Sav Souza
we start in manhattan a new queer musical written by ariella serur and sav souza
WE START IN MANHATTAN
A new queer musical
ABOUT THE SHOW
When an unexpected one-night stand tumbles into a cross-country road trip, Jess and Linc find themselves in a month-long crash course on one another as they try to outrun the lives they left behind. We Start In Manhattan is a queer, two-hander rom-com about how 3,000 miles, 30 days, and 1 hatchback can force two strangers to get deep with each other – and ultimately themselves, because sometimes the person who knows you least can change you the most.
LISTEN TO THE MUSIC!
MEET THE TEAM
Composer/ Actor
ARIELLA SERUR
Ariella Serur (they/she) is a composer, writer, and Broadway performer. We Start In Manhattan: A New Queer Musical, co-written partner Sav Souza, sold-out GreenRoom 42 in Feb 2022, and 54 Below in Feb 2023.
In the summer of 2023, WSIM was developed with Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College, and Live and In Color which garnered a NAMT 2024 Frank Young Fund award For New Musicals Writers Residency Grant. Powerhouse Theater presented the first NYC reading of WSIM in Nov 2023. Select performance credits: Broadway: 1776. Regional: 1776, A.R.T.; RENT, The RedHouse. 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
Book Writer/ Lyricist
Sav Souza
Sav Souza is a queer and trans performer and writer living in Bushwick. Their plays and musicals have been developed at several new works development programs and residencies such as Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College, The Polyphone Festival (Artistic Director César Alvarez), Fresh Ground Pepper’s BRB Artists Retreat, and Live & In Color. We Start In Manhattan, a musical written with their writing & life partner Ariella Serur, was a semifinalist for the 2023 National Musical Theater Conference, and after their workshop at Vassar, Powerhouse presented a 29 Hour Reading in New York City. In 2026, the musical was a part of Atlantic Theater Company’s Mixfest. Sav has a BFA in Musical Theater from The University of the Arts and was a member of the Williamstown Theater Festival’s 2018 Non-Equity Company. Select performance credits include: 1776 (Broadway, A.R.T., Nat'l Tour); Regency Girls (World Premiere, Old Globe) Other World (World premiere, Delaware Theatre Company), Lempicka (World Premiere, Williamstown Theatre Festival). @saaaavv, www.savsouza.com
DEVELOPMENT HISTORY
2021:
Much like many of us, We Start In Manhattan was accidentally conceived on a date!
Concert at Greenroom 42
(Sold out, hundreds of Livestreams,
Viral Tiktok with over 1 Million views)
2022:
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:
2023:
Concert at 54 Below ft. cast of 1776
(sold out in 3 days)
2023:
Week-long workshop at Vassar’s Powerhouse Theater who then presented an NYC industry presentation of the show in November 2023
2023/24
NAMT awarded Live & In Color with a 2024
Frank Young Fund For New Musicals Writers Residency Grant for its work supporting the development
of We Start In Manhattan in their 2023 musical workshop
FOLLOW THE SHOW!
Representation:
Rachel Ellicott - Paradigm Talent Agency
rellicott@paradigmagency.com