Wichita State University
What is the Jo Zakas Musical Theatre Incubator Program?
The School of Performing Arts envisions the Musical Theatre Incubator Program as the leader in the creation of original (new) works. This niche provides unique and rare training to each Musical Theatre major and extends to all the students in the School of Performing Arts. Gaining recognition as a program that produces relevant, timely, thought-provoking musical theatre, the Incubator Program has many benefits:
- It places Wichita State University on the cutting edge of innovation in Musical Theatre
- It elevates student performing artists and technicians to professional applied learning experiences
- It facilitates a growing a network of established musical theatre artists
- It brands the program as a destination for new works that create well-rounded theatre artists, including opportunities beyond performance in areas such as dramaturgy, theatre history, and other facets of theatre
Each year, the School of Performing Arts invites guest artists to campus with the end goal of performing a staged reading of a musical at the conclusion of their workshopping experience. Guest artists could be playwrights, composers, designers, choreographers, and other related professions. Each will interact with students in-person at least two weeks each year: one week prior to and the week of a reading or production.
How is the Program Funded?
For our first project, the funding was generously provided by the Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation which enabled the School of Performing Arts to bring two of the writers to campus for two days. They visited two theatre classes and answered questions at talkbacks following the first two performances of the show. Funds were also used for artists fees, marketing, and the music director of the show.
The Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation, has continued funding the program and due to their incredible generosity, the program was officially renamed the Jo Zakas Musical Theatre Incubator Program in 2024. Read more about their support for the program here.
What new works have been through the program?
"PSYCH!"
"Express"
In 2023, Express was chosen as a new work for the program. Created by Janine McGuire & Arri Simon, Express is an immersive musical by Arri Simon (composer) & Janine McGuire (lyricist). It is a transportive new musical that unfolds entirely within the bustling confines of the New York City subway on a real-time subway ride. Set against the backdrop of pivotal moments from World War II through the turn of the 21st century, the show traces the journeys of three generations of an American family navigating personal and cultural change.
In 2024, work will continue on this musical & culminate in a fully produced show in Sept 2024. In the second year of creating this new work, the artists & students began exploring how the characters in Express move with a choreographer and how a designer can bring the environment to life with a lighting designer all while McGuire & Simon continue to fine tune the script and score based on these new collaborative influences. For the students, revisiting the material will be like they are taking a next level course in the creation of new musicals.
View an excerpt from the 2023 production of Express where our students perform songs from the staged reading.
Audio Description:
Logo: School of Performing Arts. The School of Performing Arts Musical Theatre Incubator Program.
Express by Janine McGuire & Arri Lawton Simon
Students singing while standing and sitting with binders.
Special Thanks to the Jo Zakas Legacy Foundation
"The Fox Sisters"
