FOR THE RECORD(S) World Premiere Reading to be Presented at Next Step Theatre Festival NYC
Richard Uhrlaub's debut musical, is directed by Abigail Rebekah, and will be presented on on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14.
As the Next Step Theatre Festival will present the world-premiere reading: "For The Record(s)." Written and composed by Richard Uhrlaub and scored by Dan Sander-Wells, the musical will have two featured performances on Saturday, June 13 and Sunday, June 14 at the Producers Club - Grand Theater.
In an era defined by the struggle for restoring adult adoptee access to records, "For The Record(s)" follows Joshua (played by Off-Broadway veteran Gabe DeRose) on a poignant quest to reclaim his stolen history. The musical serves as a rhythmic and emotional megaphone for truth and transparency in adoption, charting the journey of restoring adult adoptee access to records.
The production is the debut work of Richard Uhrlaub, whose background as a 25-year legislative advocate and adoption search facilitator informs every note. "The Muse gifted this show to me during the pandemic," Uhrlaub shares. "It is the culmination of a lifetime of piano, poetry, and decades spent fighting for the rights of adoptees to know who they are."
Under the direction of Abigail Rebekah and the musical direction of Dan Sander-Wells, the production features a powerhouse ensemble of NYC talent, including:
- Gabe DeRose (Murder on the Links) as Joshua Greenman
- Paul Fraccalvieri (Sgt. Stubby), an adoptee himself, reprising roles from the show's 2025 concert debut
- Josh Ilan (NYU Tisch alumnus) as Fred Greenman
- Lauren Cristina Updyke (NYU Tisch alumna) as Blanca Gonzales/Kelly Wiley
- Sabrina Acosta (Paper Mill Playhouse) and Daniel Calderon (Northwestern University)
The creative team is bolstered by orchestrations from Keaton Viavattine, a composer with credits across major international tours like Anastasia and The King and I. Together, they bring to life a score that blends formalist poetic structure with the driving energy of modern musical theater.
"For The Record(s)" is a cornerstone of the Next Step Theatre Festival (June 8-14), a writer-led cooperative that bypasses industry gatekeepers to bring high-stakes, authentic storytelling directly to the heart of the theater district.
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