←Recommendations of Published! A Shonen-Inspired Musical

While the homages are powerfully triggering (in the best way), you need not be familiar with Shonen or even anime and manga to enjoy Heyman's musical. The ensemble cast is infectious and so much fun, and guide us not only through the show's competition, but the myriad of reasons writers develop their drive to create and tell their stories, no matter the form. It's also a beautiful exploration of the collaboration of writing and nature of competing, for all the good and bad they both entail. I can't wait to see how this piece grows and to experience it live.

Between the catchy song work and the feel-good narrative, this play pushes all the right buttons for young and old actors alike. There's an enthusiasm here as the characters, the main ones being 8th graders involved in a competition to be published (and therefore taken seriously as writers) that carries over to the audience. You want these kids to succeed. But more than that, you want them to be better human beings. Whether by mending long-broken fences or rising above petty rivalries, we become invested in these future wordsmiths. And the songs are just as uplifting as the story.

I don't know a thing about Shonen, and I am here to tell you that you don't have to in order to enjoy this musical. It's a wonderful vehicle for young actors with great songs and a lot to say about what it means to be an artist and whether or not a "winner" can ever truly be proclaimed in a subjective field like the arts.

Great fun. You'll be cheering on team #7. Do they win the writing competition? No spoilers here, but there's more at stake for these lovingly crafted characters than just winning a writing contest and being published. This musical is packed with catchy tunes, a large cast perfect for highschool productions, and plenty of heart.

Love the concept and the world established. Characters are fun and progress of the plot is exciting. Who knew a writing competition could be such high drama? The transference of the ideas in this work to other areas is very evident, and I found myself nodding throughout the reading of it. And then... "Collecting Rejections." Suddenly, I got that pang of realization that I don't always get with a musical, but I definitely got it here. Nostalgic yet futuristic, satirical yet awfully earnest; this is one heck of a musical concept and I can't wait to see how it develops!

I have to admit the 14-year-old in me wanted revenge on Team 13 and Team 5! But the ending was so much more satisfying. What an enjoyable, inspiring work Sam Heyman has created! The ego and insecurities of youth fused with the ego and insecurities of writers of any age make for a story that draws you in from the start and has you cheering on these talented teens. So many lessons presented about life and writing. Sam Heyman has clearly learned his lessons well!

What a wonderful piece of work! Heyman has a great ear for the adolescents in this musical, not only what they say but how they mature into their dreams. I loved the journey we go on from the focus on winning to the focus on fairness that brings about a real change in the writers so that they learn how to value themselves and own their crafts in ways beyond what any competition could provide. Kudos!

I love pieces about writing anyway so the very idea of this show drew me in from the very beginning. It opens an audiences eyes to what it is to want to be a writer and allows them to experience the highs and lows of being a writer. You can't help but feel for these young people as they attempt to find their place in what can be a daunting world. As the final lyrics state, in this case "Life Imitates Art" and the writer has done it incredibly well. Look out Broadway!

I was hooked on the premise for this musical before even reading it. Sam has created a world that reflects driven, thoughtful young people and never panders or talks down to them. The setup has immediate stakes, you get invested in the characters, and the ending is incredibly satisfying. I can't wait to see how this pieces continues to develop—well worth a read!

Published! is an inspiring, clever and down-right magical musical. Sam Heyman gets inside the minds and hearts of a group of ambitious, fearless and fabulously flawed eighth grade writers who are ready to compete for the most coveted prize of all—to get published! Can't wait to see this musical on stage, where it belongs.