Synopsis

In the bustling streets of New York City, an emotionally broken writer is desperately searching for his identity as his life crumbles around him. His quirky cats step in to guide him toward building an anxiety-free sense of self—but one cat is facing her own crisis: she's convinced she's a squirrel! To cope, she tries stand-up comedy in the alley for other neighborhood cats. Chaos, cuddles, and catchy tunes ensue in this adorable-yet-dramatic story where humans and felines alike discover who they truly are... and find each other along the way.

Workshop Details

For high school-aged students (rising 9th graders through rising college freshmen)

Rehearsals: June 29 – July 30, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays

2–3 hours in the evening (exact times TBD based on group availability)

Tech Week (week of July 27): Monday–Thursday intensified rehearsals

Special guest: Tank Artistic Director Meghan Finn (2024 NYC David Prize recipient and director of the upcoming Off-Broadway production)

Performances/Presentations: 2–3 showings

Friday, July 31 at 7:30 pm
Saturday, August 1 at 2:00 pm and 7:30 pm

Location

Sellwood Studio of Performing Arts

Development History (and Planned Future Development Steps)

April 2024: Commissioned by The Tank
February 2025: 3-Week Workshop at the Institute for American Music Theatre (IAMT)
July 2026: Sellwood Studio Workshop
September 2026-December 2026: Cast Album for World Premiere Cast
Spring 2027: World Premiere Production

Key Creative Team

Book: Paul Hufker
Music & Lyrics: John Ertman & Joseph Mathusek
Director: Meghan Finn

About This Workshop

This is your chance to be part of developing a brand-new musical! We're preparing Mews: The Musical! for its world premiere as an official selection of The Tank's 2026–2027 season—a 6-week, 24-performance run at the acclaimed Off-Broadway theater The Tank in spring 2027.

Students will:

• Work with professional creators (including co-songwriters/Sellwood instructors John Ertman and Joseph Mathusek, bookwriter Paul Hufker, and director Meghan Finn).
• Help test new changes and bring fresh energy to the rolesSimulate the real process of developing a new musical—from rehearsals to polished presentations.
• Experience working with award-winning professionals.

This workshop also serves as a fundraiser for the show, with a goal of raising $5,000. All proceeds (after covering production and Sellwood Studio costs) go directly to support the Off-Broadway production. The Tank is a nonprofit theater company.

Special Perks for Participants

Invitations for special access to the 2027 Off-Broadway world premiere

Partnership highlights: Collaborating with local animal shelters and mental health organizations to promote well-being for humans and animals

Auditions:

We will hold auditions in late-Spring (time TBD). We are looking for ~15-16 enthusiastic performers with a strong musical-ear. We will ask for a memorized 32-Bar cut of contemporary musical theatre in the styles of Andrew Lippa, Jason Robert Brown, Stephen Shwartz, or Alan Menken. Sides from the show will be provided to cold read.

Characters: (6+ actors): The following are principal, supporting and featured roles for Mews: The Musical!. And ensemble (with opportunities for additional features) will also be cast.

BIGGER ONE: 35, male – A depressed NYC writer going through an identity crisis. He adores his two cats.
BRUCE: A 16-year-old gray-and-white cat, equal parts sweet and surly
FRIDA: A 4-year-old orange-and-white cat (Pronounced FREE-duh, as in Frida Khalo) young, energetic and eager, but going through her own identity crisis
DA LADY: Early 30’s, female, an empathetic, spiritual, modern woman with eastern philosophical sensibilities and a passion for animals
MOM: Bigger One’s Mom, 69 –female-identifying
EX GIRLFRIEND (RACHEL): The voice of Bigger One’s Ex-girlfriend, 30’s –female-identifying
EDITOR: The voice of Bigger One’s editor, who is also the boss of his day job – 40’s+, kind but at the end of his rope
DIGITIZED VOICE: The digitized voice of an unknown person, who is trying to suck BIGGER ONE into his world. Think Scientology or something like it.
SMILE EMOJI: Ostensibly someone in a chatroom on the internet.
FROWN EMOJI: Ostensibly someone in a chatroom on the internet
SMILING FACE WITH HEART EYES EMOJI: Ostensibly someone in a chatroom on the internet
ENSEMBLE/FOLLOW CHORUS: Cats, New Yorkers, bots, and internet users, and BIGGER ONE’s inner-voice of self-doubt.

Join the Mewsical Adventure!

Be part of something purr-fectly unique—help bring this story of self-discovery, identity, and unlikely friendships to life.

For audition/info/rehearsal sign-up details, contact Sellwood Studio of Performing Arts or follow updates from the creative team.

Mews: The Musical!

Where cats teach humans how to be... themselves. 🐱🐿️🎭