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

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

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

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.

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

2023:
Two week developmental workshop
at Live & In Color