Paperboy

A five-person creative team, including myself, has developed a new musical called PAPERBOY, which tells the story of an eleven-year-old boy who stutters and how his life is transformed one summer when he takes over a friend’s paper route. Set in 1950s Memphis, it has a score grounded in the roots of rockabilly and Memphis Blues, with a splash of Broadway,

As you may know, many people who stutter are able to sing fluently. We thought the story behind PAPERBOY was a great fit for a musical.

PAPERBOY the musical, is based on the acclaimed, award- winning novel by Vince Vawter, which sold more than a quarter million copies and won the prestigious Newbery Honor Award. To date, the novel has been translated into over 15 languages and is on reading lists across the country. The book is the true story of the author’s experiences growing up with a debilitating stutter.

We have a full production scheduled at Manhattan School of Music in spring, 2023. The performances will run March 24, 2023-March 26, 2023, with students from the Musical Theatre Program making up the cast and orchestra. For more information, please visit the News section of the website!

Don Stephenson will direct, and Jason Wells will choreograph. David Shenton is creating the music arrangements for actors and orchestra.

The Script and our Sizzle Reel are being sent to prospective producers, investors, artistic directors and other interested parties.