The Father Who Stayed (TFWS), an Award-Winning, music-driven, feature film conceived, written, and directed by Billboard-charting, singer-songwriter, composer and award-winning filmmaker Jeremy Schonfeld, is set to make its New York City debut on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at 6pm EST, at the historic AMT Theater located at 354 w. 45th St. In New York City. Tickets are FREE but you must reserve your ticket at bit.ly/TheFatherWhoStayed. The Father Who Stayed (TFWS) is a feature-length, music-driven, cinematic experience inspired by the true story of a single father mourning the loss of his only child, daughter Emily Rose. This unique musical film blends the story of the father’s journey with a broader narrative centered around the musically told journey of everyday life, death and the afterlife in America as expressed by those who have passed on. Part song cycle, part concert experience, The Father Who Stayed (TFWS) is a one-of-a-kind offering, providing audiences a deeply immersive and emotional experience. Stage and screen Canadian actor Christian Campbell (Trick, Reefer Madness ), 2x Tony Award nominee & Grammy Winning Shoshana Bean (Hells Kitchen) and Grammy Award Winning and Pulitzer-nominee Rinde Eckert and Hamilton’s Blaine Alden Krauss lead the cast of this award winning film. Additional casting includes Dimitri Archip, Will Bryant, Sarah-Jane Casey, Stephen Clair, Ryan Dunn, Kelly Ellenwood, Jennifer Malenke, Annalise McCoy, Mike Merenda, Donna Mikkleson, America Olivo-Campbell, Daniel Rowan-Lyons, Gus Schonfeld, Caroline Sottile, Melvin Tunstall III, Ruth Ungar, and Reji Woods. The film’s production team includes Rob Featherstone (Cinematographer), Benjamin Lieber (Editor), Will Bryant (Music Production), Lucas Millard (Color), Ian Hutton (Post Sound Production), Bottomless Well (Post Production Hub), Lexis Berlin (Assistant Camera), Dennis Brady (1st Assistant Camera), Drew Soleiman (Production Assistant), Alexander Thomas (Production Assistant), Tara Latorre (Producer) and 88Stories (Producer). The Father Who Stayed, inspired by the true story of Imogen Roche and her father, Theseus (who later created the Imogen Roche Foundation), has garnered significant acclaim on the festival circuit. The film has been selected as a 7x award winning film, and is a 5-time recipient for Best Original Score and Best Song from festivals including The Seattle Film Festival, The Global Music Awards, The Care Awards, The Synergy Film Festival, and the Bridges International Film Festival since its completion in Spring 2024. The Father Who Stayed features 27 songs written by Jeremy Schonfeld who created a captivating soundtrack that encapsulates the themes of love, resilience and the power of family. “House of Love”, performed by Shoshana Bean, has made significant strides in various charitable initiatives, including its powerful presence in Broadway's Defining Inequality concert and serving as the title track for the New York Gay Men's Chorus Christmas event, “The Holiday House of Love”. Recently, the electrifying dance remix titled "Haus of Love," featuring Hamilton's Blaine Alden Krauss, has taken New York City by storm, becoming a club hit that resonates with audiences everywhere, further solidifying the song's legacy in the realm of philanthropy and celebration. “House of Love” is currently this year’s Broadway Dreams Foundation theme to be performed by Broadway Dreams students and faculty around the world. Event Details: · Date: February 22, 2025 · Time: 5:30pm Red Carpet / Doors, 6PM Premiere, 8pm Q&A · Venue: AMT Theater, 354 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036 Tickets are FREE but must be reserved online at bit.ly/TheFatherWhoStayed. About Jeremy Schonfeld: Jeremy Schonfeld is a celebrated singer-songwriter, composer/lyricist, and filmmaker. He is also the co-founder of both the Story Screen Music Film Festival and the Beacon Bonfire Music & Art Festival www.beaconbonfire.com. His albums include Brooklyn to Beacon, 37 Notebooks, Drift, and Iron & Coal, Blue Skies and All and the soon to be released “Shades of Grey”. Jeremy's work has been recognized for its emotional depth and musical complexity, earning him a dedicated following and critical acclaim. https://www.jeremyschonfeld.com About The Father Who Stayed: The Father Who Stayed is a 105-minute feature film experience that blends music, narrative, and experimental elements to tell a compelling story of love, loss, and resilience. Shot in 4K with a 23:9 aspect ratio, the film offers a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience. www.thefathershostayed.com About the Imogen Foundation: Founded by Imogen Roche’s father, the Imogen Foundation was started in response to Imogen’s unexpected passing at the age of 15. The Foundation aims to build emotional resilience and support mental health in children and teens through project-based learning, social engagement, youth leadership and literacy. Learn more at: https://imogenfoundation.org/
The producing team behind the New York City Premiere includes Y Dolly Fox, Chris Burney, Amy Hobby, Nico Hughes, Tamara Flannagan and Michael T. Clarkston, in collaboration with YD Fox Entertainment, 88Stories, AMT Theater, Playwright Celtic Pub and the Imogen Foundation.
