A. J. Freeman

A. J. FreemanA. J. FreemanA. J. Freeman

A. J. Freeman

A. J. FreemanA. J. FreemanA. J. Freeman
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A. J. Freeman is a writer, teacher, and performer originally from Los Angeles and now based in New York. She is a member of the Dramatists Guild and Actors' Equity. A. J. has worked for over 12 years in educational theater, directing dozens of full scale productions (favorites include The Secret Garden, Into the Woods, The Pirates of Penzance, White Christmas, and The Boy Friend), and running her own literacy-based musical theater nonprofit for underserved students. Through this program, The Troupe, thousands of children in schools across Los Angeles received free reading books and theater workshops. Her favorite quote comes from a 2nd grader after an assembly: “I only have seven books at home…now I’ll have eight!”

A. J. is a cabaret performer, championing brilliant but forgotten music of the 1920s and 30s. She has created shows that celebrate Jerome Kern, Rodgers & Hart, Dorothy Fields, Cole Porter & Noël Coward, and many other legends. Speaking of legends, A. J. has studied with Karen Morrow, Donna McKechnie, Helen Gallagher, and Betty Garrett! She also stubbornly continues to post a ukulele song every Monday on her youtube channel (afreeman727) despite several noise complaints from her neighbors. As a lyricist/librettist/playwright A. J.’s shows include: Tomorrow, A Cordial Invitation, Hay Fever, Derailed!, Fables, In Other Words, The Crane Wife, Scotch, A Note of Explanation, Secrets, and The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding.

LATEST NEWS

This is huge! A. J. is the recipient of TWO grants from the 

Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center!! 

The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding 

(written with Gil Varod and Jonathon Lynch) was chosen as the inaugural fellowship winner for development at Lincoln Center!

And Tomorrow (written with Kris Bjarke) 

was also chosen for a grant to help with development!!

click here for Fellowship/Grant details!

Musical Monday!

UPCOMING EVENTS

05/11/2023

TOMORROW at Lincoln Center

6pm

Bruno Walter Auditorium [Lincoln Center]

Event Details

05/11/2023

TOMORROW at Lincoln Center

Written by: Kristoffer Bjarke (music); A. J. Freeman (book & lyrics) 

Directed by: Nico Krell       Music Directed by: Ben Covello

Starring: L...

Event Details

6pm

Bruno Walter Auditorium [Lincoln Center]

06/08/23

HAY FEVER at Lincoln Center

8pm

Bruno Walter Auditorium [Lincoln Center]

Event Details

06/08/23

HAY FEVER at Lincoln Center

Adapted from the Noël Coward play by A. J. Freeman

Lyrics by: A. J. Freeman, Music by: Joshua Cerdenia and Sam Balzac

Directed by: Robert W. S...

Event Details

8pm

Bruno Walter Auditorium [Lincoln Center]

Autumn 2023

THE CAROUSEL OF INEVITABILITY AND CERTAIN FOREBODING at Lincoln Center

6pm

Bruno Walter Auditorium [Lincoln Center]

Event Details

Autumn 2023

THE CAROUSEL OF INEVITABILITY AND CERTAIN FOREBODING at Lincoln Center

Join us for a free presentation of scenes from our new musical! Book by Gil Varod, Music by Jonathon Lynch, and Lyrics by...A. J. Freeman!

6pm

Bruno Walter Auditorium [Lincoln Center]

PAST EVENTS

03/21/23 DERAILED! reading

01/13/23 Circle in the Square/Maestra Song

02/11/23 OCCUPATION: HOUSEWIFE reading

By: Jon Hugo Ungar (book/music) + 

A. J. Freeman (book/lyrics)

Directed by: Banji Aborisade  

Starring: Scott Ahearn, Sam Balzac, Laura Cetti, Alexandra Foucard, Mick Rafalski, Meaghan Sands, and Herman Sebek!

We had a wonderful reading, thank you to all who attended! 

02/11/23 OCCUPATION: HOUSEWIFE reading

01/13/23 Circle in the Square/Maestra Song

02/11/23 OCCUPATION: HOUSEWIFE reading

A. J. played Pearl Jenkins alongside a fantastic cast in a public reading of the new play by Abby Tilly!

01/13/23 Circle in the Square/Maestra Song

01/13/23 Circle in the Square/Maestra Song

01/13/23 Circle in the Square/Maestra Song

A. J.'s song 'Away From It All' (written with composer Sonya Hayden) was performed ON BROADWAY at the Circle in the Square Theatre in a collaboration with Maestra! 

11/19/22 Across a Crowded Room

10/13/22 & 10/14/22 BLACK SWAN BLUES reading

01/13/23 Circle in the Square/Maestra Song

TOMORROW

(by Kristoffer Bjarke & A. J. Freeman)

Starring: Laura Cetti, Hannah Fairchild, Barrie Kreinik; Directed by: Nico Krell

It Ain't Over 'til the Bat Lady Sings!

