John Legend writing two musicals?

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 12:47am

Tonight on The Voice, Broadway alum and traveling Jesus in JCS Aaron LaVigne received two chair turns. John Legend told him that he is currently writing two musicals - anyone have any intel on this? 

The Voice

Updated On: 2/24/26 at 12:47 AM

[CoffeeBreak]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 1:25am

https://www.theshed.org/program/519-imitation-of-life

IMITATION OF LIFE based on the movie has had a few readings & workshops and is basically cast for the off-Bway fall production. 

Updated On: 2/24/26 at 01:25 AM

[Fordham2015]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 7:03am

One of them is Imitation of Life at The Shed this fall. Book by Lynn Nottage, directed by Liesl Tommy

https://www.theshed.org/program/519-imitation-of-life

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 8:00am

I feel bad for Broadway composers. 

Fordham2015 said: "One of them is Imitation of Life at The Shed this fall. Book by Lynn Nottage, directed by Liesl Tommy

https://www.theshed.org/program/519-imitation-of-life"

 

Updated On: 2/24/26 at 08:00 AM

[Michelle Birnbaum]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 8:19am

Where did you see Imitation?  I thought it was brand new?

[Ensemble1711444445]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 8:21am

Two workshops

Michelle Birnbaum said: "Where did you see Imitation? I thought it was brand new?"

 

Updated On: 2/24/26 at 08:21 AM

[ScottK]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 8:44am

(just sent you a PM...)

[DaveyG]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 8:55am

Ensemble1711444445 said: "I feel bad for Broadway composers."

Producers are star-f*ckers. It's an awful trend. 

[Kad]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 9:29am

DaveyG said: "Ensemble1711444445 said: "I feel bad for Broadway composers."

Producers are star-f*ckers. It's an awful trend."

Particularly when we’ve seen time and time again that the only way having celebrities involved in a production reliably gets people to buy tickets is if they’re onstage. 

[Ke3]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 11:28am

IDK, he has more composition bonafides than some of these modern musical composers who only know three chords on the guitar. I just wish everybody would stop falling into the trap of needing to be lyricists too. That's where I'm skeptical. 

[DaveyG]

Posted: 2/24/26 at 11:47am

Ke3 said: "IDK, he has more composition bonafides than some of these modern musical composers who only know three chords on the guitar. I just wish everybody would stop falling into the trap of needing to be lyricists too. That's where I'm skeptical."

I hear you on that. 

I'd like to present exhibit A, pop-lyricist Glen Ballard's lyrics from "It's Only a Matter of Time" from BTTF:

A perfect future, for a shakеr and a mover
Every note is in its placе with lots of treble, lots of bass
I'll rock my future; could it be any cooler?
All I gotta do is play; my troubles disappear and go away

 

 

Updated On: 2/24/26 at 11:47 AM