Cast and Creative team for The Father Who Stayed at AMT
Cast
Christian Campbell
Father
US, Canadian, and UK citizen, Christian was born in Toronto, Ontario, to Marnie Campbell (née Marnie Neve), an Amsterdam-born psychologist and yoga instructor, and Gerry Campbell, a Glasgow-born English and drama teacher. An actor, producer, and director, Christian Campbell is known for the Emmy Award-winning Showtime movie Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005) with Kristen Bell, and the gay romantic comedy Trick (1999), with Tori Spelling, as well as the HBO series True Detective (2014) and Big Love (2006). He has been married to America Olivo since 2009.
Jeremy Schonfeld
Writer / Director
Singer-Songwriter and musical theater composer Jeremy Schonfeld's singular blend of tuneful pop, hard-edged rock, gospel, soul and blues has drawn him comparisons to Billy Joel and Jonathan Larson in the New York Times, and has made him one of today's most sought after singer/songwriter talents and musical theater composers. Smart and contemporary with intelligent lyrics, Schonfeld attended the Berklee College of Music and participated in the BMI Lehman-Engel Musical Theater Workshop.
As a solo performer, recent engagements include Joe's Pub; Birdland; Ars Nova; BB King's ("Rockers on Broadway"); Lincoln Center; Juilliard Opera Theater; Symphony Space; CBGBs; Southpaw (he is also the club's only right-handed owner); The Zipper Theater (where he served as associate producer for the Unzipped Concert Series); and as an opening act for James Taylor.
A partial list of the all-star theater, pop and jazz performers who have performed Jeremy's work include: Sara Ramirez; Shoshana Bean; Christian Campbell; Stephanie D'Abruzzo; Natalie Douglas; Sherie Rene Scott; Jarrod Emick; Amy Spanger ; and Tracie Thoms, among others.
Jeremy recently completed work as both a performer and composer/lyricist on the feature film "Clear Blue Tuesday," which traces the journey of eleven artists in post 9/11 New York through a montage of songs and scenes. He has also served as the music director and special guest performer for Broadway Bootcamp events around the country.
As musical theater composer/lyricist, Jeremy's musical Drift (with collaborator Craig Pospisil) premiered at the 2005 New York Musical Theater Festival (NYMF), and was more fully produced to enthusiastic audience and critical response as part of the 2006 Festival. The Dead Wives Club (with collaborator Amy Fox) is slated to begin development Winter 2008, and he was recently commissioned by the Musical Development Fund to create a new musical to be named. Other recent theatrical projects include: Ministry of Progress at Jane Street Theater (composer/lyricist); Home at the Minetta Lane (book/music/lyrics); and Letters to Katrina and Letters to Baghdad (contributing songwriter/performer), both at the Winter Harbor Theatre Company (Portland ME). Jeremy is also a founding composer/lyricist for the A-Train Musicals.
As a recording artist, Sh-K-Boom records released the original concept album of Drift, on which the musical is based. Previously, Jeremy independently released Blue Skies and All a two-CD box of his original songs.
Along with partners Ryan Paternite and Jonelle Fenton, Jeremy signed a development deal with Glowcast Ventures to create a new reality television program based on Songwriting.
SUBMIT UPDATES
AMT Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
AMT is at 354 w. 45th St., New York, NY.
JUST DESSERTS: A Musical Bake Off (1/30/26-2/22/26)
Videos
 |
Broadway Magic Hour
Broadway Comedy Club (9/30 - 12/30) | |
 |
A Christmas Carol: A Live Radio Play
Hampton Theatre Company (12/12 - 12/14) | |
 |
Lobby Hero
Manes Studio Theatre of Long Island (1/9 - 1/25)
PHOTOS
| |
 |
A Marble Christmas Concert: Everlasting Joy, Narrated by Simon Jones
Marble Collegiate Church (12/14 - 12/14) | |
 |
Bette Davis Ain't For Sissies
Triad Theater (12/13 - 12/13) | |
 |
Dance, Edita, Dance!
The Factory Series @ The Chain Theatre (12/12 - 12/14) OFF-OFF-BROADWAY PREMIERE
PHOTOS
DISCOUNT
| |
 |
Down Once More
Teatro Latea (12/15 - 12/21) | |
|
Selected Shorts: Generation Gap with Asian American Writers’ Workshop
Symphony Space (5/20 - 5/20) | |
|
BFA or Bust
The Reverie Room (1/18 - 1/18) | |
|
DOM WE NOW OUR GAY APPAREL
The Cutting Room (12/13 - 12/13) | |
|
Water for Elephants
Proctors (4/7 - 4/12) | |
|
The Listening
East Village Basement (4/7 - 4/12) | |
| VIEW SHOWS ADD A SHOW | ||
Get Off-Off-Broadway's #1 Theatre Newsletter
All the show news & discounts for Off-Off-Broadway & beyond.
