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Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music

Inspired by Derek Connolly’s acclaimed indie film of the same name, Safety Not Guaranteed features music and lyrics by Guster’s Ryan Miller.

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Last night, BAM (The Brooklyn Academy of Music) celebrated the Opening Night of the world premiere musical Safety Not Guaranteed, which plays a limited Off-Broadway engagement through October 20 at the BAM Harvey Theater. See photos from inside opening night.

Inspired by Derek Connolly’s acclaimed indie film of the same name, Safety Not Guaranteed features music and lyrics by Guster’s Ryan Miller, in an exhilarating stage adaptation by Drama Desk Award winner Nick Blaemire (Glory Days, Space Dogs), directed by two-time Obie Award winner Lee Sunday Evans (Home, Farmhouse/Whorehouse). Miller, founding member and lead singer of the band Guster, wrote the score for the original film, which began his career as a film and television composer – he now adds theater composer to the list, with the world premiere of the stage musical.

The New York Times praised the show as "Ridiculous Fun... Safety Not Guaranteed has an appealingly indie sound and an elemental goofiness. The audience exits BAM on a high. Outside, I caught myself humming." New York Magazine wrote,"Safety Not Guaranteed is delightful and earnest, with several winning performances and a very big heart." Indie Wire declared that the acclaimed film “gets unexpected new life in this loyal adaptation that is joyful, thoughtful, charmingly lo-fi, and incredibly moving," with TheaterMania adding, “Safety Not Guaranteed Clocks A Win! Ryan Miller and Nick Blaemire’s heartwarming and laugh-inducing musical offers a lively score, six great performances, and a helluva good time."

Safety Not Guaranteed follows Darius, a young journalist who sets out to make her name by digging into an outrageous classified ad seeking someone willing to travel back in time. Nkeki Obi-Melekwe (Tina: The Tina Turner Musical) and Taylor Trensch (Dear Evan Hansen) lead the cast as Darius and Kenneth, the roles played by Aubrey Plaza and Mark Duplass in the original film. They are joined in the world premiere cast by Ashley Pérez Flanagan as Liz, Pomme Koch as Jeff, Rohan Kymal as Arnau, and John-Michael Lyles as Tristan.

Safety Not Guaranteed features set design by the award-winning Krit Robinson, costume design is by the award-winning Sarita Fellows, lighting design by Obie award winner Reza Behjat, and composition and sound design by multi-Tony nominee Drew Levy. Assistant direction is by Isabel Perry, casting is by Taylor Williams, CSA, Steve Cuffio is the illusionist, and fight direction is by Drew Leary.  Safety Not Guaranteed is stage managed by Alyssa K. "AK" Howard and assistant stage managed by Alfredo Macias.

Tickets are available at BAM.org or by calling BAM Ticket Services 718.636.4100. Tickets start at $35.

Photo Credit: Dave Kotinsky

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Johann George, Alanna Saunders, and Vincent Michael

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Nick Blaemire, Rohan Kymal, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Taylor Trensch, Ryan Miller, Alanna Saunders, John-Michael Lyles, Pomme Koch, Vincent Michael, and Johann George

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music ImageBAM Artistic Director Amy Cassello, Board Chair Diane Max, and President Gina Duncan

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Greg Hildreth, Marissa Lesch, Taylor Trensch, Kyle Beltran, Adam Chanler-Berat

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Nick Blaemire, John Johnson

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Colin Trevorrow

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Ryan Miller, Lee Sunday Evans, and Nick Blaemire

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Adam Chanler- Berat

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Kyle Beltran

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Lee Sunday Evans

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Jack Falahee

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Gina Duncan

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Peter Saraf

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Greg Hildreth

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Pomme Koch, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, and Ashley Pérez Flanagan

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Nkeki Obi-Melekwe

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Ryan Miller and Nick Blaemire

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Nick Blaemire

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Rohan Kymal, John-Michael Lyles, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Taylor Trensch, Pomme Koch, Vincent Michael, Johann George, and Alanna Saunders

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Rohan Kymal, John-Michael Lyles, Ashley Pérez Flanagan, Nkeki Obi-Melekwe, Pomme Koch, and Taylor Trensch

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Ryan Miller

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Taylor Trensch and Nkeki Obi-Melekwe

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Taylor Trensch

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Ashley Pérez Flanagan

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Pomme Koch

Photos: SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED Opens At Brooklyn Academy of Music Image
Rohan Kymal



Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Long-Running Broadway Show - Top 3
1. Hadestown
20.7% of votes
2. Hamilton
16.5% of votes
3. Wicked
11.6% of votes

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