Rumspringa”. Known colloquially as ‘jumping the fence’, it is not only a threshold, but also exists as the liminal passage between worlds. It culminates in the young person’s choice to return to their community (and ultimately get married) or to remain in the secular sphere, lnowing, no matter the choice, there is no going back to before you crossed the fence. The Rumspringa Project was conceived by Machel Ross, with book by Bubba Weiler, music by Ellen Winter and Nina Ross, and additional collaboration from Sekai Abeni and Tony Nominee Ellenore Scott. It’s been developed at Mercury Store, Berkeley Rep Ground Floor, and through the Joe’s Pub Working Group.