Beau the Musical is a coming-of-age musical with music by Douglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar, and lyrics and book by Lyons that tells the story of a young Nashville musician searching for his long-lost rockstar grandfather. The musical premiered Off-Broadway at Theatre 154 in Greenwich Village in summer 2025, before transferring to The Distillery at St. Luke’s Theatre the same year.[1] The production received widespread acclaim and was nominated for 10 Drama Desk Awards[2], four Outer Critics Circle Awards[3] and a Drama League Award.[4]

Beau the Musical
2025 Off-Broadway poster
MusicDouglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar
LyricsDouglas Lyons
BookDouglas Lyons
Productions2025 Off-Broadway

Plot

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The play follows Ace, an aspiring Nashville musician in sixth grade, who discovers his rockstar grandfather, Beau, is still alive. In searching for his grandfather, Ace must confront his own story as a closeted teenager and his connection to music and family.[5]

Production history

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The musical first premiered Off-Broadway at Theatre 154 in Greenwich Village starring Matt Rodin as Ace, Chris Blisset as Beau, Amelia Cormack as Raven, Andrea Goss as Nurse/Karina/Le-Ann, Cory Jeacoma as Ferris, Miyuki Miyagi as Daphney, Derek J. Stoltenberg as Dennis and Matt Wolpe as Larry.[6] The production was directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. The production opened on June 13, 2025 and ran through August 3, 2025.[7] The production received generally positive reviews, with Theatre Mania calling it "immensely empathetic" and "timely."[8]

The original production was nominated for 10 2026 Drama Desk Awards, the most of any production, including Outstanding Musical, nominations for Rodin, Blisset, Rhodes' direction, the show's book and score and several technical categories.[9]. It was also nominated for four Outer Critics Circle Awards[10], a Drama League Award for Outstanding Production of a Musical,[11] and four Dorian Awards.[12][13]

The musical transferred Off-Broadway to The Distillery at St. Luke's Theatre, which had been converted to resemble a Nashville bar. Rodin, Cormack, Goss, Miyagi and Stoltenberg reprised their roles, with Rhodes again directing and choreographing. New cast members included Tony Award nominee Jeb Brown as Beau, Max Sangerman as Ferris, and Ryan Halsaver as Larry.[14] The production opened on October 27, 2025 and ran through January 4, 2026,[15] garnering critical praise. The New York Theatre Guide praised its "generally engaging story with an endearing message"[16] and The Recs praised the show's cast and new staging as "spirited" and "intimate."[17]

Cast and characters

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Character Off-Broadway,
Theatre 154,
2025[18]
Off-Broadway,
St. Luke's Theatre
2025[19]
Ace Matt Rodin
Beau Chris Blisset Jeb Brown
Raven Amelia Cormack
Nurse/Karina/Le-Ann Andrea Goss
Ferris Cory Jeacoma Max Sangerman
Daphney Miyuki Miyagi
Dennis Derek J. Stoltenberg
Larry Matt Wolpe Ryan Halsaver

Accolades

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Year Award Category Nominee Result Ref.
2026 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Musical Nominated [20]
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Musical Matt Rodin Nominated
Outstanding Featured Performance in a Musical Chris Blisset Nominated
Outstanding Direction of a Musical Josh Rhodes Nominated
Outstanding Music Douglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar Nominated
Outstanding Lyrics Douglas Lyons Nominated
Outstanding Book of a Musical Nominated
Outstanding Scenic Design of a Musical Daniel Allen Nominated
Outstanding Lighting Design of a Musical Japhy Weideman Nominated
Outstanding Sound Design of a Musical Jordana Abrencia Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical Nominated [21]
Outstanding Book of a Musical Douglas Lyons Nominated
Outstanding New Score Douglas Lyons and Ethan D. Pakchar Nominated
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Musical Matt Rodin Nominated
Drama League Award Outstanding Production of a Musical Nominated [22]
Dorian Award Outstanding Off-Broadway Musical Pending [23][24]
Outstanding LGBTQ Off-Broadway Production Pending
Outstanding Lead Performance in an Off-Broadway Production Matt Rodin Pending
Outstanding Design for an Off-Broadway Production Pending

References

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  1. "Beau the Musical". Beau the Musical. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  2. Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2026). "Ragtime Leads 2026 Drama Desk Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  3. "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  4. Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved April 20, 2026.
  5. Merrill, Amelia (October 27, 2025). "'Beau The Musical' Off-Broadway review — concert-style show offers an endearing message and plenty of questions". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  6. Buchwald, Linda (April 16, 2025). "Full Cast Announced for World Premiere of Beau the Musical". TheaterMania. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  7. "Beau the Musical (Off-Broadway, 154 Christopher Street, 2025)". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  8. MacDonald, Sandy (June 17, 2025). "Review: Bullying Turns to Romance in the New Musical Beau". TheaterMania. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  9. Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2026). "Ragtime Leads 2026 Drama Desk Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 19, 2026.
  10. "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  11. Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  12. Abourizk, Michael (May 13, 2026). "Dorian Theater Awards announces 2026 nominees". Broadway News. Retrieved May 20, 2026.
  13. Mandell, Jonathan (May 13, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award Nominations: Schmigadoon, Lost Boys lead". New York Theater. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  14. Russo, Gillian (September 3, 2025). "'Beau The Musical' to play encore Off-Broadway run". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  15. "Beau the Musical (Off-Broadway, St. Luke's Theatre, 2025)". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  16. Merrill, Amelia (October 27, 2025). "'Beau The Musical' Off-Broadway review — concert-style show offers an endearing message and plenty of questions". New York Theatre Guide. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  17. Cook, Randall David (November 2025). "Beau The Musical ★★★★". The Recs. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  18. "Beau the Musical (Off-Broadway, 154 Christopher Street, 2025)". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  19. "Beau the Musical (Off-Broadway, St. Luke's Theatre, 2025)". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  20. Gans, Andrew (May 17, 2026). "Ragtime Leads 2026 Drama Desk Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  21. "Schmigadoon!, Ragtime Win Big at 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards; Read the Full List of Winners". Playbill. Retrieved May 11, 2026.
  22. Hipes, Patrick (April 20, 2026). "Daniel Radcliffe, Luke Evans Among Drama League Award Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  23. Abourizk, Michael (May 13, 2026). "Dorian Theater Awards announces 2026 nominees". Broadway News. Retrieved May 25, 2026.
  24. Mandell, Jonathan (May 13, 2026). "2026 Dorian Theater Award Nominations: Schmigadoon, Lost Boys lead". New York Theater. Retrieved May 25, 2026.