John Legend writing two musicals?

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

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

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

(just sent you a PM...)

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 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

Fordham2015 said: "Imitation of Life will run September 9- October 4 at The Shed

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

I'm hearing Adrienne Warren and Dee Roscioli are attached to this.

that's a surprisingly short run ... and the email from The Shed was worded in a way that seemed to sort of suggest this production is the first step in a broader plan.