Janelle Lawrence is a composer, lyricist, and librettist whose work has been presented at Dixon Place, Teatro LaTea and the 92nd St. Y. Her musical 'TIS THE SEASON will be presented at The Artist Co-Op, 500 W 52nd St. on November 26th at 2pm and 7pm. For more information click the image below!

"I am an artist because I have something to say. I grew up in the South as a gay man struggling with depression and anxiety - and that has stayed with me my entire life." - Shann Smith 

Blackout follows Cassie, a Super Hero, who's mentor has just committed suicide. Cassie has to face her own demons before destroying New York.

Golden is a Black mid-20s man, who is keenly aware of the world around him. Raised by a stoic and overbearing Black father whose views on masculinity are determined by his own stoic and unrelenting definition, and a sensitive, loving but old-fashioned mother. Golden finds his ideas of manhood at war with this reality. Golden is a journey into the ways in which black men and boys can find their own joy.

Escalator combines the theatrical elements of solo performance and musical cabaret to tell an urban story of redemption despite all odds. Featuring original live music, visual imagery, text, and intimate storytelling, Escalator recollects the coming-of-age story of a Nigerian-American girl living in New York City whilst navigating through love, depression, poverty, self-rejection, and existential questioning. Friday March 15th at The Triad Theatre 150 West 72nd St. 7pm. Get Tickets Here

"I am a queer artist, and the queer community has had the largest and most substantial impact on my life over any other. My play THEM tells the story about how the queer community is so important and brings people together and also how we must hold each other accountable. It tells the story of coming out, how it is a process that takes years. It tells of the struggle to be accepted by family even though you may wish you didn’t want to. THEM tells my story, and I believe it is a universal story that eclipses orientation. My one wish as a writer is that every cast, crew, and creative that works on this play is either 100% LGBTQIA+ or works to actively have a majority queer representation. The queer community has given me so much" - Morgan Dean