Musicals

Children's Musicals

I have written book, music and lyrics to Just Desserts (based on my novel The Worldwide Dessert Contest), The Great Squirrel Uprising (based on my book of the same name) and an original Christmas story, Miracle in Miami, where Santa Claus goes on his annual vacation and finds friendship with a 13 year old Jewish girl and her grandmother (Time Out review). All three shows have been produced across the United States. All three are available for further productions. Please contact me directly.

"Roller Skate" from Just Desserts (music and lyrics by Dan Elish)

"I Hate Humans" from The Great Squirrel Uprising (music and lyrics by Dan Elish)

"I Saw Santa Claus at the Mall" from Miracle in Miami (music and lyrics by Dan Elish)

13

In 2002, I heard that Jason Robert Brown (the composer lyricist of The Last Five Years and Bridges of Madison County) was interested in writing a musical about "dancing teenagers." I thought he was joking but I sent him a copy of my YA novel Born Too Short anyway. The result was a collaboration on the musical 13 which premiered at the Mark Taper Forum in the winter of 2007 and received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for best production. The show moved to Broadway in the fall of 2008. Since then, 13 has been performed all over the world. In 2022 a movie version was released from Netflix that Variety named one of its best ten films of the year.

Read an article from The NY Times about 13's history and influence.

Opening of "13" - the LA Original Cast (music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown)

The Evolution of Mann

Around 2010 I asked Douglas J. Cohen (The Gig, No Way to Treat a Lady) if he would be interested in turning my novel Nine Wives about a hapless young man looking for love into a musical. Since then, The Evolution of Mann has been produced numerous times, including its world premiere in the fall of 2018 at the Cell Theater in New York City. A funny, quirky romantic comedy for three actors, the musical is now available for licensing from Concord Theatricals.

MAC nominated song "It's Only a First Date" from The Evolution of Mann
(music by Douglas J. Cohen, lyrics by Douglas J. Cohen and Dan Elish)

Currently in Development

Last in the Class (book, music and lyrics) – Johnny Finkleman, a pot-head slacker, last in his class at Harvard Law, lands a job at a prestigious New York lawfirm. Humorous chaos ensues. (workshopped at Duke University in December 2023)

"Last in the Class" from the show of the same name (music and lyrics by Dan Elish)

Pretzel in the Park from Last in the Class (music and lyrics by Dan Elish)

Mudville (co-book and co-lyrics with music by Douglas Cohen and book by Mike Mitri) – this humorous family show asks the question what happens to mighty Casey (of Casey and the Bat fame) after he strikes out? A baseball redemption tale with lots of heart and humor. (workshopped at The Manhattan School of Music in April 2024)