The Man Who Would Be King

The musical based on Rudyard Kipling’s novella was first developed in sessions of The Musical Writers’ Playground, a peer group of librettists, lyricists and composers founded by Leslie Becker, V.P. Boyle, and DJ Salisbury. After a presentation of 20 minutes of the show’s material to enthusiastic crowds at the Minetta Lane Theater in New York, writers Neil Berg and DJ Salisbury created a small workshop of the entire piece at the Antrim Playhouse in upstate New York with non-union actors. The workshop was directed by Karen Azenberg. Subsequently, the show was selected for presentation in the first New York Musical Theatre Festival. Various processes have allowed the writers to continue to shape the musical and in 2008, two readings supported its continued development- one in NY with dramaturgical support by Moises Kaufman, and another at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, California directed by Michael Michetti. Both readings were graciously facilitated by Adam Friedson. Also in 2008, a CD of the show’s concept album was released with the vocal talents of Marc Kudisch, Brian d’Arcy James, Judy McLane, Mandy Gonzales, Don Richard, Paul Schoeffler and an ensemble of Broadway’s best. The orchestrations are by Larry Hochman (Spamalot, Fiddler on the Roof, A Class Act, Jane Eyre), and the 20-piece orchestra was conducted bythe show’s Musical Supervisor Wendy Cavett.

In August 2009, The Village Theatre will present a reading of The Man Who Would King directed by Tony-winning lyricist Brian Yorky (Next to Normal).

Additional actors, directors, and artists that have been invaluable to the development of the show include Paul Dobie, Dana Kenn, Sam Fleming, Scot Woolley, Mandy Bruno, Tony Lawson, Paul Anthony Stewart, Joe Cassidy, Bob Cuccioli, Brynn O’Malley, Liz Ward Land, Candace Nicole, Kevin Earley, Jessica Roush, Bill Parry and many other wonderful talents.

Wendy Cavett and Brian d'Arcy James in CD recording session