ARE YOU A HIGH SCHOOL, UNIVERSITY, OR REGIONAL THEATER LOOKING FOR AN EXCITING NEW MUSICAL TO PRODUCE? LET'S TALK!
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 arts nonprofit for under-served 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 despite several noise complaints from neighbors.
Her new musicals include: Tomorrow, The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding, Hay Fever, Derailed!, Fables, A Cordial Invitation, Curses!, The Crane Wife, What's Her Line?, A Note of Explanation, Kurt 'n' Pat: Spies 4 Hire!!, Double Double, Today We Celebrate Earth Day, and In Other Words. Click here to learn more about her writing.
LATEST NEWS
TAYLOR'S MEMORY
from
TODAY WE CELEBRATE EARTH DAY
book/lyrics: A. J. Freeman
music: Fernanda Douglas
choreography/cinematography: Sam Lobel
starring: Emiko Dunn
AVERY'S MEMORY
from
TODAY WE CELEBRATE EARTH DAY
book/lyrics: A. J. Freeman
music: Fernanda Douglas
choreography/cinematography: Sam Lobel
starring: Emiko Dunn, Sadie Mae O'Sullivan, Logan Quintana
YOU DON'T SAY!
IN OTHER WORDS
Chapter 1: YOU DON'T SAY!
Dam Short Film Festival Winner (Best Comedy)!
Written by (& starring!) A. J. Freeman & Sam Balzac
Produced by The Barn
Directed by Jeffrey Simon
DOUBLE DOUBLE
We're a podcast!! Listen to our li'l musical HERE
Starring: Richard Kind, Maya Lagerstam, Marissa Rosen, Daniel Barrett, and Christopher Michaels
Directed by Rachel Klein
Music Direction by Jonathon Lynch
Orchestrations by Katie Coleman
Sound Design by Sean Hagerty
and Post Production by Mike Lunoe
Casting by Gregory Jafari Van Acker of the Casting Collaborative
UPCOMING EVENTS
07/07/25
YOU DON'T SAY at IFF: SUMMER SHORTS
7:30pm
The Hudson, NYC
07/07/25
YOU DON'T SAY at IFF: SUMMER SHORTS
FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!
*YOU DON'T SAY is written by (and starring!) A. J. Freeman and Sam Balzac, directed by Jeffrey Simon, produced by The B...
7:30pm
The Hudson, NYC
07/25/25
YOU DON'T SAY at INDY SHORTS IFF
7:45pm
Indianapolis, IN
07/25/25
YOU DON'T SAY at INDY SHORTS IFF
Another film festival! Come join the fun!
*YOU DON'T SAY is written by (and starring!) A. J. Freeman and Sam Balzac, directed by Jeffrey Simo...
7:45pm
Indianapolis, IN
11/03/25
Today, We Celebrate Earth Day
7pm
Five Angels Theatre, NYC
11/03/25
Today, We Celebrate Earth Day
Come experience selections from this brand new post-apocalyptic teen musical by A. J. Freeman and Fernanda Douglas! Presented through New Yo...
7pm
Five Angels Theatre, NYC
TO KEEP MY LOVE ALIVE
(Rodgers & Hart)
PAST EVENTS
05/31/25 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL! at WBUR Festival
05/31/25 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL! at WBUR Festival
05/31/25 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL! at WBUR Festival
Our favorite picnic pals were featured in the star-studded WBUR Festival in Boston! Written by A. J. Freeman & Kristin Bair, based on the hit series by Jamie Michalak & Bob Kolar!
05/31/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Inwood Film Festival
05/31/25 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL! at WBUR Festival
05/31/25 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL! at WBUR Festival
Another festival! Screenplay & Lyrics by A. J. Freeman, Music by Sam Balzac (and starring A. J. + Sam!), Directed by Jeffrey D. Simon' produced by THE BARN!
04/24-27/25 YOU DON'T SAY at New York CineFest
05/31/25 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL! at WBUR Festival
04/12/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
Another festival!
04/12/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
04/12/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
04/12/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
Another festival!
04/04/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Comox Valley International Film Festival
04/12/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
04/04/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Comox Valley International Film Festival
Another film screening! Screenplay & Lyrics by A. J. Freeman, Music by Sam Balzac (and starring A. J. + Sam!), Directed by Jeffrey D. Simon' produced by THE BARN!
03/17/25 THE CRANE WIFE at Lincoln Center!
