Celebrating the next generation of musical theatre creators, Adelphi University welcomes multi-hyphenate artist Larry Owens to present his latest work.

This event will also be livestreamed for those unable to attend in person.

The Larson Legacy Concert Series at Adelphi University showcases the next generation of musical theater creators at the college home of the creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT, Jonathan Larson ’82. For the latest concert in this series we are excited to welcome writer and performer Larry Owens.

Performer, composer, lyricist and writer Larry Owens (Abbott Elementary, A Strange Loop, Sondheimia at Carnegie Hall) presents the world premiere concert debut of The American Football Musical. Set in Tennessee, this Southern rock musical meets sports comedy follows the platonic love story between a Southern white football mom and the Black athletic prodigy she adopts. Owens’ full length book musical satirizes white savior narratives in popular culture and examines the complexities of chosen families. Joined by a company of Broadway actors including Tony nominee Kerry Butler (Beetlejuice, Xanadu, Hairspray) and Tony nominee Mary Testa (Oklahoma!, Xanadu, Gardens of Anuncia) — witness the birth of Broadway’s next hit musical theatre sensation. Additional cast members include Larry Owens (A Strange Loop), Anne L. Nathan (Funny Girl, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Keri René Fuller (Six), Allison Blackwell (New York, New York), Emily Koch (Wicked), Roe Hartrampf (Diana), Celeste Rose, Malachi Beasley, Jack Hale, Sam Marzella, and Ruby Doran. The performance will be directed by Larry Owens with music direction by Josh Kight.  Produced in association with Orsetto Productions (Giuliana Carullo). Casting by Scotty Anderson, CSA.

There will be a reception following the performance.

Larry Owens is the author of three full length musicals and one play: The American Football Musical, a satire of The Blind Side-esque sports/white savior films; The Talk Show, about an evil female talk show host (directorial debut, Tribeca Film Festival, under title “The Gag”, starring Sherie Rene Scott); an unannounced jukebox musical for Primary Wave records; and Five Sisters, a play about gendered succession written in verse and AAVE. In addition to his work as a writer, Owens has more than 20 television, film and theatre performance credits since his breakout role as “Usher” in the Pulitzer Prize winning Off-Broadway production of A Strange Loop including Abbott Elementary, A24’s Problemista, Search Party and more. Awards: Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel, Obie. Owens is a recipient of the 2023 Jonathan Larson Grant.

Since 2015, the Larson Legacy Concert Series at the Adelphi PAC has celebrated the next generation of artists at the college home of the creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical RENT, Jonathan Larson ’82. This series helps nurture and support the next generation of creative artists to carry on Jonathan Larson’s legacy. Past participants in this concert series have gone on to create the Broadway musicals A Strange Loop and K-Pop, the Off-Broadway musicals The Lonely Few, The View Upstairs and many more regional productions.