MUSIC CITY
Music and Lyrics by J.T. Harding
Book by Peter Zinn
Directed by Eric Tucker
Previews June 15, 2026
Opening Night June 24, 2026
St. Luke’s Theatre (308 West 46th Street)
Music City opened to rave reviews last year and was extended three times by popular demand in its award-winning run at BEDLAM. The show features original and existing songs by multi-platinum songwriter J.T. Harding, including showstoppers “Smile,” “Sangria,” and “Somewhere In My Car,” written for such artists as Darius Rucker, Keith Urban, Blake Shelton, Uncle Kracker, Dierks Bently, and Florida Georgia Line, an original book by playwright Peter Zinn (Rumspringa, Somewhere With You), and is directed by BEDLAM’s artistic director Eric Tucker.
The heralded original cast will return to their roles: Drew Bastian (Off-Broadway: Measure for Measure; National Tour: Hair) as Newt, Jonathan Judge-Russo(Off-Broadway: Falling, Someone Who’ll Watch Over Me) as Drew, Julianne B. Merrill (Broadway: music teams for Chess, Real Women Have Curves, SMASH!, among others) as Wyn, Leenya Rideout (Broadway: War Horse; Company; Cabaret) as Tammy/Leeanne, Andrew Rothenberg (Off-Broadway: BEDLAM’s The Assassination of Julius Caesar..., Signature Theater’s Curse of the Starving Class) as Bakerman/Stucky Stiles, Casey Shuler (Regional: Hair, Titanic, Legally Blonde) as “23,” and Stephen Michael Spencer (Broadway: Clyde’s; Off-Broadway: Medea: Re-Versed) as T.J. Understudies are Grace Bernardo, Danny Hayward and Megan Loomis.
Band members include Ann Klein (Lead Guitar, Mandolin, Lap Steel), Julianne B. Merrill (Keys) and Tony Tino (Bass).
Music City follows two young singer-songwriters into The Wicked Tickle, an East Nashville bar that serves up cheap beer, open mics, and dreams of big breaks. The bar regulars bravely pursue love and music in the face of addiction, poverty, and haunting pasts. But in Nashville, heartbreak is the only thing they hand out for free. Music City is an intimate, gritty, and thrilling take on the world of beers, guitars, sawdust, and sunshine.
Scenic Design is by Clifton Chadick, assisted by Buffy Cardoza, Costume Design is by Kindall Houston Almond, Lighting Design is by Eric Southern, and Sound Design is by Jane Shaw. Choreography is by John Heginbotham. Associate Director is Caitlin Morley. Production Manager is Joshua Bernard. Music Supervisor/Music Director is Julianne B. Merrill. Associate Music Supervisor/Arranger/Sub MD is PJ Ju. Production Stage Manager is Diane Healy. Assistant Stage Manager is Deanna Kahn.
Music City was nominated for two 2025 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Musical and Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical (Clifton Chadick), and a 2025 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical.
Advertising and Marketing is by The Pekoe Group. General Management is by Tom Smedes Productions.
Music City is produced by Gabrielle Palitz, with No Guarantees Productions, BEDLAM, Willette Klausner, Francine LeFrak and Peter Stern.