04/12/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Poppy Jasper International Film Festival
04/04/25 YOU DON'T SAY at Comox Valley International Film Festival
Fellowship Winner THE CRANE WIFE made its full-length debut with an incredible cast: Sienna Aczon, Diane Phelan, and Christopher Lau! Written by Keurim Hur, Maria Caputo, and A. J. Freeman!
02/15/25 BILL OF FARE at Lincoln Center!
01/12/25 Selections from CURSES! at SoHo Playhouse
02/14/25 YOU DON'T SAY! wins BEST COMEDY!
A new musical exploring the life and legacy of (Miss) Frank E. Buttolph- who amassed the largest menu collection in the world! Book by A. J. Freeman, Lyrics by Kit Goldstein Grant, Music by Sean Ivy.
02/14/25 YOU DON'T SAY! wins BEST COMEDY!
01/12/25 Selections from CURSES! at SoHo Playhouse
02/14/25 YOU DON'T SAY! wins BEST COMEDY!
We won!! Best comedy at Dam Short Film Festival, wahoo! Screenplay & Lyrics by A. J. Freeman, Music by Sam Balzac (and starring A. J. + Sam!), Directed by Jeffrey D. Simon' produced by THE BARN!
01/12/25 Selections from CURSES! at SoHo Playhouse
01/12/25 Selections from CURSES! at SoHo Playhouse
12/17/24 HARVEY FIERSTEIN THEATER LAB opening gala!
Curses! by A. J. Freeman & Jonathon Lynch was featured at Verse Intro Cabaret- starring Laura Cetti!
12/17/24 HARVEY FIERSTEIN THEATER LAB opening gala!
12/17/24 HARVEY FIERSTEIN THEATER LAB opening gala!
12/17/24 HARVEY FIERSTEIN THEATER LAB opening gala!
Thanks to a hugely generous donation from Harvey Fierstein, the Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts has a brand new theater space!! For the glitzy opening night gala, two of A.J.'s musicals were featured as the evening's entertainment! The star-studded audience experienced a song from The Carousel of Inevitability and Certain Foreboding and also a song from Tomorrow performed by Kerry Butler!!
12/6/24 + 12/7/24 CURSES! Workshop Production!
12/17/24 HARVEY FIERSTEIN THEATER LAB opening gala!
12/6/24 + 12/7/24 CURSES! Workshop Production!
Curses! by A. J. Freeman & Jonathon Lynch debuted at the Overtures New Musicals Festival directed by Todd Buonopane and starring Laura Cetti!
10/24/24-10/26/24 TOMORROW at JACKSONVILLE U!
09/05/24 TOMORROW at NY Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab
09/05/24 TOMORROW at NY Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab
Jacksonville University created a fully staged production of Tomorrow- a new musical by Kristoffer Bjarke and A. J. Freeman! A. J. also worked with the students in various workshops related to the musical- it was an incredible experience!
09/05/24 TOMORROW at NY Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab
09/05/24 TOMORROW at NY Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab
09/05/24 TOMORROW at NY Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab
A new song from the musical Tomorrow (by A. J. Freeman & Kristoffer Bjarke) was featured in the New York Theater Barn's Choreography Lab! Sam Lobel choreographed and an all-star cast performed!
06/26/24 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL at Lincoln Center!
09/05/24 TOMORROW at NY Theatre Barn's Choreography Lab
06/26/24 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL at Lincoln Center!
Based on the hit children's series by Jamie Michalak and Bob Kolar and featured at Lincoln Center's Summer for the City! Book/Lyrics by A. J. Freeman & Music by Kristin Bair.
05/28/24 Spring Roundup
05/06/24 NEXT YEAR IN CONNECTICUT reading at NYU
06/26/24 FRANK AND BEAN: THE MUSICAL at Lincoln Center!
An evening of songs! Jon Hugo Ungar and A. J. performed the song 'Bad News' from their musical 'DERAILED!'
05/12/24 FABLES in Concert at The Green Room 42
05/06/24 NEXT YEAR IN CONNECTICUT reading at NYU
05/06/24 NEXT YEAR IN CONNECTICUT reading at NYU
Fables in Concert featured a stellar cast!! Written by Dimitri Landrain and A. J. Freeman.
05/06/24 NEXT YEAR IN CONNECTICUT reading at NYU
05/06/24 NEXT YEAR IN CONNECTICUT reading at NYU
05/06/24 NEXT YEAR IN CONNECTICUT reading at NYU
A. J. performed the lead role of 'Mom' in the very first reading of the new musical Next Year in Connecticut- written by Sequoia Sellinger and Sarah Rossman!
04/14/24 Screening of YOU DON'T SAY!
