Happy People - In Development
Happy People is a comedic romp which exposes the private lives of a top-rating children’s television performing group as they descend into chaos both onstage and off amidst the launch of their 10th Anniversary Live National Tour. Populated by four members and the famed suit character Edison the Elephant, their Executive Producer battles to keep the happiest people on national television from imploding at the hands of their own arrested development.
With book, music and lyrics by Matthew Lee Robinson, Happy People was originally commissioned by the State Theatre Company of South Australia, and received a Churchill Fellowship through which the musical was mentored by Academy and Grammy Award-winning composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz. Two developmental readings were held at Playwrights Horizons in New York City, followed by a workshop reading facilitated by Village Theatre, Washington state.