A MUSICAL WORTH ROOTING FOR

Four likable friends chase Broadway dreams
in this clever and thoroughly enjoyable production

A clever script and engaging performances offer an impressive rendition of [title of show] at Chelsea Theatre Works. The 90-minute show, with music and lyrics by Jeff Bowen and book by Hunter Bell, tells the story of Jeff, played by Josh Telepman, and Hunter, played by Luke Capello, two self-described “nobodies” who decide to write a musical to enter a festival. Two female friends—Heidi, played by Kimberly Merck, and Susan, played by Ashley DiFranza—join them in contributing to the book, which turns out to be a play about people writing a play about people writing a play. The four actors are delightful and yet believable as struggling creatives collaborating on a fun project.

Josh Telepman (top) and Luke Capello (bottom)

Kimberly Merck, Josh Telepman, Luke Capello, and Ashley DiFranza

They find some success: their entry is chosen for the festival, and from there they move to Off-Broadway and eventually Broadway. But everything does not come up roses. Quite the opposite. As Hunter sees his dream within reach, he becomes harder to work with. Think The Producers meets Stereophonic, except that these four strictly platonic friends have a likable innocence behind their creative ambitions.

Robert Draper (background), Josh Telepman, Luke Capello, Kimberly Merck, and Ashley DiFranza

Music director Robert Draper is onstage as Larry, a character who speaks little but adds a lot. It’s a low-budget enterprise, a little rough around the edges in its staging, but with the able direction of Lisa Tierney, it offers a surprisingly realistic and totally enjoyable window into the challenges and costs of succeeding in today’s world, even including some inspirational advice in the show’s most well-known musical number: “I’d rather be nine people’s favorite thing than a hundred people’s ninth favorite thing.”

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photos by Val Tracy-Indrakaran

[title of show]
The Treehouse Collective
Chelsea Theatre Works, 189 Winnisimmet St in Chelsea
ends on September 13, 2026
running time: 90 minutes
for tickets, visit The Treehouse Collective

for more shows, visit Theatre in Boston
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