Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Get a sneak peek—from first rehearsal to opening night—of Out Here, a new original musical at the University of Chicago’s Court Theatre. Follow Dawn, a wife and mother in her 50s who wants more. She wants her ex-girlfriend, Robin.
Co-creators Leslie Buxbaum, David J. Levin and Erin McKeown take you behind the scenes into the production’s experimental process—developed in collaboration with UChicago’s Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry and the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society.
Catch this joyful coming out story and playful rebuilding of a family through May 10: courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2025-2026-season/out-here
Read more: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/court-theatres-out-here-rebuilds-queer-musical-ground
Concept by Leslie Buxbaum, David J. Levin, and Erin McKeown
Book and Lyrics by Leslie Buxbaum
Music and Lyrics by Erin McKeown
Dramaturgy by David J. Levin
Directed by Chay Yew
Orchestrations by Erin McKeown with Christie Chiles Twilie
Music Supervision by Christie Chiles Twillie
Movement Direction by Breon Arzell
Andrew Boyce USA, Co-Scenic Designer
Lauren M. Nichols, Co-Scenic Designer
Christine Pascual, Costume Designer
Lee Fiskness, Lighting Designer
Mikhail Fiksel, Sound Designer
Sammi Grant, Vocal and Dialect Consultant
Becca McCracken, Casting Director
Katrina Herrmann, Production Stage Manager
Jaclynn Joslin, Assistant Stage Manager
Becca Ayers as Dawn
Cliff Chamberlain as Brian
Ellie Duffey as Cleo
Bethany Thomas as Robin
Z Mowry as Jett
Amanda Pulcini as Gina
Alex Goodrich as Martin
Maddi Vogel, Percussion
Rachel Schuldt, Cello
Daniela Bisenius, Violin
Percy Nesbary III, Guitar
Understudies: Lexi Alioto, Danielle Davis, Michael McCracken, and Avery Moss
Cover photo credit: Michael Brosilow
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About #UChicago:
Since its founding in 1890, the University of Chicago has been a destination for rigorous inquiry and field-defining research. This transformative academic experience empowers students and scholars to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas.
#UChicago on the Web:
Home: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-homepage
News: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-news
Facebook: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-FB
X: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-TW
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University of Chicago on YouTube:
youtube.com/uchicago
***
ACCESSIBILITY: If you experience any technical difficulties with this video or would like to make an accessibility-related request, please email digicomm@uchicago.edu.
Get a sneak peek—from first rehearsal to opening night—of Out Here, a new original musical at the University of Chicago’s Court Theatre. Follow Dawn, a wife and mother in her 50s who wants more. She wants her ex-girlfriend, Robin.
Co-creators Leslie Buxbaum, David J. Levin and Erin McKeown take you behind the scenes into the production’s experimental process—developed in collaboration with UChicago’s Gray Center for Arts and Inquiry and the Neubauer Collegium for Culture and Society.
Catch this joyful coming out story and playful rebuilding of a family through May 10: courttheatre.org/season-tickets/2025-2026-season/out-here
Read more: https://news.uchicago.edu/story/court-theatres-out-here-rebuilds-queer-musical-ground
Concept by Leslie Buxbaum, David J. Levin, and Erin McKeown
Book and Lyrics by Leslie Buxbaum
Music and Lyrics by Erin McKeown
Dramaturgy by David J. Levin
Directed by Chay Yew
Orchestrations by Erin McKeown with Christie Chiles Twilie
Music Supervision by Christie Chiles Twillie
Movement Direction by Breon Arzell
Andrew Boyce USA, Co-Scenic Designer
Lauren M. Nichols, Co-Scenic Designer
Christine Pascual, Costume Designer
Lee Fiskness, Lighting Designer
Mikhail Fiksel, Sound Designer
Sammi Grant, Vocal and Dialect Consultant
Becca McCracken, Casting Director
Katrina Herrmann, Production Stage Manager
Jaclynn Joslin, Assistant Stage Manager
Becca Ayers as Dawn
Cliff Chamberlain as Brian
Ellie Duffey as Cleo
Bethany Thomas as Robin
Z Mowry as Jett
Amanda Pulcini as Gina
Alex Goodrich as Martin
Maddi Vogel, Percussion
Rachel Schuldt, Cello
Daniela Bisenius, Violin
Percy Nesbary III, Guitar
Understudies: Lexi Alioto, Danielle Davis, Michael McCracken, and Avery Moss
Cover photo credit: Michael Brosilow
➡ Subscribe: bit.ly/UCHICAGOytSubscribe
About #UChicago:
Since its founding in 1890, the University of Chicago has been a destination for rigorous inquiry and field-defining research. This transformative academic experience empowers students and scholars to challenge conventional thinking in pursuit of original ideas.
#UChicago on the Web:
Home: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-homepage
News: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-news
Facebook: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-FB
X: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-TW
Instagram: bit.ly/UCHICAGO-IG
University of Chicago on YouTube:
youtube.com/uchicago
***
ACCESSIBILITY: If you experience any technical difficulties with this video or would like to make an accessibility-related request, please email digicomm@uchicago.edu.