04/13/24 Developmental Reading of MISS HUMANITY
04/13/24 Developmental Reading of MISS HUMANITY
Our movie musical on the Big Screen! Screenplay by A. J.! Lyrics also by A. J. and music by Sam Balzac; produced by The Barn. Screening at Eight Flow Studio.
04/13/24 Developmental Reading of MISS HUMANITY
04/13/24 Developmental Reading of MISS HUMANITY
04/13/24 Developmental Reading of MISS HUMANITY
Had a great time performing in
Miss Humanity, a new musical by Jonathon Lynch and Michael DiGaetano!
01/06/24 CURSES! at Lincoln Center
04/13/24 Developmental Reading of MISS HUMANITY
11/16/23 THE CAROUSEL OF INEVITABILITY AND CERTAIN FOREBODING
A. J. debuted a brand new 20 minute musical, Curses!, written with composer Jonathon Lynch and starring Laura Cetti!
11/16/23 THE CAROUSEL OF INEVITABILITY AND CERTAIN FOREBODING
11/16/23 THE CAROUSEL OF INEVITABILITY AND CERTAIN FOREBODING
11/16/23 THE CAROUSEL OF INEVITABILITY AND CERTAIN FOREBODING
Our Lincoln Center reading starred Autumn Hurlbert, Bruce Sabath, Akron Lanier Watson, Anne Brummel, Carly Gendell, Diego Lucano, Sam Balzac, and Kenny Harmon!
07/24/23 BENNY IN BETA reading
11/16/23 THE CAROUSEL OF INEVITABILITY AND CERTAIN FOREBODING
06/21/23 THE CENTRE book release website!
A. J. performed the role of Jackie in a reading of the new musical Benny in Beta by Matthew Greene and Amir Shoenfeld! Lots of exciting folks in the audience, including Stephen Schwartz!
06/21/23 THE CENTRE book release website!
11/16/23 THE CAROUSEL OF INEVITABILITY AND CERTAIN FOREBODING
06/21/23 THE CENTRE book release website!
A. J. had the pleasure, the distinctly creepy pleasure, of recording the voiceover for the website of the new book The Centre - have a listen (make sure your volume is up and click 'let's begin'): https://welcometothecentre.com/
06/08/23 HAY FEVER at Lincoln Center
06/08/23 HAY FEVER at Lincoln Center
06/08/23 HAY FEVER at Lincoln Center
Lyrics & Adaptation by A. J. Freeman
Music by Sam Balzac & Joshua Cerdenia
Based on the play by Noël Coward
Directed by Robert W. Schneider & Todd Buonopane, Music Directed by Ben Covello
Stage Managed by Joey Paradise
Starring:
Donna English, Alison Lea Bender, Patrick Brady, Jay Aubrey Jones, Gabrielle Lee, Richard Rowan, Patricia M. Lawrence
05/11/23 TOMORROW at Lincoln Center
06/08/23 HAY FEVER at Lincoln Center
06/08/23 HAY FEVER at Lincoln Center
What an incredible experience with a marvelous team!
Written by: Kristoffer Bjarke (music);
A. J. Freeman (book & lyrics)
Directed by: Nico Krell
Music Directed by: Ben Covello
Starring: Laura Cetti, Hannah Fairchild,
Barrie Kreinik
A cast of only four performers create a patchwork collection of characters who are caught in a cosmic whirlwind while lost in the thick London fog…
04/19/23 QUEEN OF MEAN concert!
06/08/23 HAY FEVER at Lincoln Center
04/19/23 QUEEN OF MEAN concert!
A. J. played Leona Helmsley's older sister (?!) in a special presentation of the musical Queen of Mean!
The concert featured an incredible cast of performers in hilarious and moving material by Ron Passaro, Alex Lippard, and David Lee!
03/21/23 DERAILED! reading
01/13/23 Circle in the Square/Maestra Song
04/19/23 QUEEN OF MEAN concert!
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
01/13/23 Circle in the Square/Maestra Song
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!
01/23 IN OTHER WORDS filming
11/14/22 NYPL Lincoln Center Fellowship
11/19/22 Across a Crowded Room
A. J. joined Los Angeles-based production company The Barn for a week of filming! We shot our new short movie musical In Other Words- written by and starring A. J. + Sam Balzac! Coming soon!
11/19/22 Across a Crowded Room
11/14/22 NYPL Lincoln Center Fellowship
11/19/22 Across a Crowded Room
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
11/14/22 NYPL Lincoln Center Fellowship
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
06/29/22 A NOTE OF EXPLANATION at Lincoln Center
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 (Across a Crowded Room)
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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