At The Barre

by SMJ .

MIME MUSICAL (Draft as of 3.10.24)
Book & Lyrics by SMJ / Music & Lyrics by Natalie Myrick / Original Music by Sarah Flaim

Catherine, the talented principal dancer at ABT, and Shawn, a non-binary and overweight mime, are thrust into each other's lives after an insane audition. In the wake of personal tragedies and lingering doubts, Catherine and Shawn search for their inner beauty and how to make a connection...

MIME MUSICAL (Draft as of 3.10.24)
Book & Lyrics by SMJ / Music & Lyrics by Natalie Myrick / Original Music by Sarah Flaim

Catherine, the talented principal dancer at ABT, and Shawn, a non-binary and overweight mime, are thrust into each other's lives after an insane audition. In the wake of personal tragedies and lingering doubts, Catherine and Shawn search for their inner beauty and how to make a connection in a cluttered and overly talkative world.

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At The Barre

Recommended by

  • Henri Sudy: At The Barre by SMJ .
    “

    This musical begs to be fully produced, and it should be. The characters, stage directions, and songs all leap off the page.

    Catherine and Shawn's journeys to self-acceptance and exploration of the art they love so well is beautiful to behold, and their insecurities are sure to ring true in the soul of any artist.

    Sarah Flaim and Natalie Myrick do an incredible job setting this story to music. AT THE BARRE is unlike any musical you've experienced, and is absolutely an experience worth having.

    This musical begs to be fully produced, and it should be. The characters, stage directions, and songs all leap off the page.

    Catherine and Shawn's journeys to self-acceptance and exploration of the art they love so well is beautiful to behold, and their insecurities are sure to ring true in the soul of any artist.

    Sarah Flaim and Natalie Myrick do an incredible job setting this story to music. AT THE BARRE is unlike any musical you've experienced, and is absolutely an experience worth having.

    ”
  • David Hansen: At The Barre by SMJ .
    “

    A love story about loving someone else and loving yourself and loving your body whatever shape it takes. Catherine is a ballet dancer and Shawn is a mime, each pursued by inner voices (made manifest by other actors) who wrestle with their personal and professional drives and desires.

    If the stage directions and suggested choreography are appropriately followed this would be a hilariously absurd feast of physicality, describing the hardwood jungle of New York dancers and the desperate fantasticness of New York bar (and barre) life. And there are songs! Highly recommended.

    A love story about loving someone else and loving yourself and loving your body whatever shape it takes. Catherine is a ballet dancer and Shawn is a mime, each pursued by inner voices (made manifest by other actors) who wrestle with their personal and professional drives and desires.

    If the stage directions and suggested choreography are appropriately followed this would be a hilariously absurd feast of physicality, describing the hardwood jungle of New York dancers and the desperate fantasticness of New York bar (and barre) life. And there are songs! Highly recommended.

    ”

Character Information

The Ensemble Tracks can be reconfigured to match your casting needs. You can also break up the Ensemble Tracks to cast more actors and create a bigger ensemble.
  • Ensemble Track #2
    (Played by an actor with she/her pronouns)
    They play the following roles:
    - MADAME JERI: 30s, a ballet master in all black, a rip-off of Madame Geri
    - ARIANNA: Early 20s, second-best dancer at ATB and believes that a little too much.
    - PEGGY: Mid 20s, has been on the Broadway stage numerous times
    - MOTHER: Mid-to-Late 20s, an Upper East Side Mom
    21-31
    Any
    she/her pronouns
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Ensemble Track #3
    (Played by an actor with either she/her or they/them pronouns)
    They play the following roles:
    - EMILY: 21, Catherine’s outspoken best friend & 3rd best dancer at ATB
    - LONE WOLF: Older, a mysterious figure with a connection to something spiritual
    - CHILD: a private school student from a rich family in NYC
    21-31
    Any
    she/her or they/them pronouns
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary
  • Ensemble
    Trans, non-binary, female-identifying, and male-identifying people who play every remaining part.
    20-30
    Any
    All Genders
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
  • Catherine
    (Played by a ballerina with she/her pronouns)
    The principal dancer at the American Theatre of Ballet. Passionate, intelligent, and distant. DOES NOT SPEAK OR SING
    23
    Any
    she/her pronouns
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Dani & Brenda
    (Played by an actor with she/her pronouns)
    - Shadow Catherine: Stuck in the past while trying to push forward - Brenda: A radio host with some problematic qualities
    23
    Any
    she/her pronouns
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Catherine's Voice
    (Played by an actor with she/her pronouns)
    Represents Catherine any time she talks.
    23
    Any
    she/her pronouns
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female
  • Shawn
    (Played by Masc-presenting mime with they/them or other pronouns - NOT A CIS MAN)
    Overweight, a Talented mime with an extreme distrust of their body. DOES NOT SPEAK OR SING
    23
    Latinx or mixed-Latinx
    Non-binary,
    Transgender or genderqueer
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Non-binary
  • Shadow Shawn & Howie
    (Played by an actor with he/him pronouns)
    - SHADOW SHAWN: Shawn’s embodiment of toxic masculinity
    - HOWIE: A radio host with some problematic qualities
    23
    Latinx or mixed-Latinx
    He/Him Pronouns
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Male
  • Shawn's Voice
    (Played by an actor with any pronouns)
    Represents Shawn in any social talking situations.
    23
    Latinx or mixed-Latinx
    Any gender
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s
    • Actor Race/Ethnic Identity
      Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American,
      Black, African, Caribbean, or African American,
      Indigenous, First Nation, or Native American,
      Latinx/o/a or Hispanic,
      Middle Eastern, North African, or Arab American,
      Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander,
      South Asian or South Asian American
  • Ensemble Track #1
    (Played by an actor with either she/her or they/them pronouns)
    They play the following roles:
    - DANI: was 25, a former principal dancer at ATB who Catherine knows too well.
    - ALLI: Early 20s, Shawn’s “ballet bro” best friend
    - AGENT: Older, the stereotype of an agent
    - LEADING PLAYER: Late 20s, another lead in ATB
    25-35
    Any
    uses she/her or they/them pronouns
    Can be played by:
    • Actor Age
      20s,
      30s
    • Actor Gender Identity
      Female,
      Non-binary

Development History

  • Residency, Open Jar Studios, 2024
  • Workshop, Latiné Musical Theatre Lab, 2023
  • Residency, Latiné Musical Theatre Lab & New York Stage and Film, 2023
  • Residency, The Sappho Project's The W*rk Lab, 2021
  • Residency, Midnight Factory's Project Incubator, 2020
  • Reading, Theater for the New City (New York, NY), 2018
  • Residency, Access Theater (New York, NY), 2018
  • Residency, Dragon's Egg Studio (Ledyard, CT), 2018
  • Residency, Eugene O'Neill Theater Center (Waterford, CT), 2018
  • Workshop, Otterbein University Dance Workshop (Westerville, OH), 2016

Production History

  • Professional, The Green Room 42, 2023
  • Workshop, The Sappho Project (Virtual), 2021
  • Professional, Midtown International Theater Festival (as VERY STRONG LIKING in New York, NY), 2017

Awards

  • Write Out Loud Contest
    Finalist
    2022
  • The Big Give
    The Indie Theater Fund
    Selection
    2021
  • Best Variety Show (Nominee)
    Midtown International Theater Festival
    2017