Slowpoke!
the true story of a tortoise & hare
book, music & lyrics by Ethan Andersen
Join Tori the Tortoise, in this Appalachian retelling of Aesop’s “Tortoise & the Hare” as she stands up for her beloved town, Fable Farms, and races a big city hare with even bigger plans. In this musical for all ages, Tori and her friends, Ruben the Rooster and Bea the Bee, must learn to embrace what makes them unique and the importance of community.
Slowpoke! had it's world premiere at Flat Rock Playhouse in November 2023.
Greetings from North Carolina!
a musical road trip
based on the 4th grade NC State History curriculum
book, music & lyrics by Ethan Andersen
Commissioned by the Henderson County Education Foundation and Flat Rock Playhouse, the state theatre of North Carolina, Greetings from North Carolina! is the story of a group of aliens traveling to NC for a historical road trip. While there, they learn about North Carolina’s Indigenous People, the Lost Colony, pirates, the journey to statehood, slavery and the Civil War, the Wrights Brothers, Civil Rights, and all of the great and unique people that make up the Tarheel State.
Greetings from North Carolina! premiered in the fall of 2022, touring North Carolina elementary schools. The show will continue to tour every fall.
HeadVoice
book, music & lyrics by Ethan Andersen
Eric is writing a musical about his life. But instead of actors, he's using voices - the voices in his head. Frustrated with his own writing and his relationship with his mother, Eric brings his "HeadVoices" to life, and together, they begin to musicalize his story. HeadVoice is a funny, touching, and original musical that tells the story of a young composer growing up and discovering love, loss, and the power of music.
HeadVoice was 2015 New York Musical Festival (NYMF) selection.
Rootabaga Express!
book, music & lyrics by Ethan Andersen
based on Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories
Join Gimme the Ax as he reads and travels aboard the Rootabaga Express, a train that hoots, clangs, and pfisty-pfoosts all the way to the fantastical Rootabaga Country where boys shrink to bugs, rusty rats are heroes, and the moon dances with shoes at night. Take your own trip to Rootabaga Country in this exciting and vibrant new musical and celebrate the joy of imagination!
Rootabaga Express! premiered at Flat Rock Playhouse in 2016
and is produced and performed every summer at
the Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site.
Letterland Alive!
based on Letterland, K-2 Phonics
music & lyrics by Ethan Andersen
Commissioned by the Henderson County Education Foundation and Flat Rock Playhouse, the state theatre of North Carolina, Letterland Alive! brings to life the popular K-2 phonics program used throughout the US and England. Designed to entertain young audiences and their parents, this new musical allows students to learn their ABC's through exciting stories and catchy tunes about their favorite letters!
Letterland Alive! premiered in the fall of 2019, touring North Carolina elementary schools. The show will continue to tour every fall.
YOUlogy
music & lyrics by Ethan Andersen
book by Charlie Johnson
The year is 2052. Chloe works for YOUlogy, a company that assembles a highlight reel of your life so you're remembered at your very best. She's on track to win a big promotion, but with a sudden change of criteria, she is now in last place. Under pressure to win, Chloe makes some dangerous choices that will bring her closer to her past and change her future. YOUlogy is a future(ish) musical that will leave you questioning the digital memories you are leaving behind.
YOUlogy received an NYC industry reading in May 2018.
– "Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow"
– "Sweet Jesus, Take Me Back"