History of the Show

Inspired by J.M. Barrie's book The Little White Bird, the musical Benjamin Starling was developed at NYU's Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program in 2001 and 2002.

The writers, Danny Pitt Stoller and Jessica Fogle, were supported by feedback from their classmates as well as faculty advisors Robert Lee and Mel Marvin;  they also received guidance from distinguished guest faculty including William Finn, Donna DiNovelli, and Michael-John LaChiusa.

Halfway through the writing process, the authors participated in a writer's retreat in East Haddam, Connecticut.  An excerpt from the show was workshopped with the players at the Goodspeed Opera House:  the readers included Kristin Huxhold (who starred in Sondheim's A Little Night Music at the New York City Opera) and Amanda Naughton.

In the spring of 2002, the finished piece received a reading at NYU's Black Box Theatre.  The title role was played by Megan McGinnis (Beauty and the Beast, Little Women).  The cast also included Donna Vivino (Les Miserables) and Laura Woyasz  (who appeared in the first national tour of James Joyce's The Dead).  The reading was directed by Lori Steinberg, and the musical director was Vadim Feichtner.

Benjamin Starling received its first full production in the winter of 2004, at the Spirit of Broadway Theatre in Connecticut.  The show was directed by Brett A. Bernardini, the theatre's artistic director.  Benjamin Starling was also selected as a finalist for consideration in the 2004 STAGES Festival of New Works in Chicago.

If you want information on acquiring the rights to perform Benjamin Starling, write to dannypittstoller@gmail.com.