About the Show

Two aspiring singer-songwriters battle poverty and addiction in a gritty, country musical.

Music City: A New Musical tells the story of two young singer-songwriters struggling to make their mark in a rundown East Nashville neighborhood ravaged by addiction and poverty. The show follows these characters as they face the harsh realities of their environment, using music as both an escape and a form of expression. Through soulful ballads and heart-pounding anthems, they navigate the difficulty of chasing their dreams in a city where heartbreak is often the only thing handed out for free.

The production features music and lyrics by Billboard-chart-topping country songwriter J.T. Harding, alongside a book by Peter Zinn. Directed by Eric Tucker, this intimate musical challenges the conventional jukebox musical format, offering a gritty, raw portrayal of the Nashville music scene. The show moves away from idealized depictions of country music, instead offering a revelatory, grounded take on the genre and the lives it touches.

Critic Reviews (7)

I felt transported to “Nashville,” not the town so much as the old TV series, a primetime soap opera with some really catchy country music. The stage show even has some of the same storylines
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The production’s electric energy carries it through a love story that aches and burns with familiarity while keeping the audience smiling the whole way through.
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...it’s an honest, bracing, humorous look at a subculture that has seldom looked or sounded this appealing. The best country-and-western songs have wordplay, big feelings, and hooks you can’t shake. This show delivers all three, plus a swell story to match.
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Music City is the energetic and entertaining musical that midtown Manhattan didn’t know it needed but is richer for it.
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For a previous production

"an innovative new musical that produces the warm feelies of a classic one"
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For a previous production

“It's the rare -- maybe the only -- jukebox tuner that feels like an original work.”
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For a previous production

"J. T. Harding’s songs are a perfect fit for this small musical with a big heart."
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