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we start in manhattan a new queer musical written by ariella serur and sav souza

ABOUT THE SHOW

WHEN A ONE NIGHT STAND turns into a cross- country road trip, two strangers find themselves in a month-long crash course on one another, and they’re down for the journey - as long as love doesn’t hitch a ride. We Start In Manhattan is a sexy and tender romantic comedy about how 3,000 miles, 30 days, and 1 strap on can force us to get deep with each other and - ultimately - ourselves.

MEET THE TEAM

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ARIELLA SERUR

Composer | Performer

(they/she) Ariella is a composer, writer, and performer. Select performance credits: 1776 (Broadway, National Tour, A.R.T.), RENT (The RedHouse); Grand Concourse (Theatre Horizon). Pre-1776, Ariella was in high demand as a Queer Dating Coach, helping queer folks date more joyfully and authentically, appearing on dozens of podcasts and talk shows. Highlights include: NPR’s All Things Considered, Coffee Meets Bagel, Curious Fox Podcast. @ariellaserur, ariellaserur.com

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SAV SOUZA

Book & Lyrics | Performer

(they/them) Sav is queer and trans performer and writer living in Brooklyn. Their musical Retrograde, written with Sarah Flaim, had a concert production in 2018 in The Polyphone Festival. Their play Father//Daughter was developed at Fresh Ground Pepper’s 2021 BRB Artists Retreat. Select performance credits include: 1776 (Broadway, A.R.T., Nat'l Tour); Other World (World premiere, Delaware Theatre Company), Lempicka (Williamstown Theatre Festival); The Elementary Spacetime Show (Philly Fringe, Playwrights Downtown); Normativity (The Polyphone Festival). @saaaavv, www.savsouza.com

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ELLIE HEYMAN

Director

(she/her) Ellie is a director of theater and film. Recent credits: The Great Work Begins, featuring Glenn Close, Paul Dano, and Brian Tyree Henry (Drama League Award; NYT Best of 2020); Space Dogs (MCC); Eschaton (PGA Award Nomination); ((Still) Asking For It (The Public Theater); The Tattooed Lady (Philadelphia Theater Company); Beardo (Drama Desk Nomination; Pipeline Theater), They, Themself, and Schmerm (Under the Radar); This (Bessie Nomination for Outstanding Production; NYLA), The Traveling Imaginary with Julian Koster (Neutral Milk Hotel) rated "Top 5 shows of the year" by NPR. Ellie is a graduate of Northwestern University and Boston University. She is a former WP Theater and Drama League Directing Fellow. Ellieheyman.com

HEAR THE MUSIC!

DEVELOPMENT HISTORY

 2021: 

Ariella & Sav accidentally began writing a musical while on a date.

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Concert at Greenroom 42

(Sold out, hundreds of Livestreams,

Viral Tiktok with over 1 Million views)

 2022: 
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While in 1776 on Broadway Ariella & Sav spent time between shows writing on a keyboard they carried up 6 floors to their dressing rooms.

 2022: 
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 2023: 

Concert at 54 Below ft. cast of 1776

(sold out in 3 days)

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 2023: 

Week-long workshop at

Vassar’s Powerhouse Theater

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 2023: 

Two week developmental workshop

at Live & In Color

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