(by Sonya Hayden & A. J. Freeman)

Starring: Meredith Brandt, Sabrina Koss, Patricia M. Lawrence, Johna Miller, Yael Rizowy; Music Direction by: Jonathon Lynch


11/14/22 NYPL Lincoln Center Fellowship

10/13/22 & 10/14/22 BLACK SWAN BLUES reading

10/13/22 & 10/14/22 BLACK SWAN BLUES reading

A. J. was the recipient of the inaugural Across a Crowded Room Fellowship for her musical The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding with Gil Varod and Jonathon Lynch! She also won a SECOND grant for her musical Tomorrow with Kristoffer Bjarke! Public performances of each will be held Spring 2023!

10/13/22 & 10/14/22 BLACK SWAN BLUES reading

10/13/22 & 10/14/22 BLACK SWAN BLUES reading

10/13/22 & 10/14/22 BLACK SWAN BLUES reading

A. J. joined a spectacular cast for a 29 hour reading of the new musical BLACK SWAN BLUES at Pearl Studios- directed by Stephanie Klemons & Rickey Tripp!

06/29/22 A NOTE OF EXPLANATION at Lincoln Center

06/29/22 A NOTE OF EXPLANATION at Lincoln Center

06/29/22 A NOTE OF EXPLANATION at Lincoln Center

Standing room only for our event at Lincoln Center! Written by A. J. & Shoshana Yavneh Shattenkirk- hoping to bring this magical story to more families soon!

05/02/22 The Crane Wife

06/29/22 A NOTE OF EXPLANATION at Lincoln Center

06/29/22 A NOTE OF EXPLANATION at Lincoln Center

A. J.'s new musical was featured as part of the Across A Crowded Room program at Lincoln Center! Watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vow6fft5cpg

07/20/21 FABLES at Lincoln Center Fountain

05/06/2021 The York Theatre: A CORDIAL INVITATION

05/06/2021 The York Theatre: A CORDIAL INVITATION

Fables was a great success! We had a nice crowd and the kids were dancing around and having a grand time =) And every child received a free reading book!!

05/06/2021 The York Theatre: A CORDIAL INVITATION

05/06/2021 The York Theatre: A CORDIAL INVITATION

05/06/2021 The York Theatre: A CORDIAL INVITATION

Our new musical 'A Cordial Invitation' was featured on The York Theatre's program In The Pipeline, dedicated to new musicals. You can watch this on The York Theatre's YouTube channel!

04/10/2021 HAY FEVER Reading

05/06/2021 The York Theatre: A CORDIAL INVITATION

03/28/2021 WHAT'S HER LINE? Dramatist Guild

Full length online reading of Hay Fever- with a stellar cast! Produced by Theatre Now New York and Directed by J. Scott Lapp.

03/28/2021 WHAT'S HER LINE? Dramatist Guild

03/28/2021 WHAT'S HER LINE? Dramatist Guild

03/28/2021 WHAT'S HER LINE? Dramatist Guild

What's Her Line? was featured in the FIRST EVER West Coast Dramatist Guild Footlights! It was such an honor to be in a lineup celebrating Women's History Month!

01/2021 Lincoln Center Library

03/28/2021 WHAT'S HER LINE? Dramatist Guild

12/2020 Fables at Tulane University

A. J. wrote THREE of the EIGHT musicals featured in the Lincoln Center Performing Arts Library's annual writing program! The link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WnN8nxOYq8&list=PL1LGP-91vyr-dpIROi1SMj-UedTOnBIqn

12/2020 Fables at Tulane University

03/28/2021 WHAT'S HER LINE? Dramatist Guild

12/2020 Fables at Tulane University

Tulane University students presented an online performance of A. J.'s musical "Fables," written with Dimitri Landrain!

10/2020 Theatre Now New York Writers Lab

10/2020 Theatre Now New York Writers Lab

10/2020 Theatre Now New York Writers Lab

A. J. was selected to join the Theatre Now New York Writers Lab! She is developing Noël Coward's Hay Fever and other musicals in the lab!

03/02/2020 Cabaret Journey

10/2020 Theatre Now New York Writers Lab

10/2020 Theatre Now New York Writers Lab

A full presentation about the source material for the Hal Prince musical! A. J. sang the title song, the event also featured Broadway legend Loni Ackerman! Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center.

02/15/2020 Dear Brutus Reading

10/2020 Theatre Now New York Writers Lab

02/15/2020 Dear Brutus Reading

Reading of this brand new musical, written with Dimitri Landrain. NYU.

02/13/2020 First Stage

12/16/2019 The Passing Show

02/15/2020 Dear Brutus Reading

An evening of new songs- A. J. presented a song from her new musical based on Noel Coward's "Hay Fever" and also sang "The Sky Is The Limit!"

12/16/2019 The Passing Show

12/16/2019 The Passing Show

12/16/2019 The Passing Show

A. J.'s musical "Derailed" was performed by a world class cast! Signature Theatre.

12/05/2019 BMI Showcase

12/16/2019 The Passing Show

12/16/2019 The Passing Show

Sang songs by the brilliant Jon Bauerfeld/Melissa Weisbach and Kate Douglas/Jason Weisinger!

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